Ahangama in a Day: A Short Escape by the Sea

As the year-end approaches, we all need a calm vacation to recharge our energy. Choosing a nearby destination, we decided to visit Ahangama for some relaxing beach time.

Ahangama is a famous surfing destination among tourists and is always full of life. The relatively shallow ocean makes its beaches attractive to many visitors. We spent exactly 24 hours in Ahangama, and for someone who wants to fully experience surfing and nightlife, 3-4 nights would be ideal, depending on the budget.

Let me share our itinerary from this journey.

Quick Stop at Thalpe

We traveled via the Galle-Matara road, and our first stop was the Thalpe Natural Pools. It was around 11:30 a.m. on a Monday morning, and there were very few people at the place. Since we had no intention of getting into the water that early, we explored the area briefly and then headed back.

Lunch at Kai Ahangama

As soon as we reached Ahangama, we decided to have lunch first. We parked the car a few meters away and walked towards Ahangama town to Kai Ahangama Rooftop Café. Kai Ahangama is a popular café due to its vibrant rooftop setup. There wasn’t much of a crowd when we arrived, but it got busier later.

We chose the rooftop terrace with bean bags, where we could sit comfortably and relax. The place was a little warm due to its roofing style, but there were enough fans to manage the heat. We ordered a buttermilk fried chicken burger, a tuna poke bowl, and a cold chocolate drink. The food took some time to arrive, but we enjoyed watching surfers while sipping our drinks. We spent about 1 to 1.5 hours there enjoying both the food and the view.

Dessert Ice Cream Stop at Piccadilly Parlour

While walking back to the car, we stopped at Piccadilly Parlour for dessert. We had two cups of gelato: passion fruit and mango, and chocolate brownie. The place was super cozy and calming, and I loved the interior colors. The gelatos were really good. The passion fruit one, in particular, had a slightly sour taste, very similar to natural passion fruit.

Checking in to the Accommodation

Around 2:30 p.m., we checked into our accommodation, Thambara Villa. It is within walking distance of Kabalana Beach and just a 1- 2 minute drive from Ahangama town. We settled in and rested until around 4:00 p.m.

Coffee at Marshmallows Café

In the evening, we got dressed and headed back to Ahangama town for coffee at Marshmallows Café. This small café has gained a lot of attention on social media due to its vibrant seating arrangement. They have red bean bags placed by the beach, creating a very Pinterest-worthy vibe.

Unfortunately, all the front seats were occupied when we arrived. Still, we spent about 45 minutes enjoying our coffee and gazing at the calm blue ocean. These little moments made the day feel longer and more meaningful.

Sunset Waiting at Kabalana Beach

After changing into swimwear at the hotel, we walked to Kabalana Beach. It is a well-known surf spot, with plenty of surfing schools and surfboard rental places nearby. The beach and the water were quite crowded.

This was my first time stepping into the ocean. Even 5-6 meters away from the shore, the water wasn’t very deep. We didn’t go too far, but it was a relaxing experience. We stayed until sunset, watching people enjoy various beach activities.

Looking for Thelinis

We returned to the hotel, got ready for dinner, and drove back to Ahangama town. After parking the car, we followed Google Maps to our next café stop, “Thelinis.” We had to walk along a narrow footpath to reach this hidden café, which offered a wide ocean view.

We were lucky to find a front-row bean bag facing the sea. Although it was quite dark, we could still enjoy the calm ocean and the moving lights of ships in the distance. A neighboring dog briefly interrupted our peace, but overall it was a lovely experience. We ordered skewers, chicken and chips, and a pineapple vanilla mocktail. We spent about an hour there and would have stayed longer if it wasn’t so dark.

Late-Night Food at Tara Beach Café

Since we still felt a bit hungry after dinner, we walked to Tara Beach Café, which is within walking distance of our accommodation, to grab a pizza. We enjoyed a Hawaiian pizza from their seating area built around a tree.

Heading to Secret Beach on Day 2

After a good breakfast at our accommodation, we drove to Secret Beach, which was about a 15-minute drive away. The beach was more beautiful than I expected, with clear blue water and light-colored sand. We took a few photos at the famous photo spots. However, we didn’t get into the water due to warning signs.

Quick Look at Stilt Fishermen

From Secret Beach, we could see a stilt fishermen site nearby. Visiting a stilt fishermen location was on my bucket list, and we were able to experience it from here free of charge.

Back to Kabalana Beach

Since we had some time before checkout, Harith suggested going back to the beach for one more visit. After changing at the hotel, we headed back. As it was quite sunny, I chose to relax on a sunbed under the shade while Harith spent time in the water. I enjoyed watching surfers and reading, which was very relaxing.

Heading to Cactus Café

After checking out, we drove back to town for lunch at Cactus Café. This café is also quite popular and is decorated with real cactus plants. We ordered fluffy pancakes, Ciao focaccia with chicken, and a Pink Cool Down (a drink made with watermelon, passion fruit, and pineapple). We took our time enjoying the food, the view, and the overall vibe.

Time flew by, and we left Ahangama around 1:30 p.m.

We truly enjoyed the stay, food, and atmosphere it was a perfect reboot from our monotonous routine.