Best Beaches In Tangalle: Turtle Hotspots & Hidden Gems
- Kate Colliety
- Jun 22
- 8 min read
Tangalle is a small coastal town on Sri Lanka’s southern coast. As the furthest town from Colombo along the popular southern stretch, it tends to be much quieter than other beach destinations making it perfect to uncover hidden beaches, wild shorelines, and for spotting protected sea turtles.
During our time in Tangalle we explored every inch of the coastline to find the best beaches in Tangalle, from the popular main Tangalle Beach with sun lounges, cocktails and swimming spots to the untamed jungle beach where we were completely alone with only coconuts for company.
We loved beach hopping in Tangalle as nothing is too far away, a quick 10-minute drive will leave you in a completely different landscape and vibe.
Looking for the best beaches in Tangalle? Below, we share everything we experienced during our time there including Rekawa Beach famous for sea turtle watching, the popular Goyambokka & Tangalle beach as well as the hidden Silent Beach and Unakuruwa Beach.
Contents
Tangalle Beach: The Best Beach To Stay Near
Rekawa Beach: The Best Beach In Tangalle For Turtle Watching
Goyambokka Beach: The Best Swimming Beach Near Tangalle
Jungle Beach: Our Favourite Beach In Tangalle
Unakuruwa Beach: Best Surfing Near Tangalle Beach
When To Visit Tangalle’s Beaches
Where Can I See Turtles In Tangalle?
Quick Beach Finder
Best for Swimming: Goyambokka Beach or Tangalle (calm, protected bay)
Best for Families: Tangalle Beach (facilities + safe swimming zones)
Best for Wildlife: Rekawa Beach (turtle watching)
Most Secluded: Jungle Beach (completely empty)
Best for Photos: Silent Beach (dramatic coastline)
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Tangalle Beach: The Best Beach To Stay Near
One of the best beaches in Tangalle is in fact the main town beach. Tangalle Beach is set up for tourism meaning there are plenty of beachfront bars serving cocktails and delicious seafood.
We decided to spend the day at Mallika Shisha & Cocktail Bar Restaurant where if you buy drinks you can use the sun lounges. It is also in front of one of the safe swimming areas.
Tangalle Beach has strong currents and rougher seas than other parts of Sri Lanka. To make swimming possible several large rock barriers have been created to form safe swimming spots. During our time at Tangalle beach we did swim everyday but you will feel the pull and strength of the ocean.
The Beach is also near the main strip of restaurants in Tangalle, meaning finding lunch or dinner after a beachday is easy, we recommend Let’s Sea. Location 📌
Swimming & Surf: Tangalle Beach has strong currents so they have created designated swim zones behind rock barriers.
Crowd Level: Moderate, popular but not over crowded
Distance from Tangalle: Walking Distance
Best For: Families, Couples, Solo Travellers
Important Safety Note: Tangalle Beach has significantly stronger currents and rougher seas than other parts of Sri Lanka's coast. Use the swimming lagoons and visit in the early morning 7am -9am when the sea is calmest.
Rekawa Beach turtle watching is one of the top activities in Tangalle, making this the best beach in Tangalle for wildlife. Our homestay host told us about Rekawa Beach and the evening turtle watch that happens there every night.
Intrigued by the stories of turtle hatchlings we headed off to explore Rekawa Beach which is home to five species of sea turtle who lay their eggs on the large strip of sand.
Stretching endlessly with wild, untamed beauty, Rekawa Beach felt raw and untouched, unlike any beach we had seen in Sri Lanka.
Rekawa Beach is home to a long-running turtle conservation project that protects nesting sea turtles and their habitat. Once threatened by egg poaching, the area has been legally protected since 2006, with local villagers now working as guides and educators.
Every night at 8:30pm, visitors can join the Rekawa Turtle Watch to witness turtles laying eggs or if you’re lucky see hatchlings. Tours cost 2000 LKR. Location 📌
Swimming & Surf: The waves and currents here are wild and dangerous
Crowd Level: Moderate, quiet in the day and busy during the turtle watch hours
Distance from Tangalle: 12-minute drive (10km)
Best For: Families, Backpackers
Goyambokka Beach, just 12 minutes from Tangalle, is a calm, reef-protected bay perfect for swimming which is rare around Tangalle.
Known for its postcard-perfect palm-lined shore, honey-coloured sand, and beach bars with sun loungers and affordable cocktails.
This was exactly what we needed, we arrived hot, overstimulated with tensions running high so Goyambokka Beach was the perfect relaxation Heaven.
To reach the stunning horseshoe bay that is gaining in popularity you need to walk down a narrow, tucked-away alleyway which is luckily signposted! Location 📌
Swimming & Surf: Best Swimming Beach in Tangalle
Crowd Level: Moderate
Distance from Tangalle: 5-minute drive (2.5km)
Best For: Families, Couples
We love the look of this cycle tour along Tangalle's Coast.
Silent Beach is the best beach in Tangalle to escape the crowds while still being able to grab some local food from a seaside shack.
We parked our tuktuk at the top of the road and walked down an avenue of Palm Trees to be greeted by a huge beach stretching into the distance.
When we visited, the sea was rough and the powerful waves made swimming unsafe. Still, the dramatic shoreline provided a stunning backdrop for photos on an almost deserted beach.
With plenty of shaded areas and ample space, it’s easy to find your own peaceful spot away from others.
Several beach bars line the sand, perfect for a refreshing drink, but for a delicious lunch, we highly recommend The Lobster Pot which is known for its fresh daily seafood. Location 📌
Swimming & Surf: Rough Sea, Good for a paddle
Crowd Level: Quiet
Distance from Tangalle: 10-minute drive (5km)
Best For: Families, Couples
Jungle Beach: Our Favourite Beach In Tangalle
If Silent Beach is still too busy for you we recommend Jungle Beach & Hiru Beach. We were looking for hidden beaches in Tangalle and ended up driving down a narrow road that led to nowhere.
When the road got too narrow we tucked the tuktuk away to the side and continued on foot. What we found was a beach, deserted apart from two locals collecting rubbish, the beach was pristine so they did a pretty good job.
They soon left and we were completely alone on one of the most beautiful beaches in Tangalle, probably one of the most beautiful in Sri Lanka! A palm tree stretched perpendicular to the sea creating a break in the wall of jungle that backed right onto the beach.
We took the time to relax, enjoy the sunshine and peace before heading back into the hectic, dusty Tangalle local town.
Swimming & Surf: Rough Sea, Good for a paddle
Crowd Level: Quiet
Distance from Tangalle: 10-minute drive (5km)
Best For: Travellers
Unakuruwa Beach: Best Surfing Near Tangalle Beach
Unakuruwa Beach is beautiful and home to many luxury resorts that back right onto the sand. It is also one of the best surf spots near Tangalle with a famous reef break.
We decided to go and see what Unakuruwa was about, heading off in our tuktuk we struggled to find parking through the maze of tiny, dirt track streets. We finally rounded a corner and found an entrance to the beach.
Once we parked up, three Sri Lankan guys came over asking for a parking fee, even though there were no signs and we had tucked ourselves next to a few other vehicles. This is one of the only times we felt uneasy about leaving our tuktuk and in the end we didn’t feel comfortable leaving it parked there.
Even when we returned, they continued to pester us, but they also gave bad vibes (if you’ve been travelling you know the feelings). We usually look for quieter parking spots or official car parks with clear signs and an attendant.
We caught a glimpse of Unakuruwa’s beauty, the iconic palm tree swing and surf spot but didn’t get to fully experience it. Just another excuse to return! If you’ve been, we’d love to hear about your experience.
Swimming & Surf: Swimmable and home to a famous reef break
Crowd Level: Moderate: One of the busier beaches in Tangalle
Distance from Tangalle: 5-minute drive (2.5km)
Best For: Families, Couples
When To Visit Tangalle’s Beaches
The best time for Tangalle beach hopping is during the dry season (December to April), this is also when the sea is at its calmest. For turtle watching in Rekawa Tangalle, evening visits start at 8:30pm. We also recommend visiting the beaches in the morning before the heat of the day.
Where Can I See Turtles In Tangalle?
The best place to see sea turtles near Tangalle is Rekawa Beach. Rekawa Turtle Watch offers nightly tours starting at 8:30pm to watch sea turtles nesting.
What are the best beaches in Tangalle for families?
The best family beaches include Tangalle Beach and Goyambokka beach because they provide swimming areas as well as facilities such as restaurants & cafes.
How To Get To Tangalle
Tangalle is along Sri Lanka’s southern coastline meaning it’s accessible via the country’s extensive public transport.
By Bus
You can take a bus direct from Colombo, Galle, Weligama and Mirissa to Tangalle. From Colombo the journey takes 6 hours.
By Train & Bus
Although Tangalle doesn’t have its own train station, you can take the coastal train to Matara, the closest major station. From there, hop on a local bus or tuk-tuk for the remaining 1.5-hour journey to Tangalle.
By Private Car
A private car from Ella or Colombo is the most expensive but most convenient option if you have a lot of luggage.
By Rental Tuk-tuk
A rental tuktuk gave us the freedom to drive around the country and really made our trip. We came from Ella, down the B35 Elephant Road before ending up in Tangalle, a long but exciting journey. If you want to get stuck into the unusual traffic of wild elephants we have 5% off Tuktukrental.com with the code KandM.
Best Tangalle Tours
Tangalle Travel Tips
Stay near the beach rather than in the main town which is pretty hectic!
Time your visit for turtle season - the best time to see turtles at Rekawa Beach is between April and July.
Bring cash - There are ATMs in Tangalle but most guesthouses, tuk-tuks and restaurants only accept cash.
Be careful of the ocean currents - The beaches here are beautiful but have strong currents and waves, the best swimming can be found at Goyambokka or Silent Beach
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Sri Lankan adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
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