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Five of Sri-Lanka’s best beaches in the south-west

After much looking around and comparing, you have set your heart on your next trip being to Sri Lanka, a natural paradise full of beautiful landscapes and world heritage sites. Undoubtedly one of the big attractions of the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ is its collection of exotic and natural beaches. As there are so many of them and they are so difficult to choose from, let us walk you through five of best beaches in south-west Sri-Lanka, a stretch known as the gold coast for the colour of its sand, ever bathed by a beautiful turquoise blue.

• Mount Lavinia – Dehiwala: This is one of the better-known as it is just a few kilometres south of Colombo, the country’s capital. It takes its name from the luxurious hotel Mount Lavinia which was built in 1947 and whose façade has become the poster image for this beach. Easy to get to as it has a train station, it also has various beach bars and restaurants nearby where you can try typical Sri-Lankan food. A swim at this beach is a real natural delight, there’s no doubt about it.
• Bentota: In spite of also being well-known for the hotels in the area, Bentota beach manages to maintain its natural character, thanks largely to its leafy backdrop of palm trees that shut everything else out. It is a lovely place for relaxing, and also for practising all kinds of water sports, especially underwater sports due to its coral reefs. Next to the beach there is also a lagoon for more water-based activities.

• Induruwa: A quiet and uncrowded beach, with especially dense vegetation thanks to the nearby River Maadu (whose mangroves can be visited as a safari by boat – a must for nature lovers). A dip in the sea off this beach will restore the inner peace in you that we all need. Definitely, highly recommended.

• Ahungalla: This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the region. A belt of coconut trees surround this paradise of golden sand and clear turquoise waters, where snorkelling is a treat to enjoy the marvellous seabed and the sunsets. It is also very close to the Kande Viharaya temple, which has the largest seated Buddha statue in the world and is the perfect place for an Ayurvedic treatment. Close to this beach is the hotel Riu Sri Lanka, as well as marine turtle nurseries where you can help to return them to the sea.

• Hikkaduwa: Bordering now on Sri Lanka’s south coast, Hikkaduwa is a favourite among surf aficionados, a sport that is especially recommended during the dry season from November to March, together with snorkelling due to its colourful coral reefs. With a seventies bohemian feel still lingering around place, it also has a freshwater lake where you can fish and swim.

Now you know more about the Sri Lankan beaches, all you need to do is choose a good hotel in Sri Lanka. And for that, don’t forget to look through all the offers that you can find and that bring you ever closer to paradise each day.