Tangalle is a beautiful coastal town in Hambantota city in the southern province. It is one of the main tourist attractions and a popular holiday destination on the south coast. This beach is quite different from other southern beaches, due to the presence of a rocky coastline in the Tangalle town area. Contrastingly, the surrounding areas of Tangalle beach have beautiful sandy shorelines. Certainly, these lovely beaches in Tangalle are perfect for a tropical beach vacation.
The beautiful palm-fringed tropical beaches in Tangalle are world-famous attractions in Sri Lanka. It has been voted as the best beach on the island by Lonely Planet. As well as, travelers and the tourists love calm and serene beauty of this place. Although Tangalle is among the top beaches on the island, it is actually the least crowded one. Since the waves are quite rough, it isn’t famous for surfing or sea bathing. Rather, people visit Tangalle to enjoy a romantic beach hideaway in a serene environment.
Access to Tangalle
Tangalle is located 195 km south of Colombo and 35 km east of Matara. If you use a taxi, you can take the southern highway and could be in Tangalle in around 3 hours. For Public Transportation, there are buses from Colombo to Tangalle hourly. As well as, Sri Lanka Railways operates trains from Fort Station to Beliatta twice daily, where you can get off at Tangalle easily.
From Tangalle town, the white sandy beach stretch for miles for both north and west sides, with a series of smaller bays and lovely beaches. Here we are going to show you these spectacular hidden beaches you should visit in Tangalle.
1. Tangalle Beach
The main Tangalle Beach is a large beach in front of the many small cafes along the coast. Mostly, this area has a rocky coastline and strong waves. Thus, it is not recommended to go swimming in the Tangalle town area. But the palm-fringed coast is absolutely gorgeous, where you can enjoy the beautiful sunset in the evening.
The most popular attraction on Tangalle beach is Paraiwella Beach Park. The water is super calm and perfect for sea bathing on this beach. Thus, it is pretty safe for even small kids for a sea bath with hardly any waves or undercurrent. This is one of the most family-friendly destinations in Tangalle.
2. Tangalle Lagoon
Located towards the south of Tangalle town, the lagoon provides a great day trip in the area. One of the best ways to explore the Tangalle Lagoon is by kayaking or canoeing along the emerald waters. As you paddle along the lagoon, you‘ll see various amazing wildlife among the bordering mangroves. From aquatic birds to crocodiles, kayakers can enjoy an exciting wild safari experience.
The best time to explore Tangalle Lagoon is during the morning or evening, as the daytime can be quite hot and sunny. If you are going for an excursion in the daytime, you need to protect yourself from the sun with sunblock, sunglasses, and a sun hat. This off-the-beaten-path attraction is ideal for those who are looking to escape the crowds from the nearby popular beach towns in Tangalle.
3. Hiriketiya Beach
Call as the surfing capital of the southern coast, Hiriketiya Beach attracts surfers from all corners of the world. This gorgeous beach is located near Dickwella town, 20 minutes from Tangalle. It is a horseshoe-shaped bay with soft, golden sand along sparkling blue water. This bay is bordered by lush green jungle and tall palm trees. Both locals and tourists frequently visit it because of its natural beauty and serenity in the surroundings.
Although it is far away from major commercial beaches, Hiriketiya is a quite busy one. It is an excellent surfing spot for both beginners and advanced surfers. Its mellow reef breaks over deep water provides a perfect condition for beginner surfers. As well, there is a separate point with strong waves for the more advanced surfers.
4. Rekawa Beach
Rekawa Beach is located 10 km east of Tangalle town. The beach is an incredibly scenic one, with a vast expanse of white sand, merging with the serene turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The beach has palm trees flanking its coast, which gently dance to the rhythm of the cool breeze. Particularly, Rekawa Beach looks strikingly beautiful during the sunset.
Sea turtles are one of the most interesting things you shouldn’t miss in Rekawa Beach. This turtle conservation project is famous all around the country. In this project, the sea turtle eggs are protected and the babies are released into the sea. Thus, it is one of the best places in the world to spot baby sea turtles.
Five different species of sea turtles frequently come to this beach, including Hawksbill, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead, and Green Turtle. They come ashore and lay eggs at night throughout the year. Thus, your trip to Rekawa Beach will be rewarded with one of the very rare marvels of mother nature.
5. Rekawa Lagoon
Rekawa Lagoon is a rich biodiversity hotspot with a variety of flora and fauna. Most parts of the lagoon are encircled with a Mangrove belt. The lush green Mangroves have many ecological benefits including shrimp fishery. Visitors can go kayaking in the lagoon to see the beautiful scenery and birdlife.
When you are visiting the Rekawa lagoon, remember to have a look at the first-ever hobbit house in Sri Lanka. Called Igabara Hobbit House, this wonderful place is located just 50 m away from Rekawa Lagoon. This magnificent place offers a stunning view of the lagoon where you can enjoy kayaking. The hobbit house is always open for anybody willing to spend their vacation in a very calm and quiet surrounding.
6. Marakolliya Beach
Located only a distance of 3 km from Tangalle, Marakolliya Beach is one of the most peaceful beaches in Sri Lanka. This uncrowded beach has gained worldwide recognition after Lonely Planet mentioned it as a top beach not to miss in Sri Lanka. For anyone who wants to get away from the crowd and relax on a white sandy beach, this is the perfect place with only the sounds of the ocean.
If you visit Marakolliya Beach, you’ll find it is an almost undiscovered, hidden gem of the southern coast. This is an absolutely stunning beach with an endless stretch of golden sands, bordered by palm trees. Although the turquoise Indian Ocean is truly gorgeous, the waves are too rough for swimming. Thus, you can spend time on the beach and rest in a deserted and idyllic environment. There are several beachside restaurants for food and drink.
7. Silent Beach
Silent Beach locates completely off the beaten track and it is an unspoiled beach paradise in Tangalle. This small beach is well hidden from crowds. The silent beach is a lovely crescent-shaped beach with a clean and sandy shoreline. It isn’t a rocky beach like Tangalle’s main beach. It is about 1km long and the luxurious Amanwella Resort locates at one end. There’s also a nice beachside lunch and dinner restaurant run by the Amanwella.
The surf is rough and isn’t suit for swimming. But it is an utterly breathtaking beach to enjoy a relaxing time admiring the scenery. You’ll obviously enjoy a fascinating sunset while having a refreshing drink. Hence, this beach is best suited for tanning and enjoying some local delicacies and seafood. You can go to rock pools at the top end and see crabs and fish moving around the pools.
8. Goyambokka Beach
Mentioned as one of the top gorgeous southern beaches by Lonely Planet, Goyambokka is a treasure of Sri Lanka. This gorgeous stretch of golden sand is bordered by clear blue water. The calm and relaxing atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the city allows visitors to remain close to nature and blend with the beauty of its surroundings. The shoreline has sunbeds, lounge chairs, and hammocks to enjoy your leisure time.
This is a perfect place for some quality time with friends and family for a peaceful and undisturbed vacation. If you are a passionate traveller who is exploring hidden gems in Sri Lanka, Goyambokka Beach is a fantastic spot. The clear blue water is ideal for swimming and diving, and palm trees provide gentle shade for visitors. There are a number of small restaurants and cafes to buy food and drink.
9. Kahandamodara Beach
Almost untouched, Kahandamodara is another secluded beach completely worth visiting in Tangalle. It is located around 18 km from the main Tangalle beach. This clean, unspoiled place is ideal for an offbeat holiday. This beach starts from the freshwater lagoon Kahandamodara and stretches between the blue waves and lush green palm trees. The beach around this area is among the top hidden beaches you will find down south of Sri Lanka.
The long beach is bordered by a thicket of shrubby trees. Even though the beach seems deserted, several nearby resorts offer a number of amenities, including food and recreational activities. The tranquillity of this area is seldom found elsewhere. You can view the colourful sunset while enjoying the cool breeze coming from the ocean.
10. Hummanaya Blowhole
This is the only known blowhole in Sri Lanka and it is the second largest one in the world. Hummanaya refers to the noise, “hoo”, that can be heard from a long distance away when the blowhole is active. It is located in the small fishing village of Kudawella, 12 km from Tangalle. Currently, it is a quite famous attraction among both locals and foreigners.
The blowhole is an extraordinary natural phenomenon caused when sea water rushes through a submerged cavern and is pushed upwards. The seawater flow underneath the rocky shore comes out of this hole due to the high pressure. It looks like a marvelous water fountain created by nature. It shoots up once every 10-15 minutes after water pressure builds up. The spray often reaches as high as 25 to 30 m.
To sum up, these are the most beautiful beaches in Tangalle, which you should visit during your trip to the southern coast. These serene beaches in Tangalle will definitely give you some priceless moments with your family. Whether you are traveling solo, with your partner, or with family, Tangalle won’t disappoint any of its visitors. Welcome guys, visit Tangalle beach paradise and experience the joys of a wonderful beach vacation.
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Booking.com, Facebook, and Twitter. All copyrights are reserved by the original authors.
