Tourist Destinations in Sri Lanka

The Kalpitiya peninsula, Kalpitiya Islands and Kalpitiya Beaches are a much visited tourist destination in Sri Lanka.

Kalpitiya is located 130 km north of the Bandaranayke International Airport in Katunayake, while it is an exquisite coastal region located in the Western coastal belt, north of Colombo. Kalpitiya is a peninsula set in between the deep lagoon of Puttalam to the east and the magnificent Indian Ocean to the west. It is an unrivalled marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats ranging from bar reefs, flat coastal plains, saltpans, mangrove swamps, salt marshes and vast sand dune beaches.

The 14 islands of Battalangunduwa, Palliyawatta, Vellai I, Vellai II, Vellai III, Uchchamunai, Ippantivu, Periya Arichchalai, Sinna Arichchalai, Eramutivu, Sinna Eramutivu, Eramutivu West, Kakativu and Mutwal (Dutch Bay) together make up 1673 hectares of land which belongs to Kalpitiya.

The Kalpitiya peninsula is 48 km long and 6-8 km wide while it is studded with fine sandy beaches which make you yearn for a beach holiday. In addition to the Kalpitiya peninsula, the 14 islands around it are encompassed in the Kalpitiya tourist development project which was envisaged in year 2008.

Kalpitiya Dolphins

Kalpitiya, that affords the opportunity to view large pods of Dolphins, often numbers running to hundreds, is becoming a celebrated location in Sri Lanka of the lovers of Spinner Dolphins.

Kalpitiya Whales

Kalpitiya, for its presence of Sperm Whales and an occasional Blue Whale alone is a world class attraction of marine life. Whales are regularly seen around the Kalpitiya Peninsula.

Dolphin Watching

Interestingly it was only from around February 2010 that Kalpitiya was finally considered as a destination to catch sight of the majestic whale. Boat trips are regularly taken from the Kalpitiya Peninsula to an off-shore site away from the reef to catch sight of Sperm whales, who is also the largest toothed whale in the world. The Sperm Whale, in the hunt of Giant Squid, dives several hundred meters into the ocean. Kalpitiya Peninsula with its continental shelf provides an ideal habitat to the Sperm Whale.

The season to view Sperm Whale at Kalpitiya

The season to view the Sperm Whale at Kalpitiya Peninsula is between December and mid-April.
The sight of the magnificent Blue whale too could be possible occasionally.
The season for the beaches at Kalpitiya where you can enjoy the most memorable beach holiday is from October to May.

Bar Reef at Kalpitiya

Bar Reef, the largest coral reef (307 square km) in Sri Lanka, which can be reached by an hour’s boat trip from Kalpitiya, serves as the ideal sea for keen scuba divers and snorkelers. The beautiful reef, exceedingly rich in bio-diversity, is home to an incredible variety of tropical fish as well as offering sightings of manta rays, reef sharks and the occasional sea turtle.

The coastline at Kalpitiya

Boat rides up to the lagoon and canoe trips down the river are a pleasant way of exploring the coastline, whilst 4WD jeep rides along the deserted sand dunes between the ocean and the lagoon offer a unique way of watching the colourful evening sunsets.

Alankuda Beach at Kalpitiya

The first beach at Kalpitiya that was developed within the Kalpitiya mega tourist development project is Alankuda Beach. Boat trips are regularly taken off at the beach at Alankuda and head out to sea to see dolphins and sperm whales. The best sight to see at Alankuda is the lovely dolphin pods. Half a day excursions from Kalpitiya include St. Anne’s Church, Thalawila. One day Excursions from Kalpitiya include the Wilpattu Sanctuary, the Historical Dutch Fort andAnuradhapura which is an Ancient City in Sri Lanka.

Kalpitiya in history

Kalpitiya is believed to have been a pivotal trading hub and was christened ‘the island of Cardiva’ by the Portuguese.

The gorgeous peninsula of Kalpitiya is situated on the north-west coast of Sri Lanka, about 120 km north of Colombo, and is separated from the mainland by the Puttalam Lagoon on the east and the Indian Ocean on the west. Primarily a fishing area, Kalpitiya is one of the most beautiful and least developed coastal stretches in the island, with a host of activities, scenic beauty and wonders of nature.

The highlight here is dolphin watching, particularly between November to April, where you can witness several pods of spinner dolphins swimming alongside your boat! Kalpitiya is the best place in Sri Lanka for dolphin watching, with the highest dolphin sighting ratio, and largest schools of dolphins swimming close to shore. The deeper waters of Kalpitiya have whales – watching majestic creatures such as sperm whales and blue whales is truly a phenomenal experience.
Kalpitiya is also famous for kitesurfing – it has gained worldwide acclaim as being one of the hottest kitesurfing destinations with its consistent strong winds and surf conditions. Kite season is during May to October, and there are several stunning spots around to suit various levels of skill. Those that are interested in snorkelling will be delighted with what the area has to offer – the Bar Reef is one of the best coral reefs in Asia offering a visual explosion of colour and a host of tropical fish. St. Annes Reef is another good snorkelling spot that is situated closer to the shore. Kalpitiya gives you full on water based action with deep sea fishing, water skiing, windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing available.

The Wilpattu National Park is situated close by – here you can spot leopards, sloth bears and elephants. Other dry land diversions in the vicinity include a 17th century Dutch fort and church, as well as Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary and Nawadankulama Tank.

There are several charming resorts that are coming up in Kalpitiya – our favourites include Bar Reef Beach Resort and Palagama Beach Resort.