Casuarina Beach

Casuarina is the beach the Jaffna peninsula goes to: a stretch of pale sand on Karainagar island with casuarina trees planted along the back giving the only shade for a long way, and water so shallow that it stays waist deep a long way out, which makes it unusually safe by Sri Lankan standards. It is reached by causeway. At weekends it fills with families from Jaffna and the food stalls open.

What to look for

• The shallow water - waist depth a long way out, calm and safe.
• The casuarina trees - the planted shade the beach is named for.
• The causeway - the road across the shallows to Karainagar island.
• The weekend crowd - Jaffna families filling the beach on Sundays.

When to go

December to March is the most comfortable. Weekends are busy and weekdays almost empty. Summer is severely hot.

Practical notes

Facilities are basic and litter after busy weekends is a problem. There is no lifeguard, though the shallow water makes it safer than most. Shade is limited to the tree line.

Nearby

Jaffna town is southeast, and Keerimalai is northeast.