Bentota Beach

Bentota sits 60 km south of Colombo on Sri Lanka's west coast — close enough for a comfortable day trip from the capital, yet distant enough to feel like a genuine resort destination. The beach here is one of the longest on the west coast, a 3-km sweep of handsome golden sand backed by a belt of tall casuarina trees that offer natural shade. The beach is bisected by the Bentota River estuary, which carves through the sand and flows into the sea — this river is the source of Bentota's identity as a water sports hub, with calm river water ideal for water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, and canoeing.

The ocean here faces west, and between November and April (the west coast's dry season) it receives consistent beach breaks and occasional point waves at the river mouth that offer excellent beginner-to-intermediate surf. A handful of surf schools operate here, and the slow, forgiving beach break waves in front of the Galapata area are among the most learner-friendly in Sri Lanka. The NBBC (National Board of Boatmen's Corporation) Water Sports Centre at Bentota is Sri Lanka's best-organised water sports facility, offering certified instruction in everything from jet skiing to kiteboarding.

Bentota's wider appeal also includes Lunuganga — the legendary garden estate created by Sri Lanka's greatest architect, Geoffrey Bawa — which sits on a promontory above the Bentota River lagoon. The estate is now open to visitors and offers one of the most beautiful experiences in Sri Lanka. The Brief Garden, designed by another noted Sri Lankan artist 20 km inland, is also reachable on a half-day trip. Bentota thus combines a superb beach with world-class garden tourism, making it one of the most versatile destinations on the island.