Tangalle is the last hidden gem of Sri Lanka’s south coast. Tangalle is home to the most beautiful beaches we saw during our 2 months in Sri Lanka, as well as attractions such as the Rekawa Turtle Watch where you can experience sea turtles laying their eggs.
Too far east to be on the traditional tourist route it’s quieter and more untouched than other towns we visited, making it one of our favourite places in Sri Lanka.
Tangalle for us felt like a town that’s converting to tourism but still holds the authentic charm of a slow-paced local village, whereas the city along the main road has the fast-paced hecticness of Asia that we’d grown to love.
Turning off the main road, our tuk tuk wound through extremely narrow backstreets so tight we felt as though we had to breathe in just to fit. We eventually arrived at our homestay, which was just a short walk away from Tangalle Beach. There’s plenty of luxury resorts hidden on the jungle fringe and budget homestays for backpackers, a nod perhaps in the direction the town is heading. But currently, and due to the location it hasn’t got the large hotel complexes like Hikkaduwa and Mirissa.
Tangalle is home to some of the wildest beaches we saw in Sri Lanka, huge swathes of sand and large unforgiving waves, all in front of a wall of jungle. These beaches are the best to watch the sea turtles in Sri Lanka, particularly Rekawa Beach!
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This Tangalle Travel Guide shares everything you need to know about visiting Tangalle Sri Lanka, from the best things to do to hidden attractions and our pick of the best restaurants in Tangalle.
Whether you’re here to experience sea turtles laying their eggs, visit the second largest blowhole in the world, or seek out a beach to have all to yourself, we share the ultimate itineraries from our experience of Tangalle, Sri Lanka.
🗺️ Your Ultimate Sri Lanka Map
On our way, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited in Sri Lanka. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your adventure!
Best Time To Visit Tangalle
Wondering about the best time to visit Tangalle? Sri Lanka’s dry season on the south coast runs from November to March, making Tangalle a great ‘winter sun’ destination. The weather is dry and hot (27°C to 31°C), perfect for relaxing on the beach, swimming, or spotting wildlife like sea turtles.
From May to October, the south west monsoon season brings heavy rainfall and rough seas. It’s not the best time to visit, as the ocean becomes less swimmable and some local businesses close during the off-season.
We visited Tangalle in November and had the beaches all to ourselves and perfect weather! When speaking to locals they told us it would get busier in December, so if like us you don’t like crowds November is a good month to visit.
How To Get To Tangalle, Sri Lanka
Getting to Tangalle is straightforward thanks to Sri Lanka’s extensive public transport network along the southern coast.
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 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.
Getting Around Within Tangalle
If you don’t have your own hired tuktuk then we recommend staying within walking distance to Tangalle or Medaketiya Beach as this is where the main restaurants are located. Everywhere else you can get tuk tuk taxis which are affordable, just make sure you negotiate a price before getting in.
Not sure where to stay? Check out our blog on the best places to stay in Tangalle!
Top Things To Do In Tangalle
Rekawa Beach Turtle Watch
Rekawa Beach is wild, untouched and alluring. When we visited we were the only people there and we enjoyed our breakfast of local rotis bought from Tangalle city on the sand.
In the evening Rekawa beach comes alive, each night the beach is closed from 7pm – 6am to allow the turtles protection. During this time you can visit with a guide to watch a turtle lay its eggs or watch the new hatchlings make their way to the sea. Tickets cost 2000 LKR per person.
Rekawa Beach is home to 5-species of turtle and is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to ethically view turtles.
Hummanaya Blow Hole
Hummanaya Blowhole is the second largest in the world and the only one in Sri Lanka making it one of the most unique attractions near Tangalle. Just 20 minutes away you can watch the powerful jet of water shoot up to 25–30 metres into the air.
Lining the entrance are local vendors selling handcrafted gifts, dried fish and local street food. The walk through the town to the ticket office isn’t too far but it is steep.
Tickets cost 500 LKR per person and if you’re riding a hired scooter or tuk tuk, don’t forget to read our full blog first to find the correct parking… or you might end up down a dead end like we did!
Go Surfing At Unakuruwa Beach
Unakuruwa Beach is known for its reef break perfect for intermediate and advanced surfers. What sets it apart is that it’s noticeably quieter than other hotspots like Hiriketiya and Weligama.
There are a few small local cafes on the beach, perfect for grabbing a coconut or curry after your surf.
Rekawa Lagoon
Some of the best things to do in Tangalle involve exploring the local wildlife. The mangroves around Rekawa Lagoon are bursting with wildlife.
You can embark on a kayaking tour to immerse yourself within nature, these are offered by Sooriya Resort & Spa and it is one of the best ways to appreciate the unique landscape at Rekawa Beach.
Udawalawe Safari
Lots of people come to Sri Lanka for the safaris, and one of the best things to do near Tangalle is the Udawalawe Safari, famous for its open landscapes and almost guaranteed elephant sightings.
We found safaris to be a bit hit-or-miss, and having already done one in Wilpattu National Park, plus spotting elephants up close on the B35 Elephant Road, we decided to skip Udawalawe to stick to our backpacker budget.
Mulkirigala Rock Temples
45 minutes from Tangalle is one of Sri Lanka’s most underrated cultural sites. Perched on a 205-meter-high rock, the Mulkirigala Rock Temples are a series of ancient cave shrines filled with Buddhist statues, murals, and inscriptions.
Cycling Tour Along Tangalle’s Coast
Although we didn’t do this tour we did pass it in our tuktuk! Everyone was dressed up in their Lycra and enjoying the day beach hopping on their bikes.
Beach Hop Some Of Sri Lanka’s Best Beaches
Silent Beach
As the name states, this beach is incredibly quiet, although there are still some beach bars and restaurants.
We wandered to the end of the beach, allowing the waves to cool off our feet as we admired the beauty of Sri Lanka. The Indian Ocean is powerful here and although Silent Beach isn’t suitable for swimming this is the perfect beach for sunbathing.
There’s also plenty of shade here to escape the sun, and space meaning you can find your own hidden spot.
For lunch we recommend The Lobster Pot, which serves fresh seafood daily and you can use the sunbeds here if you make a purchase.
Goyambokka Beach
If you’re looking for a swimming beach near Tangalle, Goyambokka is one of the most popular. The horseshoe bay is protected by a reef meaning the waves here are mellow. Only 12 minutes from Tangalle there are plenty of sun lounges & restaurants. The perfect family beach.
Tangalle Beach & Medaketiya Beach
One of the top things to do in Tangalle is visit the main town beach. There are plenty of bars and restaurants along the front offering sun lounges and the scenery is stunning, especially at sunrise and sunset.
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 eastern side of Tangalle beach is known as Medaketiya Beach and it is a popular area to stay with lots of budget guesthouses nearby.
Jungle Beach
One of the top things to do in Tangalle is discover the hidden beaches. Our favourite was jungle beach. It had been a hot day and we decided to explore one more beach before heading back to our homestay and we were so glad we did!
We chose Jungle beach and after squeezing through the narrow streets came to a large, palm tree lined beach, completely empty apart from two locals collecting rubbish. They had done a good job as the beach was pristine and the perfect backdrop for some holiday photos!
Best Restaurants In Tangalle: Where To Eat
Finding the best food in Tangalle is easy when you know where to look. From beachfront seafood to authentic Sri Lankan curry, here are the best restaurants in Tangalle for every budget.
Having arrived late on our first night in Tangalle we chose to eat at our Homestay, Randu Homestay. Here our host made us the most delicious rice and curry and therefore we think it’s worth a mention here.
Other Tangalle restaurants we recommend include:
Chill House Restaurant: Family-Run Local Spot $
Serving up local favourites like seafood fried rice and devilled chicken, Chill House is a firm favourite among backpackers. The reviews here are glowing, and the cosy atmosphere makes it the perfect spot to enjoy a meal at this family-run restaurant. Location 📌
Cactus Lounge Restaurant: Seafood $$
If you specifically want seafood we recommend Cactus Lounge which can be found on the beachfront. They serve lobster, prawns, cuttlefish and more all freshly caught. Location 📌
The Lounge: Unique Dining $$
We love this unique dining experience. Across the river leading into the sea you can find The Lounge. A small boat will take you across to the restaurant where they serve the most delicious tuna and squid appetiser. This feels like luxury dining but it also doesn’t break the bank!
Tip: The tune pan also regularly drives around near the beachfront, perfect for breakfast or a quick snack! Location 📌
Suggested Itineraries For Tangalle: What To Do In Tangalle
2-Day Tangalle Itinerary
Day 1: Beach Hopping
You could spend the day relaxing on one beach, sipping cocktails and soaking up the sun rays or if like us you get the itch to explore, head of beach hopping to some of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka. Don’t miss Jungle Beach, the quietest of them all!
In the evening head to Rekawa Beach and join Rekawa Turtle Watch at 8:30pm to witness sea turtles laying their eggs.
Day 2: Cultural
Start the day off with a 30-minute drive to Mulkirigala Rock Temples, an underrated ancient cave with shrines and incredible views.
Then spend the afternoon at your favourite beach.
4-day Tangalle Itinerary
Days 1-2: Follow the 2-day itinerary above
Day 3: Wildlife & Nature
You could spend the day or half day at Udawalawe National Park or if you prefer a kayaking tour through the mangroves at Rekawa Lagoon. Again the afternoon is for the beach, maybe even try surfing at Unakuruwa!
Day 4: Relaxation
Enjoy your last day on the beach, swimming in the sea and enjoying the Sri Lankan Coastline.
Have Longer?
If you’re using Tangalle as your base in Sri Lanka there are plenty of great day trips. Some of the best include a whale watching tour in Mirissa (1 hour away), Yala National Park (2 hours away) and Dickwella, home to a giant Buddha Statue.
We stopped off in Tangalle to relax for three-nights before heading to Hiriketiya to check out the surf spots! On the way to Tangalle we visited the Hummanaya Blow Hole in Kudawella.
Best Places To Stay In Tangalle
$ Budget
Dilip’s House
Located just a 5-minute walk from Tangalle beach, Dilip’s homestay is the perfect budget option and one of the best cheap homestays in Tangalle. With comfortable rooms, a friendly host and delicious meals.
$$ Mid-Range
Hunguk Lanka Lagoon Villa
At Hunguk Lanka Lagoon you get a villa with a garden just 9-minutes walk from Tangalle Beach. Your villa also has a private entrance, en-suite bathroom and air-conditioning.
$$$ High-End
Anantara Peace Haven
On a cliff and nestled within a coconut plantation, you can find the luxury resort of Anantara Peace Haven. We’re sold on being welcomed by traditional raban drums and sent off by conch shell blowers but you also get individual plunge pools, a personal butler and a beautiful villa!
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