Casuarina Beach

Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

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Casuarina Beach, also called Casoorina or Cashoorina, is located in Karainagar on Karainagar Island in the Jaffna District of northern Sri Lanka, approximately 20 to 23 kilometers northwest of Jaffna City.

Considered the best and most famous beach in the Jaffna Peninsula and Northern Province, it stretches about 1.5 kilometers long with pristine white sand, shallow waters, smooth waves, and calm, clear, warm Indian Ocean water that makes it ideal for swimming, snorkeling, boating, and paddle boating. The beach got its name from the mature Casuarina trees lining the shoreline that provide natural shade from the warm Jaffna sun, creating a compact coastal forest perfect for relaxation.

This unspoiled, tranquil beach is popular with both locals and foreign visitors, especially on weekends, offers fewer crowds than southern Sri Lankan beaches, features the Karainagar Lighthouse at its eastern tip, and has minimal facilities with a few local shops renting snorkeling gear, paddle boats, and kayaks, plus selling souvenirs.

The best beach season runs from November to March, and visitors can witness local fishermen in the morning and enjoy magical sunsets in the evening while the beach is open daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm with no entrance fee required.