AQUATIC ADVENTURE

Beach bliss in Balapitiya

Ruwandi Perera has fun exploring a truly multi-aquatic waterscape

Our tiny island has much splendour to offer, some of which are located in distant places while others are more or less offered on a silver platter. Far enough from the city of Colombo to make you feel like you’re actually ‘getting away’ and close enough to the metropolitan area that you don’t have to waste time on the road, Balapitiya is the perfect place for adventures ranging from beachfront bliss to river romances and a lot more in-between.

Although it’s not exactly a tourist hotspot, Balapitiya is the ideal place to relax. It is located close to major tourist destinations such as Galle and Bentota, and you can take in many must-see attractions such as the masks of Amba­langoda and cobbled streets of the Galle Fort, and even those elusive spots farther off at Yala National Park.

Accommodation options are available aplenty. Once occupied by the British in the colonial era, Balapitiya still has some attractive old bungalows that have now been converted into boutique hotels and villas.

You will also find larger hotels in close proximity, as well as home stays, motels and other rentals too.

Camping on the beach is trending quite a bit here – so if you’re travelling with friends and don’t have very young children, you may want to try roughing it out on one of Sri Lanka’s most scenic beaches.