Cape Weligama – Relais & Chateaux

Perched on a stunning oceanfront cliff just 30 minutes outside of Galle, this gorgeous, boutique-style retreat was one place we knew we could not leave out of our Sri Lanka itinerary. And we were not disappointed.

A vacation in Sri Lanka can be a journey of discovery, in which the beautiful nature, stunning landscapes, and fabulous hotels complement the warmth and hospitality of its people. The country that only recently came out of years of suffering is blossoming into one of the hottest destinations for luxury travel, as evidenced in resorts such as Cape Weligama.

Destination resort

It is not hard to fall in love with this place. Cape Weligama has the kind of facilities and offers the level of service that makes it hard to leave.

The fabulous crescent-shaped swimming pool, positioned on top of the cliff and just above the gym and bar is the hotel’s most visible attraction, but there are also excellent restaurants, which, other than the excellent cuisine, offers gorgeous view throughout the day, and at sunsets. There are as many as five dining venues, not counting in-villa dining.

The service is seamless and the atmosphere created by the staff relaxed and unfussed, despite the resort’s positioning as a place of a glamorous luxury.

Beautiful villas

That balance between unfussed and luxurious was also evident in our villa. Designed by the celebrated architect Lek Bunnag, the villas and suites are a perfect mix of the sophisticated chic and relaxed elegance, with only hints of colonial style, of the reserved Dutch kind.

Set in tones of mahogany with ocean-inspired splashes of color, the wonderfully spacious rooms flow naturally to the private veranda. Only steps away from the private swimming pool, this was our favorite spot, ideal for curling up with a good book in the afternoon — and even better as a place to welcome the day, having just woken up to views of the turquoise sea.

Sri Lanka experience

The resort is well-positioned to explore the area. The beautiful old Dutch fort in Galle is only a short drive away, and at least a day trip to the city is a must. And being halfway between Yala National Park and the capital is a great stopover if your vacation in Sri Lanka is more than just one place.

That’s how we organized the trip. In our journey across the island, we visited two sister properties of Cape Weligama: the Ceylon Tea Trails located inland, deep in the highlands, and the Wild Coast Tented Lodge on the southern coast of the island.

Combining these three very different hotels makes for an experience that presents the island from three different perspectives. And a fourth perspective is coming too — as Resplendent Ceylon’s next opening is likely to be a resort near Sigiriya, in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. Next time?

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in our opinion

Our latest trip to Sri Lanka had us venture into the depths of the Tea Country and then come back to Colombo with a few stops along the coast — and Cape Weligama was the perfect place in which to spend a few days exactly halfway through.

It's an all-in-one destination resort, with excellent facilities and superb spots for relaxing.

What we love

• Great location. Cape Weligama layout is inspired by a traditional village, with twelve manicured acres atop a steep cliff. Thanks to its elevated position, the resort offers beautiful panoramas of the ocean and the coast.
• Our private villa: beautifully designed, spacious and relaxing. The fab bathroom has a steam room shower and the bed is great — we had some of the best night sleeps here. There is a flat-screen TV with a well set up (and easy to operate) sound system and a superb selection of films, for no additional fee (it's rather perfect for the rainy days or jetlag-induced sleepless nights!)
• The crescent-shaped infinity pool. Fringed by a few lone palms, the pool's edge appears to fuse seamlessly with the shimmering sea.
• Breakfasts on our veranda, not only super tasty but served hot in the privacy of the villa. Both international and Sri Lankan food is on offer, but don’t miss the Hoppers, which bowl-shaped paper-thin crepes made with coconut milk.
• Speaking of breakfasts, our default spot was at the front of the Ocean Terrace, the sea-facing restaurant at the heart of the resort. Not counting our private veranda, it's the best place from which to kick off the day.
• Service is an expert level, and the resort is very well staffed. The personnel, especially at the restaurants, had a very approachable attitude.
• The resort offers a good selection of water sports, including surfing, snorkeling, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, as well as PADI dive lessons, deep-sea fishing, and even seasonal whale excursions.

What you should know

• The property is managed by Resplendent Ceylon, which is also the brand behind the popular Dilmah tea. Tea leaves are used as a spa treatment ingredient and Dilmah tea is served at the High Tea time as well.
• The villas are set in clusters of two or three, around shared swimming pools. This is great for larger parties or families but otherwise, prepare to share the pool space with others. The cheaper accommodation (suites) are set up within multi-room villas and are less private. Also, only a few villas enjoy uninterrupted ocean views.
• The crescent pool is adults-only, but the resort also has a kid-friendly pool.
• There isn't much of a beach here — you can get down to a stretch of a beach under the cliff but it's inconvenient to access.
• Cape Weligama is just a stone throw from Galle. The coastal motorway linking Galle with the capital is excellent and it takes less than three hours to get to the airport. Good roads are a rarity on this mountainous island.