Sri Lanka’s west coast was the first part of the country to cater for families looking for a relaxing beach holiday with traditional hotels first springing up in the 1960s as the package tour industry began. Many of these hotels offer baby-sitting services and kids clubs. Since then, the choice of hotels has widened to include smaller, individualistic hotels ranging from budget to the height of boutique luxury.
Only recently have holiday activities on Sri Lanka’s west coast begun to extend beyond the hotels. One imaginative little place is the Sri Lanka puppet museum near Balapitiya where your children could even try their hand at presenting their own puppet show, operating puppets on a small stage from behind a curtain.
More traditional is a visit to the Kosgoda turtle hatchery which like a similar scheme on the south coast in Rekawa seeks to protect the future of endangered marine turtles. Bentota lagoon is great for water sports, Hikkaduwa is a renowned surfing spot and there is also plenty of activity on Rathgama lake.
6 Best Water-Sport Activities in Sri Lanka
Island-wide
Discover the 6 best water-sport activities in Sri Lanka, from athletic surfing, kite-surfing and windsurfing to laidback snorkelling and sailing trips.
Duration: N/A
Best time: December to March, June to September
Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery
Kosgoda, West Coast
Of the seven species of marine turtles, five come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka and the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery which primary operates as a hatchery, is a great place to observe collected and rescued eggs hatch.
Duration: 1 hour
Best time: Year-round
