What to do in Tangalle
Top things to do in Tangalle
After leaving Arugam Bay on the East coast of Sri Lanka, it was time to head to the South coast of Sri Lanka where there are plenty of nice little villages. The first stop on the road back to Colombo was the quiet town of Tangalle.
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From Arugam Bay to Tangalle
If you want to know how to go from Arugam Bay to Tangalle, you should know that there is no train service in the South of the country, so you will have two options: to hire a private driver/tuk-tuk or to go by local bus, which, as I have explained many times, it’s my favorite transport type to meet local people.
If you can, take the direct bus to Matara that stops in Tangalle, which usually leaves at 06h daily from the Pottuvil bus stand. In case that this direct route is no longer available you will need to stop first in Monaragala and then take the next bus to Tangalle. Check the routes directly in the Pottuvil Bus stand. The bus ride should take around 5-6 hours and should cost you around 500 LKR.
TIP: I recommend you to go to the Pottuvil bus stand and check the bus schedule in advance. Be also prepared for a roller-coaster trip, as the bus drivers taking this route are the craziest, fastest I ever saw in South East Asia.
Where to stay in Tangalle
Tangalle is also a small town, focused on beach activities, so if you are interested in relaxing near the beach, the closest you book your hostel, the better. But you can also choose your hostel based in the facilities, and may not be in first beach line, and you will still be close to the beach. There are also plenty of deluxe resorts and budget hostels all around the coast, so you will have plenty of options for accommodation. One of the most famous is the Lucky Beach.
Sleeping in Tangalle
TIP: I recommend you to book a hostel near the beach, as this is the main thing to do in Tangalle. I booked my hostel on the area, a little bit out of that main centre, but still a 5 minute walk from everything. This time, coming from Arugam Bay where I had lots of party, I wanted to relax a little bit more, so chose a hostel with swimming pool but still pretty cheap and nice: Opera Garden. I have to say that I didn’t use the swimming pool too much, as I was mostly laying down in the beach 🙂
TIP: If you want one of the best rated backpackers hostel near the Tangalle beach if you are in a budget, I can recommend you the Sun Sea Guest Home, nice, well located and cheap.
TIP: If you want to stay in one of the best resorts in town, just have a look at Anantara Tangalle Peace Haven Resort.
Tangalle activities
This is a quiet, beach small town, with just a main road full of hostels and a few pubs and restaurants in front of the beach. In case you are wondering if it’s worth visit Tangalle, let’s see what are the main activities that this little town has to offer.
Tangalle Beach
Of course, Tangalla beach, the closest one in town. Tangalle is one of the quietest beach towns in Sri Lanka, and so does the main beach. But if you want to explore some other beaches, you will be even more isolated. Enjoy peacefulness!
Goyambokka and Pallikaduwa Beach
If you want a really relaxing beach session, just go to Goyambokka beach, located 3 km south of town. This beach and its twin Pallikaduwa beach, with white sand and some reefs that will calm the waves, will allow you to swim in a more relaxed sea than the other beaches in Tangalle. The
Rekawa beach and turtle watching, yes or not?
I really don’t recommend you to do this “famous” activity of watching the turtles coming onshore to lay their eggs. You can read many bad reviews on the internet. The beach gets crowded and the noisy tourists disturb the turtles, in spite of the high entrance fee. I didn’t do it and I discourage you to go.
There are apparently “night watching tours” but I don’t recommend them neither, as you need to light these little animals and I don’t think is very natural to have groups of people around while you are laying eggs, as this is a very hard task for the turtle. If you really love animals, respect their environments. Don’t go to this kind of places just for the picture. Try to be a responsible traveller!
Mulkirigala Rock Monastery
Mulkirigala Raja Maha Viharaya is an ancient religious and significant Buddhist site where you can witness caves, Buddha statues, and a few manuscripts. If you are in the area and you have the time it’s a nice place to visit, but take into account that it’s located 13km North of Tangalle, so a tuk-tuk ride is advisable.
Hummanaya Blow Hole
12km south of Tangalle, following the coast, in the small fishing village of Kudawella, you can find the second largest blowhole in the world. It’s a natural blowhole, caused when the seawater rushes through a submerged cavern and is pushed upwards. The water fountain reaches 25 m. and shoots up every few minutes.
TIP: You need to know that Tangalle has some of the best, uncrowded beaches in Sri Lanka, so book a few days if you just want to relax and be completely by yourself enjoying these beautiful waters.
TIP: If you want to go to Goyambokka beach, take into account that this paradise beach is a short 10 minutes tuk-tuk ride from the center of Tangalle. The coastal scenery on the way is super nice, so you can go walking as well, it’s not too long.
TIP: If you want to have a nice evening/night, there is a place close to the beach named The Lounge run by lovely people, with nice views to the sea and amazing facilities which, of course, have vegan options!
TIP: Among the best Travel Gear I recommend you can find this LifeStraw Go Water Bottle to bring with you to be hydrated all-the-time and save money and water.
From Tangalle to Mirissa (Weligama)
The next step in this Sri Lanka itinerary was another village close to the beach. We were really looking forward to go to Mirissa to spend a few days relaxing and surfing the waves in Weligama, a famous spot in the South of Sri Lanka.
To go to Mirissa from Tangalle you can take the bus number 32 bus (Kataragama to Columbo) which takes you straight to Mirissa. This bus leaves every 2 hours, so ask the frequency in advance so that you don’t need to wait too much. The driving distance between Tangalle to Mirissa is 47 km, and it takes approximately 1h30 to 2h to arrive.
In case you lose this bus, you can go first to Matara, and take another bus to Mirissa. When you arrive at Matara, just ask for the next bus to Mirissa, which shouldn’t take too long to find. Both buses’ frequency is high, so you are not supposed to wait too much in the bus stands. The Bus from Tangalle to Matara should take 1h45 and costs around 65 LKR. The Bus from Matara to Mirissa takes 30 min and costs around 24 LKR.
TIP: When you are arriving in Mirissa just ask the driver to hop you off near your hostel, or just tell him to stop in the center, near the main beach in Mirissa, where I can recommend you a nice hostel and some other things to do
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