The sandbar
Between river and sea.
Rambukwelladk — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pavan Lulla — CC BY 3.0 · Hafiz Issadeen from Dharga Town, Sri Lanka — CC BY 2.0 · Pavan Lulla — CC BY 3.0 · Saman Villas Bentota — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pavan Lulla — CC BY 3.0 · Pavan Lulla — CC BY 3.0 · Mahesh Gudladona — CC BY 3.0
A long sandy beach on the south-west coast, about 65 kilometres south of Colombo, at the mouth of the Bentota River, where a narrow sandbar separates the calm river from the ocean, so sea and river pleasures come together in one place. In the 17th century this was the southern limit of Portuguese territory, and the Portuguese built a small fort at the river mouth; the Dutch later turned one of its buildings into a rest house for officers travelling between Colombo and Galle. The river is known for boat trips through mangroves and past little islands, birdwatching and gentle water sports, while the beach offers wide sands, palms and golden sunsets over the ocean. The beach is free. The best season is November to April, when the sea is calm; during the south-west monsoon waves and currents get strong, so heed the warning flags. Hotels and restaurants line the beach, so ask about halal.
Between river and sea.
Through mangroves.
Over the ocean.
Bentota, south-west coast
November to April, when the sea is calm; waves get rough during the south-west monsoon.