Southwest Beaches Area

It is located in front of the Laccadive Sea. Built between 1588 and 1649 by the Portuguese and fortified by the Dutch, it is a heritage monument of great historical, archaeological and architectural value. Inside you can walk and see surprising buildings, temples, mosques, churches and colonial mansions.

The Utrecht Bastion is a key point in Galle Fortress, famous for being the location of the iconic lighthouse built by the British in 1939 and a former Dutch ammunition depot. It still bears its Dutch name because Galle was ruled by the Dutch centuries ago. It is a fortified area within the city walls. It was formerly called the crescent. The platform is where defending soldiers paraded and used as cover to fire on the enemy. It is very well preserved now, having withstood multiple attacks. The upper section was built by the British in 1938 and is 18 meters high.

It is a lighthouse located by the sea that stands among palm trees that dates back to 1848 although the current structure was rebuilt in 1939 after a fire in 1934. It has a height of 26 meters, it is the oldest lighthouse in Sri Lanka and guides to boats to the Galle port, especially for fishermen who do not have electronic instruments.

It's the city's epicenter and considered the second-best beach in Sri Lanka for surfing (the second most popular sport in Sri Lanka after cricket). It boasts a coral reef where you can snorkel and enjoy glass-bottom boat trips. An ideal place to relax. In areas protected by the reef, the sea is relatively calm and warmer, suitable for swimming.

It is a turtle conservation and research center. Inside there are green, hawksbill, loggerhead, olive ridley and leatherback turtles, among others. This center has completed more than 13 projects, released more than 10,000 baby turtles and recovered more than 30,000 eggs.

The long Bentota beach stretches north, where it becomes a strip of golden sand called Paradise Island, parallel to the Bentota lagoon. It is surrounded by bushes and palm trees. The sand is brilliant white on this extensive beach, and the sea is a brilliant aquamarine due to its light-colored sandy bottom. It is a vast expanse of sand perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and long walks. Its calm waters are also excellent for water sports such as water skiing, windsurfing, and banana boat rides. A beautiful beach ideal for relaxing and enjoying water sports.

In this workshop-museum, you can learn about the culture of Sri Lanka thanks to the traditional crafts of making masks. During your visit, you can learn ancient techniques to create masks with a light wood called Kaduru, which are used in exorcist rituals to cure the sick.