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Home / South / Nilwella

Nilwella Beach

South Coast · Hambantota · nearest town Tangalle
★ 3.5 (1)
Swim: Rough
Best time: Nov–Apr
28.7°C · Patchy rain nearby today
Nilwella beach, Sri Lanka
Region
South
District
Hambantota
Nearest town
Tangalle
Water
Calm
Crowds
quiet, local, secluded, family-friendly
Wheelchair
A2 coastal road, a short drive west of Tangalle; signed turn-off at Nilwella near the beach.

About Nilwella

Nilwella is a small, quiet bay just west of Tangalle on the Hambantota coast, with a modest curve of sand that local travellers often call Blue Beach. Gentle water makes it one of the easiest beaches in the area for swimming, and palm trees crowd right down to the sand, giving the bay a sleepy, shaded feel. Development is minimal - a handful of guesthouses and private villas sit behind the beach, and most days you will share the sand with few other people. A tiny islet offshore, sometimes called Blue Beach Island, can be reached by boat from the shore. There is no village nightlife and little to do beyond swim, walk and eat at your guesthouse, which is exactly the point: Nilwella is a stop for travellers who want the south coast without the crowds.

  • Small quiet bay just west of Tangalle, sometimes called Blue Beach
  • Gentle water that is easy for swimming
  • Palm trees shading the sand down to the waterline
  • Offshore islet known as Blue Beach Island, reachable by boat
  • Only a handful of guesthouses and villas behind the beach
  • Very few visitors, even in high season

Best time to visit

Nov–Apr (dry season for this coast)

MonthAvg highRain daysSuitability
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

Powered by WeatherAPI.com · marine data by Open-Meteo · updated daily
28.7 °
Feels like 32.7°
Patchy rain nearby
Wind 17 km/h W (gusts 27) · Humidity 74% · UV 8.3
☀ Sunrise 06:00 AM · Sunset 06:14 PM
Next hours
11 AM
30°
Light rain shower
12 PM
30°
Patchy rain nearby
1 PM
30°
Patchy rain nearby
2 PM
30°
Patchy rain nearby
3 PM
29°
Patchy rain nearby
4 PM
28°
Overcast
5 PM
27°
Cloudy
6 PM
26°
Partly Cloudy
Next 7 days
Sun
27°
Patchy rain nearby
81%
Mon
27°
Patchy rain nearby
54%
Tue
27°
Patchy rain nearby
57%
Wed
27°
Patchy rain nearby
69%
Thu
27°
Patchy rain nearby
73%
Fri
27°
Patchy rain nearby
35%
Sat
27°
Patchy rain nearby
37%
Wave height: 1.7 m Sea temp: 27.6°C Swell: 1.2 m S

Forecasts are model-based; use the climate guidance above for season planning.

Surf conditions

Fair
Swell
1.2 m S
Swell period
9s
Wind waves
0.7 m W
Sea temp
27.6°C
Wind
Cross-shore
Tide
Rising
Secondary swell
0.8 m S

Wind blowing along the coast

Next 7 days — surf forecast
Sun
1.4m
15s
S
Mon
1.6m
15s
S
Tue
1.8m
13s
S
Wed
1.7m
12s
S
Thu
1.7m
10s
S
Fri
1.6m
9s
S
Sat
1.5m
9s
S

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.

Nearby places will appear here after the OpenStreetMap import runs.

Reviews

★ 4 (1)
Scenery3.5
Water4.7
Cleanliness3.4
Facilities3.4
Crowds4.5
📌 Editor review
★ 4

Nilwella is the quietest, least developed beach on this stretch - a gentle, palm-shaded bay with easy swimming and almost nothing to do, which is its appeal. Best for travellers passing through Tangalle who want an afternoon of empty sand and calm water.

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Travel tips

10
Combine with Tangalle · 3 days ago
Nilwella is a short drive west of Tangalle - easy to visit for a quiet beach day while based in town.
10
Ask locally about the islet · 3 days ago
Boat trips to the offshore islet are informal - arrange one through your guesthouse or a local fisherman.
10
Eat at your guesthouse · 3 days ago
Dining options are very limited, so most guesthouses serve meals; plan dinner in Tangalle if yours does not.
10
Bring shade essentials · 3 days ago
The palms cover much of the sand, but water and snacks are not sold on the beach - carry what you need.

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FAQ

Yes - the bay is calm and sheltered, and swimming is easy in the Nov-Apr dry season; from May to September the southwest monsoon makes the sea rougher.
A tiny islet offshore from Nilwella that locals and some guides call Blue Beach Island; it can be reached by boat from the shore.
Accommodation is limited to a handful of guesthouses and private villas behind the beach; Tangalle, a short drive east, has the nearest full range of hotels and restaurants.

Questions from travelers

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