Kalpitiya

Kalpitiya is a long sandy peninsula with the Puttalam lagoon on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other, and the combination of flat shallow lagoon water and steady wind has made it the kitesurfing centre of Sri Lanka, with two wind seasons a year. Boats go out from the harbour to see spinner dolphins, which travel in very large pods here, and sperm and blue whales pass offshore in season. The Dutch fort of 1676 stands in the town.

Highlights

• The kitesurfing lagoon - flat shallow water with steady wind, two seasons a year.
• The spinner dolphins - very large pods offshore, seen on morning boat trips.
• The Dutch fort - a 1676 coral-stone fort in Kalpitiya town.
• The Bar Reef - a large reef offshore, the biggest in Sri Lankan waters.

When to go

May to October and December to March are the two wind seasons for kitesurfing. Dolphin trips run best from November to April. The sea is rough outside those windows.

Practical notes

Dolphin boats often chase pods too hard and drive through them; choosing an operator matters. The Bar Reef has suffered severe bleaching. Facilities on the peninsula are spread out and basic.

Nearby

Wilpattu is northeast, and Puttalam is southeast.