Centara Ceysands: A haven between the river and sea

By Daminda Harsha Perera

With an exotic location along the Bentota Peninsula, a narrow strip of land which runs between the Bentota River and the Indian Ocean, Centara Ceysands Resort and Spa offers dreamy views of the slow-moving river and its mangroves on one side and a tableau of golden beach and blue sea on the other.

The trip to the resort is also an enthralling experience, with guests boarding a barge at the river bank and taking a two-minute journey across to the resort’s lobby. This location provides a wealth of activities for guests of all ages, for along with beach games and a variety of water sports there is also the river to explore.

Living

Rooms and suites are spacious, with an uncomplicated design comprising light décor and splashes of bright colour. Each room has a furnished balcony or terrace that is large enough to laze upon and enjoy the view. Most rooms face the sea or have combined sea and river views, while several rooms are set just a few steps away from the resort pool.

A number of family residences featuring a king bed and sofa bed are also available, while a large number of the other rooms offer two double beds, providing a comfortable retreat for families with young children.

Along with its direct access to the beach and riverside attractions, the resort offers plenty of leisure activities of its own. There is a swimming pool with a Jacuzzi overlooking the beach, and for guests wishing to go snorkelling, boating or windsurfing in the safe waters of the lagoon the resort has its own water sports centre.

Families will appreciate the supervised Kids’ Club, which has a Camp Safari for younger children while the teens have their own hangout at E-Zone.

This provides an opportunity for parents to spend time at Spa Cenvaree, where, in treatment suites for singles and couples, there is a choice of treatments that draw upon Sri Lanka’s ancient traditions of massage and herbal infusions.

Dining

All the sumptuous pleasures of Sri Lankan cuisine are presented at Café Bem, along with Asian and international dishes, served both from a large and colourful buffet with live cooking stations and an a la carte menu.

Locally-sourced seafood is the speciality at 360º Seafood, where guests dine with views of the river and ocean. The Ceylon Club is in the lobby and serves fine teas, coffees, snacks and cocktails from morning until midnight. Inn Between on the first floor is the place to go for cocktails and live music. For those who wish to dine in the comfort of their room, in-room dining is available throughout the day.

Meeting

The resort is designed for small groups on business trips or those travelling on incentives tours and provides event space supported by the latest audiovisual equipment. Outdoor events, whether held in the garden or on the rooftop, will be enhanced by the dramatic surroundings which also make it possible to arrange team-building exercises. These settings also provide the perfect backdrop for weddings, with the resort able to handle all the necessary arrangements for such an event.

Accommodation comprises 165 rooms and suites ranging from 37 to 139 square metres in size. Great views are available from every corner of the resort, with all guestrooms overlooking the beach, ocean, river or unspoiled mangroves.

All rooms blend earth tones with bright, colourful accents to echo the warmth of the island, while several rooms are set a few steps away from the pool. All rooms feature complimentary wireless internet access and interconnecting rooms are also available.

Facilities and services

The facilities and services on offer include an ocean-facing swimming pool with a Jacuzzi and children’s pool; a choice of authentic Ayurvedic treatments using indigenous products, Thai massages and blissful spa journeys offered by Oceanfront SPA Cenvaree; a fitness and water sports centre; Kids’ Club with Camp Safari and E-Zone; babysitting services available upon request; a tour information desk; laundry and dry cleaning services; and foreign currency exchange.

Restaurants and bars

Café Bem combines stunning river views with traditional Sri Lankan specialities and Asian and international cuisines presented through large, seasonally-inspired buffets, an a la carte menu and live cooking stations.

360º Seafood enjoys a fine location within the resort with views of the ocean and river, and specialises in sumptuous, locally-sourced seafood prepared in a variety of ways.

Supplying a relaxing surrounding to take in spectacular ocean views, the Ceylon Club serves refreshments, snacks and fabulous afternoon teas. Two bars complete the range of dining Meet And Unite. The resort’s versatile event space can accommodate a wide-ranging number of functions including meetings with working lunch, incentives, weddings and outdoor receptions, all supported by state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. With either the Bentota River or the Indian Ocean serving up a picture-perfect background, the resort is a truly natural location for weddings.

Nestled between the Bentota River and the Indian Ocean on Sri Lanka’s south-western coast, Centara Ceysands Resort and Spa Sri Lanka offers a superbly natural environment together with an extensive range of activities and facilities, making the resort a firm favourite for exciting holidays in an exciting destination along with being a perfect venue where couples and families can relax and enjoy a beautiful tropical setting.