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A long, quiet beach backed by palms at Bentota

Colombo & West Coast

Bentota

Long beaches and river life

© Vincent van Zeijst · CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Wide golden beaches, resort hotels and a calm river lagoon for boat trips, close to Colombo and the airport.

Bentota is a relaxed beach area on the south-west coast with long stretches of sand and many established resort hotels. The Bentota river meets the sea here, creating a lagoon for boat safaris through the mangroves and for water sports.

Its location makes it a good last stop before flying home.

Highlights

  • River safari through the mangroves
  • Brief Garden and Lunuganga, the gardens of architect Geoffrey Bawa and his brother
  • Ayurveda and spa treatments at resort hotels
  • Sea turtle conservation projects along the coast

Practical travel notes

  • Around 2 hours from the airport by road, depending on traffic.
  • Sea conditions vary; follow lifeguard flags where present.
  • Check that any turtle project is a genuine conservation effort that does not keep animals in small tanks for display.

Season

Best from November to April.

Content reviewed 21 October 2026. Practical details change — we confirm them when planning your trip.

Nearby destinations

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  • The curved, palm-fringed beach at UnawatunaSouth Coast

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