Kalametiya Beach
About Kalametiya
Kalametiya pairs a long, quiet, palm-fringed beach with one of Sri Lanka's most under-visited birding sites: the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, a wetland of two saline lagoons, mangroves and salt marsh about 15 km east of Tangalle. First protected in 1938, the sanctuary hosts well over 150 recorded bird species - herons, egrets, painted storks, spot-billed pelicans and kingfishers, plus migratory waders that arrive from October to March and flamingos that use the saline lagoons. The open beach runs in long, mostly undeveloped stretches, and the main activities are birdwatching from walking trails and boardwalks and calm boat trips through the lagoon and mangroves. Very quiet and minimal on facilities, it suits birders, photographers and anyone wanting empty sand and wetland wildlife rather than a resort scene.
- ✓Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary: two saline lagoons, mangroves and salt marsh, protected since 1938
- ✓Well over 150 bird species recorded, with migrants arriving Oct-Mar
- ✓Flamingos, pelicans, herons, egrets and kingfishers on the lagoons
- ✓Calm lagoon boat trips through the mangroves
- ✓Long, mostly undeveloped stretches of palm-fringed beach
- ✓Walking trails and boardwalks for birdwatching
- ✓About 15 km east of Tangalle, near the wetland birdlife of Bundala
Best time to visit
Nov–Apr (dry season for this coast)
| Month | Avg high | Rain days | Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | ~30°C | 3–5 | Excellent |
| Apr | ~32°C | 8–10 | Good (peak heat) |
| Jul | ~30°C | 15–20 | Rough / rainy |
| Oct | ~30°C | 14–18 | Transitional |
Weather
Forecasts are model-based; use the climate guidance above for season planning.
Surf conditions
FairWind blowing along the coast
Tide is an approximate rise/fall read (model sea-level, not tide-table times). Surf rating is a general swell/wind read, not break-specific.
Nearby
Restaurants, hotels and more populate automatically from OpenStreetMap.
Reviews
Kalametiya is for birders and quiet-coast seekers rather than swimmers - the beach is empty and undeveloped, and the real draw is the sanctuary's lagoon birdlife. Go in the dry season (Nov-Apr), ideally at dawn, when migratory waders swell the species count. The most memorable moment is gliding through the mangroves by boat as painted storks and pelicans fish the shallows.
Sign in to write a review.
Travel tips
Sign in to add a tip.
Share a photo
Got a great shot of Kalametiya? Add it — it will appear in the gallery above after a quick admin approval.
FAQ
Questions from travelers
Sign in to ask a question.