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Voykit pocket guide · Sri Lanka
Bentota
Spend 2 days in Bentota for beach, watersports and turtle hatchery; arrive by bus or train from Colombo (2‑2½ h).
Bentota is a small coastal town on the southern bank of the Bentota River. It offers a long beach, watersports, a turtle hatchery and easy day‑trip links to nearby attractions. Two days cover the main sights and a relaxed beach day.
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Avoid
- May–Oct (monsoon season)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LKR
- Money
- LKR in small notes for tuk-tuks, buses, tea and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 2,500–4,000 excl. bed · Mid Rs 4,500–7,000 excl. bed · High Rs 8,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Dialog, Mobitel (SLT-Mobitel) and Hutch sell tourist SIMs at the airport; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 119 · Ambulance 1990 · Fire 110
- Plugs
- Types D, G, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Old three-round-pin (D and M) and UK three-flat-pin (G) sockets both appear; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Nothing extra if 10% service is on the bill; otherwise 10%.; Driver: Rs 2,000–3,000 a day at the end.; Safari jeep driver and tracker: Rs 1,500–3,000.; Guide: Rs 1,000–2,000 for a site visit.; Hotel staff: Rs 200–500; many hotels have a tip box.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water everywhere; many hotels provide filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants, with a hose; squat toilets in bus stations. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus Colombo → Bentota | Rs 150 |
| Tuk‑tuk (5 km (3.1 mi))Tuk‑tuk (3.1 mi (5 km)) | Rs 300–500 |
| Meal at a beachside restaurant | Rs 500–1,200 |
| Toddy (glass) | Rs 200–400 |
| Entry to turtle hatchery | Free |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BTN · Bentota River Airport
- small local airstrip, limited commercial service
Typical fares
- Colombo → Bentota bus
- about Rs 150, 2‑2½ h (check)
- Tuk‑tuk Bentota → Aluthgama
- Rs 300–500, 5 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Take the air‑conditioned bus (bus 2) from Colombo Fort to Bentota (2‑2½ h, Rs 150). Trains stop at nearby Aluthgama (2 km (1.2 mi)) – catch a tuk‑tuk or taxi. Walks on the beach are short; tuk‑tuk rides are common for nearby sites.Take the air‑conditioned bus (bus 2) from Colombo Fort to Bentota (2‑2½ h, Rs 150). Trains stop at nearby Aluthgama (1.2 mi (2 km)) – catch a tuk‑tuk or taxi. Walks on the beach are short; tuk‑tuk rides are common for nearby sites.
See and do
Known for
- Bentota Beach
- Turtle hatchery at Induruwa
- Toddy production
- Brief Garden
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Galle | Bus from Bentota to Galle (≈1 h) | ≈1 h 15 min |
| Brief Garden | Taxi or tuk‑tuk 11 km (6.8 mi) inland (≈20 min)Taxi or tuk‑tuk 6.8 mi (11 km) inland (≈20 min) | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Hotel Wunderbar
- Boutique 14‑room hotel on the beach.
- Cocoon Resort and Villas
- Luxury villas and rooms with pool; price from US$260.
- Temple Tree Resort & Spa
- Beach‑front resort; rooms from US$135.
- Dalmanuta Gardens – Ayurvedic Resort
- Garden setting; price from US$150.
- Cinnamon Bentota Beach
- Large resort; price from US$212.
- Villa 700
- Boutique villa; price from US$200.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | සමාවෙන්නsamāvenna |
| Thank you | ස්තුතියිsthuthiyi |
| How much is it? | කියන්න කොපමණද?kiyanna kopamanada? |
| Where is the beach? | බීච් එක කොහෙද?bīch eka koheda? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Ayubowan' (Sinhala) or 'Vanakkam' (Tamil) with palms together; avoid: Kissing on the cheek
- Temples: White clothes, shoes off, walk clockwise; avoid: Posing with your back to the Buddha; pointing feet at statues
- Hands: Right hand to give and eat; avoid: Left hand for food or money
- Head wobble: A side-to-side nod means yes or OK; avoid: Taking it as no
- Dress: Swimwear only on the beach; shoulders and knees covered in towns; avoid: Topless bathing
- Buses: Leave front seats for monks, the elderly and pregnant women; avoid: Sitting next to a monk (women)
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus fare Rs 150 is approximate; check current price.
- Most trains stop at Aluthgama, not Bentota station.
- Turtle hatchery visits may be limited to certain seasons; confirm opening days.
Bentota is generally safe for tourists; watch for strong currents during monsoon and keep valuables secured on the beach.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bentota yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bentota Beach
- Turtle hatchery at Induruwa
- Toddy production
- Brief Garden
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata Bentota: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Bentota, revision 5242329 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242329
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bentota). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.