Tourist information about Bentota

General information about Bentota

Bentota is a town and resort on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, 65 kilometers south of Colombo (Bentota on the map of Sri Lanka). The name comes from the river of the same name Bentota (Bentota Ganga), which flows into the ocean in the city and is the largest river on the island. In turn, the river was named after the demon Bem, who rules the banks of the river. In terms of population, the city is quite small, only 37,000 people.

Holidays in Bentota

Bentota is closely linked to nearby resorts (or areas, as you please) Beruwela, Alutgama, Induruwa, Kosgoda, which are traditionally considered areas and beaches of the resort. In general, this is a moderately developed traditional beach resort, with the infrastructure inherent in such a place: cafes and restaurants, travel agencies, transport rental. Its main advantage is the long, clean, and deserted sandy beaches. But entertainment Bentota, as, indeed, the whole of Sri Lanka, does not abound. Here you can find some water activities, go diving or snorkeling (there is a large water sports center here), go on individual excursions. Otherwise, the organization of leisure will be only in your hands.

The main guests of the resort are package tourists (tourists on vouchers), while active independent young people prefer to spend time in more democratic and fun Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna, where there is at least some evening hangout, which is so lacking here. At the same time, Bentota is quite a popular place for newlyweds. In general, the resort is less crowded than other popular resorts in the south and west of Sri Lanka. There are not many budget hotels and hostels here, but there are luxury hotels with their own territory on the first line.

The beaches in Bentota are not bad, especially outside of Bentota itself in the surrounding areas (Induruvu, Kosgoda). At the same time, if in the city itself at the height of the season you can sometimes meet tourists on the beaches, then in neighboring Induruva and Kosgoda they are empty at any time of the year. In terms of waves, it is somewhat calmer than in Hikkaduwa because some beaches are located in bays, and you can almost always find a place without big waves. And if we continue to compare the local beaches again with Hikkaduwa, then they are objectively better here: longer and more diverse, and the strip of sand is wider. As for the purity of water, you should not trust the enthusiastic sources on the Internet that there is the purest water. In fact, here is the mouth of the Bentota Ganga river, which throws silt and coastal runoff into the sea, especially a lot after rain. In addition, constant waves create a suspension of sand near the shore, and clear water is found only where the bottom is made of stones.

Infrastructure in Bentota

Tourist infrastructure in Bentota can not be called developed. Especially for tourists, except for hotels and several restaurants, there is nothing here, and all entertainment and excursion offers are concentrated mainly within hotels with their own territory. On the main street of Galle road in Bentota there are a couple of currency exchangers, one travel agency, an alcohol store, a supermarket, and a jewelry store Aida especially for tourists. The previously existing Whole tourist alley with shops and the Tourist Information Center as of 2019 have been demolished, some construction work is underway.

A little more developed infrastructure is located in the neighboring district of Alutgama around the bus and railway station. There are banks and ATMs, inexpensive local cafes, liquor stores, a market, and a diving center.

And if you move further from the center to the beaches of Moragalla Beach( Moragalla Beach), Induruwa (Induruwa) and Kosgoda (Kosgoda), then there is nothing outside the hotels at all except for rare shops and cafes for locals. See learn more about Bentota beaches and districts here...

As for accommodation, although there is no shortage of hotels, Bentota is not famous as a place with the most budget options. Most of the hotels are designed for package tourists who are ready to lay out $ 50 and above for one night in a hotel with its territory on the first line. Hostels or hotels costing up to $ 30 are problematic to find, they are all located far from the beach in a residential area behind the Main Road Galle road.

You can find and book accommodation in Bentota on these sites or through the search form below. All sites have a Russian interface and Russian-language customer support, a lot of reviews from real guests.

• 🛌 Search for hotels in Bentota on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Bentota on Trip.com (💥 our choice)
• 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru

Bentota weather, tourist seasons

In Bentota and on its neighboring beaches, the climate is conducive to year-round recreation. However, there is a low and high season, which are formed due to precipitation and monsoon winds.

High season and the best time to visit is from October to April. During this period, the least amount of precipitation falls, and the beaches have the least waves.

Low season lasts from May to November. At this time, frequent, but usually short-term rains are possible, the weather changes very sharply. What's really bad is the monsoon winds form constant waves and swimming or water sports become somewhat dangerous. However, there is a small Plus during this period: prices for hotels and tourist services in the low season are slightly reduced.

Tourist seasons in Bentota by month, when is the best time to go

Current Bentota weather and forecast

How to get to Bentota, transportation

Bentota, Alutgama, Beruvela and Induruwa Beach are nearby, so the ways to get to them and the rates are about the same. All of them are along the main Galle Road (aka A2) which goes from Colombo to the south in Galle. A branch line of the Southern Railway from Colombo also passes through the cities.

Getting from the airport or from Colombo to Bentota is easiest and fastest by taxi. Cost from $ 55, 2 hours on the road. If a taxi is too expensive for you, then you can get there by buses and trains with a transfer to Colombo. First, from the airport you need to go to the bus station in Colombo by bus number 187 from 100 rupees (more about it here), and then transfer to the bus to Bentota for 150 rupees, or by train.

You can get to Bentota from any other point in the country by bus or train within one light day, but so that the night does not catch you on the way, it is best to leave early in the morning. You will have to go with a transfer to Colombo. Here is a brief description of the routes, how to get to Bentota from major cities:

• From Negombo. From Negombo with transfer via Colombo by train or bus. Transport goes often, you can just come to the station and go.
• From Jaffna. Go also through Colombo by bus or train. The train is preferable, but you need to leave either early in the morning or take the evening train, which arrives in Colombo at 4 am.
• From Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella and other cities of the mountainous part of Sri Lanka, it is best to get by train with a transfer through Colombo, there are, including, night trains. Also at least from Nuwara Eliya once a day in the morning there is a direct bus to Ambalangoda, where it is easy to transfer to the bus to Bentota (go very often).
• From Trincomalee. There is only an overnight train from Trincomalee to Colombo, but you can change trains during the day via Batikaloa or Galoya Junction (see how to get to Trincomalee). Bus service is available during the day via Colombo. Sometimes it is faster not to wait for the next direct bus from Trincomalee to Colombo, but to take the nearest bus to Kandy, where you can change trains.

Attractions, what to see

There are not too many attractions and entertainment in Bentota and the surrounding area. If you are used to seeing interesting places, just walking or moving around on local transport, then almost forget about it here. You can see some of it yourself, but for this you will have to go to Galle, Ambalangoda or Colombo by bus. Much more freedom and the opportunity to see something will present itself if you drive a motorcycle that can be rented. For the most part, for something interesting, you should go to the central part of Sri Lanka with an excursion or a hired guide. There you can see ancient monuments Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambullu, Sigiriya etc. Finding an inexpensive group excursion to these places is not always easy, and in Bentota it is almost impossible. In the center of Bentota on the main street Galle Road there is a travel agency that organizes tours by tuk-tuk or cars to all corners of the country, but the prices are quite high and depend on the number of people in the tourist group.

Learn more about Bentota attractions here...

Useful tips for Bentota

• Currency exchange. In the city center on the main expensive Galle Road there are a couple of exchange offices with an acceptable rate and an ATM. In hotels, especially on distant beaches, an extremely unfavorable rate is offered for both exchange and settlement. It is even better to cross the bridge to the Aluthgama district to the bus station, where banks, ATMs and exchange offices are concentrated.
• Alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are best bought in Bentota or Beruvel, there are several alcohol stalls there. Alcohol in hotels on the beaches is twice as expensive.
• Divorce in stores. During excursions or just trips by tuk-tuk you will be taken to specialized tea shops, spice shops. Prices there are usually 3 times higher than in regular stores, if you buy without haggling.
• Lighting. In Bentota there is no street lighting at all, with the arrival of darkness at 18-19 hours it becomes very dark. Be sure to bring a flashlight.
• Gift shop. On Yathramulla road there is a large warehouse-gift shop. It sells a lot of souvenirs ranging from magnets to large wooden statues. Prices are low and you can bargain. Possible purchase with delivery anywhere in the world.