Peacock Family Stay

I ended up staying nearly a month because I enjoyed it so much. Saman and his family were very welcoming, and the food was delicious. The garden felt like a paradise, full of birds and monkeys, with the occasional mongoose or mouse deer. Saman is passionate about turtles and guides nighttime trips to watch them lay eggs on the beach, about a five-minute walk away. If you're lucky, you might also see baby turtles hatching during the day. Some nights, the beach had glowing plankton, which made the turtle search even more magical. I'd 100% recommend this homestay.

The curry green banana and pumpkin were our favorites, and the coconut pancakes were absolutely delicious. We met Saman while out walking and had a lovely chat, then he invited us to his family-run homestay for dinner cooked by his mum. It was the most authentic Sri Lankan curry feast we've had so far. Saman is passionate about turtles and was happy to take us to the beach after dinner to try to see them. Can't recommend his place enough.

The tour with Saman felt very authentic. We saw baby turtles hatching, then watched a mother turtle bury her eggs in the sand and swim back out to sea. It was an impressive and moving experience. On the way back from the monastery tour, we even spotted another turtle coming ashore to lay her eggs.

We weren't staying at Peacock Family Stay, but met its host, Saman, on the beach near the Turtle Conservation Center. He offered us a guided nighttime walk to watch turtles laying eggs, and it became the highlight of our time in Tangalle. We were amazed by how much Saman knew about turtles and how respectfully he treated them. The next day we went there for dinner and were welcomed with exceptional friendliness. A great place to visit!