Bentota is among the most romantic resorts in Sri Lanka, often chosen by couples for their honeymoon. The area boasts two beautiful beaches: Cape Paradise, which separates the ocean from the lagoon, and the southern beach with well-developed tourist infrastructure.
Bentota is also home to the renowned "Kofifi Marina," a water sports center that offers activities such as banana boating, scooter rides, canoeing, catamaran sailing, surfing, and diving (with depths ranging from 4 to 35 meters). You can also try deep-sea fishing or enjoy a boat ride on the lagoon.
One of the most popular excursions offered by local travel agencies is a boat trip on the Bentota River. This tour is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, with stops at islands inhabited by monkeys and crocodiles, a visit to a fish farm, and even a unique "beauty salon" where you can experience a pedicure performed by garufa fish.
Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Galapatha Raka Maha Viharaya temple, which dates back to the 12th century. Despite being completely destroyed by the Dutch four centuries later, it was meticulously rebuilt. The temple is famous for housing an important relic—the tooth of Arahant Maha Kashyapa, the third follower of Buddha, which is enshrined in a stupa within the temple premises.
