Canal Villa is a small, privately run guest house in Bentota with nine rooms, set in its own garden with a terrace and an outdoor swimming pool. It lies on the quieter inland side of town at Massalagoda, a short ride from the beach, and suits travellers who want a calm, homely base rather than a large resort.
The guest house stands at Massalagoda, Dope, on the Bentara-Uragaha-Elpitiya road just inland from Bentota on the south-west coast. Bentota Beach is about 1.5 km away, Bentota railway station about 1.2 km and Aluthgama station about 1.8 km, both on the coastal line between Colombo and Galle, so the sea and the town are within easy reach by tuk-tuk.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is about 110 km from Bentota by road, and the drive around Colombo and down the coast usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic. The easiest way to arrive after a long flight is a private airport transfer booked in advance with Lakpura: an English-speaking driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you straight to the guest house in an air-conditioned car, van or coach sized for your group, from 2 up to 15 guests, at a fixed price for the whole vehicle rather than per seat. The same service works in reverse for your departure flight. Book the Colombo (CMB) Airport transfer to Canal Villa.
There are nine air-conditioned rooms, each with a private bathroom, and some with a balcony looking over the garden or towards the lake. The categories are the Deluxe Double Room and two styles of Family Suite with separate living space and sofa beds, which makes the house a practical choice for families travelling together.
The on-site restaurant serves Asian, continental and vegetarian dishes, and breakfast is available each morning. Outside there is an outdoor pool with a separate children's section, a garden and a terrace. The front desk is open 24 hours, and free private parking is available on site.
Bentota is known for its long beach and for the Bentota River, where boat trips run up through the mangroves and water sports such as water-skiing and jet skiing are offered on the lagoon. Brief Garden, created by the artist Bevis Bawa, and Lunuganga, the country estate of his brother Geoffrey Bawa, are both close by, and the Kande Vihara temple at Aluthgama is a short drive north. Further along the coast are the turtle hatcheries of Kosgoda and the Madu River, and Galle Fort makes an easy day trip. Lakpura can arrange private transfers and day tours to all of these from the guest house.
Bookable activities, tours, and tickets within a 25 km radius.
Pre-book a private vehicle for arrival, departure, or onward travel.
