A welcome to Sri Lanka
Arrival at Colombo’s international airport was easy and efficient for our trip to Kumu Beach Sri Lanka. Even the fact that my husband had typed my passport number incorrectly into my visa didn’t hold us up, the chief immigration officer quickly corrected it and off we went. A quick stop to pick up a cheap local sim for my mobile phone (great coverage) on the way out of the airport and into the noise and bustle of Sri Lanka.
Our driver negotiated the traffic out of the airport and off we went, soon hitting the south coast road down to Balapityia where Kumu Beach is. The journey was fascinating with canopies of green on either side, dense vegetation, and initially the odd small village which became larger roadside towns the further down the coast we travelled. The traffic largely consisted of tuk-tuks, local buses and the odd cow wandering serenely down the road. The ubiquitous horn cleared our way of machines and animals and less than 90 minutes later we got to Balapityia.
Kumu Beach
We arrived at our white hotel with its towering stable wooden door, reminiscent of the entry to a Spanish hacienda. ‘Cool place’ murmured our driver and I concurred, knowing of course that it most definitely was. The door opened and the sunlight splashed off the white surrounds of the building in front of us, drawing us straight towards the blue sky and beach ahead.
Kumu Beach is one of seven hotels in the Teardrop Hotels collection, an award-winning collection of intimate boutique hotels and tea bungalows across Sri Lanka. Each is unique in style, with something different to offer and all stunning in their own right.
First impressions were that Kumu Beach Sri Lanka was blessed with an enviable location, this perfect spot on the southwest coast – atop the beach, fringed with swaying palm trees in the ocean breeze. With only ten rooms and a focus on open-air living, this hotel promised intimacy, a contemporary space with crisp, stylish decor and an invitation to relax and wind down completely. The 23-metre infinity pool was to prove a refreshing companion when the heat got too much and the best thing to do was gaze from it out to the ocean with the gentle breeze blowing around. When even that becomes too much it is a short walk to one of the large blue hammocks, to swing gently in the breeze, listening to the waves swish backwards and forwards mere feet away.
Our Oceanview Suite
We walked to our suite in the shade, with tropical fauna around us. The wooden door of our room was strung with beautiful sea shells, and my first sight as the door opened was of an artwork of blue fish against the white walls. The suite was simple and spacious, with a living room and desk, a large bedroom area with a four-poster bed with bright white linens. A sizeable bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers (the latter facing the Arabian Sea), beautifully smelling toiletries and modern art and artefacts. French doors led out onto a private terrace area where we sat at night to admire the glowing sunsets. The suite was airy, light and fresh – entirely perfect for tropical living in hot climes.
Sri Lankan hospitality at its best
The days could easily have passed in a haze of sublime culinary indulgence as we moved effortlessly from breakfast outside with local fruit, banana and mango smoothies, and a large array of local and international hot dishes, through to lunch and then to seafood curries, seared tuna, coconut prawns – fish, meat and vegetables options for dinner. Did I mention afternoon tea and cakes? And then on to ‘social hour’ between 17:00 and 18:00 with complimentary G &Ts and other drinks on the lawn overlooking the beach, or anywhere else you want to be. Special mention to the chef as the food here is exceptionally good, and beautifully presented too.
I luckily managed to drag myself away to pursue a different kind of rejuvenation, with a visit to the Z spa and an indulgent Z signature massage. Blending several traditional massage techniques my wonderful masseuse worked her magic as I dozed to the sound of waves crashing on the rocks below.
Experiences
Kumu Beach prides itself on offering a unique collection of experiences in and around the locality of Balapitiya. From visits to a turtle hatchery, surf and cookery lessons, to a relaxing boat ride on the Madu River through untouched mangroves there is something for everybody. Unfortunately due to inclement weather on our day of choice, we weren’t able to go on the boat trip but there are always other times to look forward to. This area of Sri Lanka is famous for its puppetry and mask making and we enjoyed a trip to the mask museum a little further down the road in the town of Ambalangoda, dodging the cows in the road on our tuk tuk as we went. Of course, this is also a perfect wedding location, what could be more spectacular than tying the knot in this intimate and beautiful little piece of paradise?
Local hotels with heart
Kumu Beach is not only committed to providing superb customer service, delivered with a smile unique to Sri Lanka but also remains firmly rooted in the local environment. Sustainability projects such as beach cleaning support both the local community and the resort, and outreach community work is also important, this is after all very much a local hotel.
I was so impressed with the staff at Kumu Beach who genuinely wanted us to have the most amazing time and loved imparting their knowledge during our stay. My husband enjoyed debating the merits of Sri Lanka cricketers over the decades, and I discovered a lot about this beautiful country’s culture and history. There is an intimacy about Kumu Beach that extends far from its size and spectacular location but comes from genuine warmth and human connection. It’s a place to return to I am sure.
Discover more at Kumu Beach Balapityia
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
All imagery courtesy of Kumu Beach Hotel.