Cinnamon Village Sinharaja

Cinnamon Village Sinharaja is a rainforest hotel near Deniyaya on the southern edge of the Sinharaja rainforest, with an outdoor pool and guided forest treks. It stands on the Pallegama–Mederipitiya road and was formerly known as The Rainforest Village. It is not part of the Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts chain; it is a simple base for walkers and birdwatchers rather than a resort.

What are the rooms like at Cinnamon Village Sinharaja?

The hotel sells two kinds of room, each with a private bathroom.

• Double/Triple Cabana – cabanas for two or three guests, made up as a double or twin.
• Family Room with Rainforest View – the larger rooms, sleeping up to four, looking out towards the forest. Booking sites describe them as having a private entrance, a terrace, a walk-in shower, a tea and coffee maker, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and Wi-Fi.

What is there to do at the hotel?

The main reason to stay here is the forest. The staff arrange guided treks into Sinharaja, typically about four hours long, on which guests regularly see lizards, spiders and birdlife and reach a waterfall where you can swim. Back at the hotel there is an outdoor pool overlooking the greenery, a garden and a terrace, which guests single out as the best way to start and end a day of walking.

What is nearby?

The Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the country's last large tract of lowland rainforest, begins almost on the doorstep, and visitors report walking from the hotel to the start of the trail. Our guide to the Sinharaja entrances covers the different ways into the reserve. The reserve is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see endemic birds, and birdwatching at Sinharaja is best early in the morning with a local guide. Several waterfalls, including Pena Ella, lie within a few kilometres, and Deniyaya is the nearest town.

Can my driver or guide stay at the hotel?

No. The hotel has no accommodation for drivers or guides, but the staff will give you details of guest houses and small hotels close by, so arrange a room for them in advance.

How do I get from the airport to Cinnamon Village Sinharaja?

The hotel is about 114 kilometres in a straight line from Bandaranaike International Airport. The simplest way to arrive is a private transfer from Colombo airport to Cinnamon Village Sinharaja, which takes you all the way to the door.

Who is Cinnamon Village Sinharaja best suited to?

It suits walkers, birdwatchers and families who want to spend their days in the rainforest and come back to a pool and a simple, comfortable room. Two nights gives you time for a full trek and a morning of birding. For more choice around the reserve see our places to stay in Sinharaja.