(
A swimmer's paradise in Sri LankaBentota, Sri Lanka
Once in the hands of the Dutch, the British and the Portuguese, it's not hard to see why Sri Lanka's beautiful south-western coast entranced so many early explorers. And boasting both a lagoon and prime Indian Ocean beachfront, Bentota is quite possibly the pick of the coastal bunch. Throw in a swim-up pool bar at Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa and water babies may never want to leave town.
Watch small boats ply the calm waters of the lagoon, and the waves crash onto the golden shoreline from the seclusion of your suite's balcony at the Centara Ceysands. If lounging by the ocean becomes too pedestrian then you can always get out onto the water instead. At the nearby town of Mirissa jump on a boat and watch blue whales breaching the deep blue. Or if you're not in town at the right time (November to April is the season) then explore UNESCO-listed Galle Fort or wildlife-rich Yala National Park instead. And once you've exhausted the bounty of local jaunts there should still be plenty of time to settle in for an Indian head massage at the hotel's resident spa.
get there
It’s a two-hour drive from Colombo to Bentota. Getting to the Centara Ceysands Resort and Spa also requires a small boat ride over the lagoon to the resort, and the entire transfer can be booked through the hotel.
- Six restaurants and bars
- A swimming pool complete with a children’s pool and jacuzzis
- Water sports including water skiing, jet-skiing and sailing
- A kid’s club
- SPA Cenvaree offering ancient Ayurvedic treatments
- Complimentary wi-fi
- Half- or full-board available
- Interconnecting rooms are available
From US$113 per person, per night.
Centara Hotels and Resorts
centarahotelsresorts.com
This tip was provided by Centara Hotels and Resorts, but we’re sharing it with you because we think it’s great.
Ready to go?
Get Inspired In Print
While you're here
This national park isn’t like all the other national parks. ...
This national park isn’t like all the other national parks. ...
Aliya, a stay in central Sri Lanka, boasts what might just be the best...
Aliya, a stay in central Sri Lanka, boasts what might just be the best swimming pool...
There is a sense of ‘laidback chaos’ that courses through the veins of...
There is a sense of ‘laidback chaos’ that courses through the veins of Sri Lanka. ...
On a deserted beach in Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park – the best place in...
On a deserted beach in Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park – the best place in the country...