Bentota is a famous coastal town situated approximately 65 km south of Colombo and a tourist hotpot with a local airport and a handful of World Class hotels right on the beach including the lower and budget categories.
It is a destination for water sports such as jet skiing, deep sea and river fishing, banana boat rides, river cruises...etc., to name a few. It is an ideal place for a sea swim or if you just want to sit out in the sun reading a book. If you venture out of town towards the southern coast, there are plenty of things you can do during the day. It is also 56km north of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Galle which you could drive up for the day and return back in the evening. You can also enjoy some local ‘Toddy’ (Alcohol prepared from Coconut) brewed early in the morning which might get you buzzing, fresh water sea food in a nearby restaurant, visit a turtle hatchery, witness the production of wooden masks all within a short distance from Bentota. You can also drive up and witness the beautifully landscaped property known as ‘Lunuganga’ designed by the world famous architect Geoffrey Bawa which is just 5 km inland from the Bentota town. The town is also famous for its ‘Ayurveda’ treatment which is an ancient herbal treatment for the body, mind and soul. There are hotels which specialize specifically for this treatment which requires a certain period and a special diet.