A calm, reef-protected lagoon beach just southwest of Matara town, popular for safe swimming and snorkelling.

Overview

Polhena is a sheltered strip of beach a short distance southwest of Matara town, where a coral reef creates a shallow, calm lagoon that is one of the safest swimming spots on the south coast. The clear, protected water is good for beginner snorkelling, with reef fish and sometimes sea turtles close to shore. A scatter of guesthouses and small cafes behind the sand makes it a quieter, more local alternative to the busier beach towns further west.

History

Polhena has long been a fishing and residential neighbourhood on the edge of Matara, and its reef-sheltered lagoon has made it a favourite bathing beach for local families and, more recently, for visitors seeking calm water for swimming and snorkelling.