Why Tangalle & Rekawa Turtle Watch will steal your heart
If your idea of paradise is a long, golden beach with hardly anyone on it, Tangalle is waiting for you. On this quieter stretch of the south coast, wide sandy beaches are broken by dramatic rocky coves and lagoons, and the pace of life slows right down.
Tangalle is home to some of Sri Lanka's most beautiful boutique hotels and beach villas, and its unspoilt coastline is perfect for long beach walks, reading in a hammock or watching fishermen launch their colourful boats.
Just east of town, at Rekawa, a community-run conservation project protects the sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs. With a local guide, you can wait quietly on the beach at night and watch a turtle haul herself up the sand, dig a nest and lay her eggs. It's a profoundly moving experience, and your visit helps protect the turtles and supports the local community.
Inland, the ancient rock temple of Mulkirigala is perched on a huge boulder, with cave shrines and reclining Buddhas at different levels and wonderful views from the top. Along the coast, the Hummanaya blowhole shoots jets of seawater high into the air when the sea is rough.
Tangalle is the perfect place to unwind at the end of a tour, especially after a safari in Yala or Udawalawe, which are both within easy reach.
