Kosgoda and Induruwa

Is Kosgoda worth visiting?

Quick answer: Yes, for a short stop at the turtle conservation project or a quiet beach night south of Bentota. The Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project says it is usually open from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm every day, with hatchling releases at 6.15 pm, and it asks you to book ahead. Induruwa, 5 km north, is the quieter beach next door.

Kosgoda and Induruwa are small villages on the Galle Road in Galle District, just south of Bentota. They have resort hotels on the beach and their own railway stations, but no big town centre. This page covers both. It is part of our south coast region.

What is the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project?

The project calls itself Sri Lanka's "pioneering sea turtle conservation project", run by local people with help from international volunteers. Its website explains why Kosgoda is a turtle nesting site and why the project is needed. These are the visit details from its own pages:

There are other turtle hatcheries along this coast. Before you choose one, ask how it handles eggs and hatchlings, and do not handle turtles unless staff ask you to. If you want to see turtles in the wild instead, our diving and snorkelling page covers the reefs.

What is Induruwa like?

Induruwa is the next village north, about 5 km from Kosgoda by road and about 5 km south of Bentota. It has two railway stations, Induruwa and Maha Induruwa. It is a good choice if you want a beach hotel near Bentota's restaurants and river trips without staying in the busiest part. We found no official tourism page for Induruwa today, so this page sticks to the train, road and weather facts.

How do you get to Kosgoda and Induruwa?

By train. The coast line from Colombo Fort stops at all of these. Fares from the Sri Lanka Railways table, fetched 22 October 2026 (the table is dated July 2022, so confirm at the station):

Not every train stops at the small stations. Check the timetable at the station or on the Sri Lanka Railways site, and see our train booking guide.

By road. OpenStreetMap driving routes with no traffic, checked 22 October 2026:

When is the best time to visit Kosgoda?

December to March is the dry season on this coast. There is no WMO station here, so the table shows Galle (to the south) and Ratmalana (to the north), WMO 1991 to 2020 normals:

From May to October the south-west monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas. The turtle project is open all year, so a visit still works in the wet months. For a beach trip at the end of the year, compare coasts in our November and December beaches guide.

What should you know before you visit?

• Book first. The project asks for a reservation before you arrive, for a visit or a release.
• Time it for the release. Releases are at 6.15 pm, so arrive in the late afternoon if you want to see one, and confirm on the day that hatchlings are ready.
• Bring cash. The project lists no online payment or price, so ask what to pay when you book.
• Mind the road. The project is on the busy Galle Road, so take care crossing with children.

What can you combine with Kosgoda?

To see wild turtles nesting at night, see our Rekawa turtle watch page near Tangalle.