The West Coast
Overview
The west coast starting South of Colombo stretches exactly 99 miles along with Route A2 to Galle, a major town in the south of the island. The best time to visit the West Coast is from December to April.
There are some spectacular sandy beaches, boutique hotels, and resorts all the way to Galle. Little towns and villages on the way like Wadduwa, Kaluthara, Beruwala, Bentota, Ahungalle, Hikkaduwa, and Ratgama are known for their beautiful beach fronts, resorts, and restaurants, serving some irresistible freshly caught seafood.
Enjoy several water sports and activities including scuba diving, surfing, and much more at Bentota, visit the Cinnamon island and take a tour through each step in the cinnamon-making process.
Take a river safari at Bentota Ganga (River) or in Mudu Ganga (River) in Balapitiya, a small village along the A2 route to Galle.
Near Balaypitiya is Ambalangoda. Watch the appealing devil dancers who perform wearing devil masks, it is a must-see activity and there are small shops where you could watch them make these masks and you could buy them too.
Little, further along, is Hikkaduwa a small coastal town famous for its long beach, surfing, snorkelling, and giant turtles.
When you approach Galle, you will begin to spot fishermen on stilts, an ancient style of fishing only practiced in Sri Lanka. There are turtle hatcheries and sanctuaries along the way from here onwards.
