Bentota: Beaches, River Safaris and Watersports
Bentota sits where the Bentota Ganga meets the sea, giving it both a long beach and a calm river. That combination makes it the country’s main centre for watersports and easy river safaris.
Watersports
Jet-skiing, banana boats, windsurfing and water-skiing all run from the river and lagoon, which stay calmer than the open sea.
River safari
Boat trips up the Bentota Ganga wind through mangrove tunnels, past monitor lizards, kingfishers and small temple islands. Morning trips are best for birds.
The beach
The main beach is broad and good for long walks, with resorts and quieter stretches north around Induruwa.
Nearby
The Brief Garden, landscape artist Bevis Bawa’s estate, and a turtle hatchery near Kosgoda make good half-day trips.
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