Tangalle surf isn’t the best on the island but you do get stunning hotels and access to some great breaks by tuk-tuk.
An introduction to Tangalle surf
Tangalle is an upcoming region of south Sri Lanka. Famed for its long sweeps of golden sand backed by groups of swaying coconut palms, its crocodile-filled river estuaries and rocky headlands where the sunsets are simply incredible, it’s not managed to establish itself as a surf mecca like the resorts further along the shoreline on the way to Galle and Colombo.
There are a few reasons for that. First, the area here faces southeast, so gets the full hit of dominant southeast swells when it’s in season (November to March). That’s not great for wave formation, because there’s no point to curl into and add shape or length to the waves. On top of that, Tangalle has managed to escape hotel development and towns are few and far between, so the place is really for honeymooners on the hunt for remote hotels by the Indian Ocean.
That said, we wouldn’t discount staying in Tangalle for surfing entirely. There are some places you can hit to catch some waves and it means returning to a peaceful part of Sri Lanka where you’ll keep the company of macaques and jungle birds instead of surf crews.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Sri Lanka
Tangalle surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Tangalle surf?
Where is Tangalle?
Tangalle is located on the far south coast of Sri Lanka. It’s the first area that faces southeast into the depths of the Bay of Bengal after you leave behind Dikwella. To get there, you’re looking at about three hours in a taxi transfer from Colombo airport, or about the same coming down from the highlands around Ella. Most people choose to add it to their destination list while already on the west coast, though – a tuk-tuk from Hiriketiya cost about 1,000 LKR.
A guide to the Tangalle surf spots
Hiriketiya Beach
Hiriketiya Beach has the prime surf on the south coast. The town, one that’s getting bigger and bigger every year, is set in a perfectly conch-shell bay that sees refracted SE swells coming in from morning to night. They break on either side of the beach. The western side is the easier of the two, offering a mellow beach break on rock-sand bottom that can be ridden in both directions. The eastern side of the bay is an intermediate break over an urchin-covered rock reef, but a fun ride that holds its shape right into the middle of the beach. This is usually where you’ll be taken if you opt for a Tangalle surf lesson or tour from your hotel. No complaints there. Hiri is awesome.
We have a complete guide to Hiriketiya Bay surf
Kudawella
There are some super-duper-easy waves at Kudawella during the peak season of November-March. We’re talking dribbly little wisps of whitewash that have just a push to them. Not fun for experienced surfers, who are better off bringing the towel, the sunscreen, and the snorkeling gear. However, it’s fantastic for families with the little ones in tow who want to learn, especially since there’s a well-rated on-site surf school.
Unakuruwa
Unakuruwa has been toted as the next Hiriketiya, but we don’t think it’s quite got the credentials to match up. On the face of it, the spot is quite similar: A deep horseshoe bay on the Sri Lanka south coast with a left and right at different sides of the bay. Sadly, this one is just a little too open and exposed, so rarely works as well. What’s more, it’s too close to the road to have the barefoot paradise vibe that you get in Hiri. There is a decent right hander though, and the crowds are nothing like they are further west. Expect to pay around 1,000 LKR for a tuk-tuk here from a hotel in Tangalle.
Tangalle Beach
Some people say that you can surf in Tangalle, others say don’t bother. We’re of the latter persuasion, since this whole area is really one long shorebreak that pounds against the sand. It’s great for beach coming and birdwatching, but leave the waves to the coves to the west – Unakuruwa, Hiriketiya.
Where to stay when surfing in Tangalle?
We’d say the hotels are one of the highlights of the Tangalle surf. They might not be on the doorstep of epic waves like you get up in Hikkaduwa or Midigama, but these are places where you can really escape and relax. Most are so remote that you’ll need to organize tuk-tuks or tours to get to the waves. That’s easily done, though – just ask at reception.
Ananya Beach Resort
We spent a couple of lovely days down in the Ananya Beach Resort in early 2022. Fresh off the plane it was a jet-lag cure all and a great place to get into island vibes. The beach is right out front, there’s an amazing infinity pool that mingles with the blues of the Indian Ocean and the in-house cooking is banging. For surfs, they go organized tours for around 2,000 LKR that are nothing more than a tuk-tuk ride to nearby Hiriketiya.
Eva Lanka Hotel – Beach & Wellness
This top-rated hotel gets you right by Unakuruwa at the far eastern end of Tangalle. That’s tempting because it’s rare that you’d find a place within walking distance of the waves in this corner of the island. The hotel itself has a wonderful ocean view, a round pool, and even an on-site massage parlor.
Seven Turtles
Talk about getting away from it all – Seven Turtles is wedged into the coconut jungles just back from a totally deserted run of Tangalle sand. Again, you’re looking at planned day outings to get to the surf breaks from here. But the upside there is that you get to return to complete tranquillity, with the macaques and the pool flowers for company. Totally worth it.
Want more options? Read our review of the best surf camps in Sri Lanka right now.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Tangalle surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Tangalle surf…We use Skyscanner and only Skyscanner for this. The reason? We’ve always found it the best site for comparing deals from basically ALL airlines and somehow seems to offer deals that beat going direct.
Step two: Book your surf lodge. There’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check how close EXACTLY that hotel is to particular breaks. Or Book Surf Camps, which is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages.
Step three: Book surf lessons and other activities For advance booking, you can use GetYourGuide or Viator. To be fair, though, we usually just leave this until we’re there – it’s easy to book in person in most surf destinations.
When to surf in Tangalle?
The top season for Tangalle surf is when the Sri Lanka south coast is at its peak. That’s between November and March, when the monsoon is stuck over the far side of the island. Expect good waves and longer periods toward the start of the season (November-December), which will gradually mellow out into flatter periods towards the later part of the season (January-March, better for total beginners).
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
