Situated on the southwestern coast of the island, Bentota is a haven for those seeking a relaxing beach getaway. Well known for its stunningly beautiful beach, Bentota is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. The soft golden sand and clear blue waters make it an ideal spot for sunbathing and swimming. The beach is surrounded by palm trees and other lush vegetation, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere amidst beautiful scenery. Moreover, a wide range of water sports activities is available at Bentota Beach.
Filled with luxury beach hotels along the entire coastline, Bentota Beach is so popular among foreign tourists who are looking for a premium tropical vacation. Above all, Bentota is famous as the top romantic beach in Sri Lanka. Thus, if you are looking forward to enjoying a romantic beach getaway or celebrating your wedding, Bentota is the place for you. Without a doubt, the gorgeous Bentota Beach is the perfect honeymoon destination for a romantic hideaway.
How to reach Bentota Beach
Located at about 60 km from the capital of Colombo, Bentota is easily reachable within 2 hours by the A2 highway that connects Bentota and Colombo. There are bus services from the Colombo bus terminal to Bentota every day of the week. Thus, the cheapest way to get from Bentota to Colombo is by normal bus, which costs less than 1 USD.
The easiest way to reach Bentota is by train. Bentota is connected to the Coastal Railway line that runs to Matara passing through Galle. This is one of the most scenic journeys in the country. You can use a train from Colombo Fort Station to Aluthgama Station that located just 3.5 km from Bentota. The ride to Bentota is quite interesting and you can reach Aluthgama station by 1-hour train journey.
The quickest way to get from Bentota to Colombo is by taxi. You can check the taxi charges on the 12goasia website and select the best transfer to reach Bentota.
With its vibrant coastline and beautiful lagoon, Bentota is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Sri Lanka. In this post, we are showing the 12 best things to do in Bentota Beach and the surrounding.
1. Bentota Beach Park
Bentota beach park is a clean and long stretch of beach. This beach area is so beautiful and relaxing where you can just sit and enjoy the sound of the sea. If you accompany kids, they can enjoy a lot by playing on the soft sands and stepping on the waters.
Bentota is the perfect family-friendly place where you can enjoy a lovely vacation in the tropical blue waters. The ocean in Bentota is perfect for enjoying the radiant colors of corals and fish species. There will be locals and tourists swimming in warm blue waters.
2. Surfing
Bentota is a world-famous surfing and windsurfing hub, owing to the consistent windy climate of the beach. With some ideal training spots, Bentota is perfect for windsurfing beginners. There are some tranquil, crystal-clear freshwater bodies for training before one venture out to the sea for Windsurfing.
November to April is the peak season with optimum conditions for windsurfing. Surfing lessons are available from a variety of surf instructors on Bentota Beach.
3. Parasailing
Parasailing is a recreational kiting activity available at Bentota Beach. This fun activity involves a person being towed behind a moving boat, while attached to a specially designed parachute, known as a parasail wing. This is a wonderful method where you can survey the scenery of the ocean from above.
Although this is one of the recently discovered activities, many tourists like to enjoy the fun and excitement of this adventurous sport. This activity is available only in a number of Sri Lanka’s holiday destinations. Bentota is a reputed place for parasailing, with its safe swimming conditions. The many resorts in Bentota offer water sports packages include this fun activity.
4. Speedboat riding
Nicknamed as the water sports capital in Sri Lanka, Bentota is ideal for those who love to play in the water. The watersports centres in Bentota offer a range of water activities including speedboat riding, jet skiing, and banana boat rides. Water skiing and Jet Ski are quite famous activities in the Bentota lagoon.
5. Scuba diving
Bentota offers a range of watersports activities to choose from. Diving, scuba diving, and snorkeling are also popular, as the area is home to a diverse range of marine life including colorful fish and sea turtles.
6.Bentota River Cruise
Bentota River is the country’s third largest river, where it forms a lagoon before flowing into the Indian Ocean. There is a road bridge and a railway bridge over the Bentota River that joins the western province and the southern province. Once you pass over the Bentota Bridge, you are entering the down south of Sri Lanka.
The lagoon formed by the Bentota River has jungle mangroves at either side of the river mouth. Visitors can take a boat ride along the Bentota River to see local wildlife and explore the mangroves. You can witness exotic aquatic fauna, including fishes, crocodiles, rare birds, turtles, and reptiles.
As well, kayaking can be done throughout the year in Bentota Lagoon. This is a famous recreational water activity that encourages visitors to paddle under professional supervision.
7. Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery
A must-see attraction in the Bentota area is the Kosgoda turtle hatchery. It locates just 10 km from Bentota Beach. Visitors can learn about the conservation efforts to protect sea turtles and even release baby turtles into the ocean.
Bentota Beach is a very unique place as five species of marine turtles can be observed in Sri Lanka. They are Green Turtle, Leatherback, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, and Olive Ridley. There is a turtle conservation project to protect these vulnerable species.
Under this project, the turtle eggs laid on the beach bring to a safe place and rebury until they hatch. The baby turtles are kept for a couple of days before being released back into the ocean.
Many tourists are looking forward to enjoying this wonderful experience in Sri Lanka. The facility also houses the injured turtles and makes a home for them. As well, there is a rare albino turtle that cannot survive in the ocean rearing in the premises.
8. Lunuganga Estate
The Lunuganga Estate was the country home of renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Lunuganga means “Salt River” in the Sinhalese language. You can discover the architectural beauty of this extraordinary home and observe the serenity and bliss of the surroundings.
Lunuganga Estate was a cinnamon estate during the Dutch period. Then, it turned into a rubber plantation under British rule. Geoffrey Bawa bought 15 acres of this land in 1948. He named it the Lunuganga estate and he meticulously planned the design of the land.
This was a long journey that took place over a period of 50 years. Upon his death in 2003, the Estate is managed by the Lunuganga Trust. Now it operates as a country house boutique hotel near the Bentota coast. You can book this house to stay there overnight and enjoy the architectural beauty of Geoffrey Bawa’s extraordinary home.
9. Brief Garden
Located only 10 km from Bentota Beach, Brief Garden is the most beautiful private garden in Sri Lanka. The designer of the Brief Garden was Bevis Bawa, the older brother of Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. As same as his famous brother, Bewis was a talented landscape architect. He designed this wonderful Brief Garden at his personal residence.
The garden was designed in the late 1960s, and Bevis Bawa continued caring for it until his death in 1992. Brief Garden was open for public viewings since the 1970s. It showcases over 106 different species of plant life.
The garden spans over 20 acres and is a key attraction for any visitors interested in nature and landscape design. The garden displays a wonderful plant collection, including extremely rare Black Lilies. Without a doubt. this beautiful garden is a treat to the eyes of nature lovers.
Brief Garden displays a range of interesting artwork and antique sculptures. There are elegant landscape structures including a Japanese Moon Gate. You’ll see there is an old Frangipani tree at the entrance of the house and it was the first tree planted in the area.
The villa contains a private library with a collection of statues, paintings, photographs, and ornaments. Certainly, Brief Garden is a labor of love of Bevis Bawa and a completely worthy place to visit.
10. Kande Viharaya
Kande Viharaya Temple houses one of the most incredible statues of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka. At a height of 160 feet, this is one of the tallest sitting Buddha statues in the world. this beautiful towering statue of Lord Buddha is one of the most treasured monuments in the country. If you are a cultural enthusiast, Kande Viharaya is a must-visit place in Sri Lanka.
Kande Vihara temple derives its name from its location, the mountaintop. The temple sits on top of a hill with this majestic cross-legged Buddha statue. This temple is an important site for Buddhists. The serene beauty of the temple is appealing not only to Buddhists but also to all ethnic communities.
11. Madu River Cruise
Madu River Safari is one of the top things to do while you are holidaying in Bentota. This ecological sanctuary is just 17 km from Bentota town. Madu Ganga is the second biggest RAMSAR wetland in Sri Lanka. Highly rich in biodiversity, the river covers around 150 acres of land and consists of 14 mangroves out of the 24 mangrove species.
The Madu Ganga River Safari is a quite famous activity among tourists. You can see a number of islands located in the river and visit some of them. Certainly, the fish spa in Madu River gives a wonderful experience to visitors. The lush green jungle around Madu River is home to 300 species of plants and about 250 wildlife species which makes it a haven for nature lovers.
12. Toddy Tasting
Bentota is famous for its toddy production, an alcoholic beverage made out of coconut nectar. Toddy or Palm Wine is called “Ra” in Sinhala. It is one of the most popular local drinks in Sri Lanka. Toddy is made by fermenting the sap of the coconut flower. This strong whitish beverage has a deep sweet taste.
There are experienced toddy tappers who collect coconut sap and make palm wine using their traditional skills. Toddy tapping is an extremely tough and hazardous job because they climb without safety support. They hold on to one rope at shoulder level and walk on the other rope to move between coconut trees. This is a frequent sight in the Bentota area.
Accommodation in Bentota
Bentota offers a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets, from luxurious resorts to guesthouses, budget hostels, and homestays. Many of these options are located right on the beach, offering stunning views and easy access to the water. Most luxury hotel brands including Jetwing and Cinnamon Hotels offer accommodation in Bentota Beach. The most popular beach resorts include Avani, Taj, Cinnamon, Saman Villas, and many others. These gorgeous hotels provide great facilities for tourists who like to enjoy a romantic or family holiday in Bentota.
To sum up, Bentota Beach is a beautiful and relaxing destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you want to soak up the sun, indulge in water activities, or explore the local culture and wildlife, Bentota has it all. Moreover, Bentota Beach is surrounded by shops and stores that provide an array of Sri Lankan souvenirs. You can buy all types of souvenirs including Batiks, traditional masks, jewelry, and gemstones. As well, Bentota is famous as a dream wedding destination for a romantic celebration. Welcome guys, Visit Bentota Beach and have a wonderful tropical vacation.
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Booking.com, Briefgarden.com, Dreamstime, Facebook, and Twitter. All the copyrights are reserved by the original authors.
