Galapita Eco Lodge
Buttala

Galapita Eco Lodge is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Eco Retreats.

If you have a sense of adventure and have dreamed of sleeping under the stars, then this is the place for you. Located in Buttala, far away from any type of light pollution, this peaceful eco lodge is a great spot for spotting fireflies as well as enjoying incredible stargazing. Galapita's four large mud huts are perched on top of the scenic rocks alongside the Menik Ganga (Gem River) in the middle of the jungle, so one feels very close to the wild surroundings here.

The rustic huts have been well designed in order to blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors with open-sided walls, thatched straw roofs, clay floors and contoured driftwood as furniture. Each one also comes with an outdoor shower. Tastefully scattered local Sri Lankan antiques and lend a strong sense of place, as do the native peacocks and monkeys roaming around!

We recommend watching the sun set from the on-site tree house and enjoying the traditional, locally-sourced food that is served here for breakfast and dinner. This remote hotel is the perfect place to relax and get away from the stresses and strains of everyday life: you can go prospecting for gems in the river, rock-climbing, rafting or simply cool down in the natural jacuzzi, created by the river rushing over the rocks.

Better still, you can visit the nearby Yala National Park very easily. Wildlife lovers are bound to be impressed here as one can spot elephants, deer, wild buffalo, sloth bears and a wide range of birds; not to mention the elusive leopards, which are a real sight to behold. While its close proximity to Yala National Park is arguably the biggest draw of this relaxed property, the holy pilgrimage site of Kataragama is also only a short drive away from this hotel. The beautiful rock temples of Dambegoda and Maligawila, where one can see the largest monolithic statue of Buddha in the country, can also be found nearby.

We recommend including Galapita Eco Lodge into your bespoke tour of Sri Lanka if you are after a wild, secluded retreat where you can and truly immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness of this tropical mango-shaped island.

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.
Susan Heller