Very quiet. Staff were lovely. They couldn’t do enough to help you. It was lovely to have a view over my own pool & a view over the river & the boat trip on the river was very interesting. Nice choice of food.

Disappointed that there was no floating spa. Apparently it was damaged due to rising levels in the river this year, but they are hoping to build another one at the front of the hotel by next year.

We, one adult and two teenagers, stayed three nights at Monsoon Villa and we absolutely loved it! An essential part of the experience is the extremely attentive and helpful hotel staff! We spent a lot of time enjoying the private plunge pool. Two of the bedrooms have attached bathrooms, AC and are luxurious. The third one is also beautiful and cozy but can’t be cooled down as well as the two others. Breakfast was delicious and there are different options to choose from. Some things that are good to note: 1) There are no restaurants or bars nearby but there’s no need for them since the hotel restaurant serves excellent food. They often ask you to book lunch and dinner in advance. If you wish to try some other restaurants in Negombo, Pick Me app works well and also the hotel staff helps to book tuktuks, taxis, and any other trips. 2) The nearby beach is not suitable for swimming. However, we walked there and watched birds and saw some local fishermen drying fish. We also found the walk through the local neighborhood interesting. 3) There is a church on the other side of the river and some religious music can be heard in the villa but we liked it. The atmosphere of Waterland is fascinating in many ways and we already miss that. We will definitely be back if we ever have the chance to visit Sri Lanka again!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Waterland Villa is an absolute dream! From the moment we arrived, we were surrounded by tranquility, stunning river views, and exceptional service. We stayed in the Elephant Villa, which offered breathtaking views of the river—waking up to the serene water and lush greenery was simply magical. The private villas are beautifully designed, offering the perfect blend of luxury and nature. Having our own plunge pool made the stay even more special, but the highlight was undoubtedly the floating breakfast—a truly unforgettable experience! Enjoying a delicious, beautifully arranged breakfast while relaxing in our private pool was pure paradise. Another wonderful touch was the herb garden, where we got to see cinnamon trees, lemongrass, and pepper plants up close. It was amazing to learn about these fresh, local ingredients and see how they grow in such a peaceful setting. A special thanks to the incredibly friendly staff, who made our stay even more memorable. Their warm hospitality and attention to detail made us feel truly welcome, and they went above and beyond to ensure we had the perfect experience. If you’re looking for a peaceful yet luxurious getaway near Negombo, Waterland Villa is the place to be! We enjoyed 2 nights in tranquility after a 14 hours flight at their villa. It was a 35 minutes drive by car from the airport. They offer a pick up service, but you can also easily access the place via Uber and it cost us ca. 8 €. As the place is located in a beautiful but small river village, we would recommend staying ca. 2 nights as there is not that much to do around. But it’s the perfect place to relax after or before a long flight. We visited a Negombo beach and enjoyed some seafood there, it was a 10 minutes drive by Tuk Tuk (ordered by Uber). The staff is also helpful finding transportation for you. We can’t wait to come back!

The wifi was okay at Fire Villa, but not too well :) But that was just a minor point for us.

A unique Villa style hotel with only 5 villas of different sizes with private pools. We stayed in Elephant Villa which stands alone with river frontage. All the staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful without being intrusive. We had breakfast included which consisted of juice, fresh fruit, tea/coffee and a choice of hot dishes. Lunch and dinner is also available. We had one lunch served on our pool deck and ate twice in the restaurant for dinner. Food is plentiful and tasty. Wine and local beer available. It should be noted that prices are in US$ and that 10% service charge is added to all items including activities, but this is totally transparent. We settled on Mastercard in LKR. We took the late afternoon river safari with excellent guide, had a cycle around the local area on the hotel bikes. We hotel have four Tuk Tuk drivers on call that operate on hotel agreed prices. We had one to Negombo strip for meal one evening and another to Negombo Fish Market which is an experience not to be missed. Elephant Villa had every amenity including a fish pedicure!

Can’t think of anything!

Wow! What a hidden gem! I love it when I stay somewhere that totally exceeds my expectations, and this place ticks every box and more. The MOST comfortable bed I have ever slept on (in over 30yrs of travel), stunning views, rooms, service and attention to detail. My friends and I stayed in The Peacock Villa, a split level two bed, with a triangular private pool (deceptively large) overlooking the river, for two nights after a long journey out to Sri Lanka from the UK. It was the perfect spot to decompress for a couple of days. Nothing was too much effort for the staff, from getting our room ready early after a long journey, to organising tuk tuks (big shout out to Nicolas and Sunni who ferried us around multiple times!) to arranging a rover boat cruise (a must) and talking us through the breakfast menu! The local resteraunts are great value and catered well for our less spicy European taste buds. I'd recommend a resteraunt called Toro for a good all rounder, and some great live music. The fish market in negombo is worth a visit (via tuk tuk, which are plentiful and inexpensive, however I would recommend using the same drivers and contacting them by WhatsApp, or being firm on the rate prior to the journey if flagged down). We had no issue paying US dollars or rupees, but found the gold shops gave the best rate changing GBP into local currency. Wouldn't hesitate to stay again, was really quite spectacular. And watching the fireflies dance over the pool on the last evening was something I will cherish. If you follow the road from the hotel to the right, a 10 min walk will take you down to the beach/estuary where you will get a wonderful sunset/sunrise view.

There is nothing you could dislike here.

This was one of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed in in Sri Lanka- and it was my 6th visit. What an incredible hotel to start our trip- just stayed in Heritance Kandalama (5* hotel 3 times the price) and my kids preferred this. Wow! Private pool, super attentive staff, delicious and beautifully presented food including a once-in a lifetime floating breakfast with the best French toast ever, and to top it all off- an amazing boat ride seeing water monitor lizards, fruit bats, peacocks, herons, king fishers, water hens, dragonflies and eagles! Will 100% be back!!

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nicely located, 30min from the airport so good to stay there on day of arrival or the night before leaving. in proximity to the river in a quiet neighborhood! staff is friendly and helpful and food is delicious! rooms are nicely decorated especially the elephant room and peacock room!

prices are a excessive for Sri Lanka especially for the food and other services like safaris. we went into a river safari but unfortunately the guide did not speak English so he was simply pointing and we were guessing… we wanted to do a massage but they told us that we should have booked the day before (and we didn’t know!) then told us they were on leave…

Wow what a start to our adventure in Sri Lanka. A brilliant place to stay. We stopped in the Monsoon Villa which had its own private pool…..the room itself was gorgeous and you felt you were in total luxury. We had a meal at the hotel which was excellent and then we ordered the floating breakfasts to our room the next morning which was a cracking touch. The hotel then arranged a boat trip in the River which is a must…..we saw so much wildlife and for the price it was top value. Staff were excellent and very happy and attentive to our needs

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1. We have traveled frequently, but this destination was undoubtedly our top choice for accommodation. It made us feel like royalty, especially with our private pool and the beautiful river view from our bedroom. The bed was cozy, and the bathroom offered a really cool outdoor shower experience, which we absolutely loved! 2. The staff at Waterland were incredibly hospitable, and the chefs treated us to delicious meals each day. Our month-long vacation in Sri Lanka and the Maldives started off on a good note.

This location isn't ideal for those seeking little shops and cafes. It's primarily a spot to unwind and appreciate your surroundings. You'll find yourself quite secluded, but we found that to be quite pleasant.

Our stay at Waterland Sri Lanka was nothing short of perfect! The highlight of our visit was the lagoon boat safari, which offered breathtaking views and an unforgettable connection with nature—a truly serene experience. The room service was exceptional. Every request was met promptly, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure our comfort. The attention to detail and the care they put into everything truly made our stay special. We also indulged in a massage during our stay, which was a wonderfully relaxing experience. The masseuse was skilled and created a peaceful atmosphere that allowed us to unwind completely. The breakfast deserves a special mention—absolutely delicious! There was a wide variety of fresh, flavorful options, and everything was beautifully presented. It was the perfect start to each day. All in all, Waterland Sri Lanka exceeded our expectations. From the incredible lagoon safari to the top-notch service, relaxing amenities, and delectable breakfast, this place is a gem. I can't recommend it enough for anyone seeking a tranquil and luxurious getaway.

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