Cape Weligama

Introduction

Cape Weligama is an ultra luxurious holiday retreat with a magnificent clifftop setting above the pretty south-coast village of Weligama. It consists of a 37 villas and suites scattered across 12 acres of landscaped gardens. The resort is designed along the lines of a traditional southern village, with clusters of villas and residences and a central Main Square that houses the dining and living pavilions which look out upon the turquoise seas. Villas are designed with private verandas, hardwood floors and clay tiled roofs, and interiors are stylish and equipped with all modern conveniences. Relax by the poolside, go surfing, or indulge in a bespoke dining experience or a rejuvenating spa ritual. Cape Weligama is the sister property of the renowned Ceylon Tea Trails bungalows in the Hill Country and is owned by the Dilmah Group and is also listed as a Relais & Chateaux resort. 

Accommodation

Cape Weligama's residences consist of clusters of Wattas and Wallawwas, scattered across the extensive tropical gardens. Within each of these clusters are different categories of villas and suites that vary in size and facilities they offer. Ocean View Villas, Premier Ocean View Villas, Grand Ocean View Villas, Cape Weligama Residences, Family Junior Suites and Ocean View Master Suites all offer a/c, overhead fans, tea/coffee facilities, mini-bar, satellite TV and Wi-Fi. Also available is in-room dining, spa facility and butler service. Rooms are furnished with king- or queen-sized beds. Ensuite bathrooms have twin vanities, bath tubs and h/w showers.

Wattas: Meaning ‘gardens’ in Sinhala, these are clusters of 2-3 free-standing villas set in private walled gardens which share a 15m infinity swimming pool. The villas can be booked individually or together. Each Watta is named after a famous explorer of old Ceylon, for example Marco Polo. Wattas consist of Ocean View Villas, Premier Ocean View Villas, Grand Ocean View Villas and Cape Weligama Residences. Wallawwas: ‘Ancestral mansions’ in Sinhala, these are spacious two-storey residences each consisting of two Ocean View Junior Suites and two Ocean View Master Suites. There are interconnecting suites ideal for families. The Wallawwas are named after famous writers and poets that resided in Ceylon, including Arthur C. Clarke.

Villa categories: These 21 residences are housed within the Wattas.

Cape Weligama Residence (307 sq.metres): Three spacious residences, each consisting of two bedrooms, living room and private 15m x 4m swimming pool on the upper deck with spectacular ocean views.

Grand Ocean Residence (195 sq. metres): Three residences with bedrooms and separate living rooms. Best sea views.

Premier Ocean Residence (176 sq. metres): Eight residences consisting of ensuite bedrooms furnished with king-sized beds. Large outdoor spaces.

Ocean Residence (130 sq. metres): These seven residences have an intimate setting ideal for couples.

Suite categories: These 16 Suites are housed within the Wallawwas.

Family Junior Suites (128 sq. metres): Each of these eight suites is furnished with two queen-sized beds and has interconnecting doors.

Master Suites (145 sq. metres): The eight Master Suites are spacious and furnished with king-sized beds.

Facilities

Indulge in Cape Weligama’s signature spa rituals in the comfort of your own villa or suite: rejuvenate with a massage, steam treatment, fragrant bath ritual, facial or body scrub infused with oil-blends of calming Ceylon herbs. Enjoy a bespoke dining experience on your veranda or dine at one of the three restaurants in the Main Square: Dining Pavilion, where you can pick your own fresh seafood or meats from the Pola (market); Kumbuk, which offers alfresco dining and traditional Sri Lankan dishes, and the authentic Japanese cliff-edge restaurant, Teppanyaki. There is also a well-stocked wine cellar, pool bar and a cliff bar that serves a range of alcoholic beverages. Traditional Ceylon High Tea, pre-dinner canapés and aperitifs are served at the elegant Living Pavilion. Other resort facilities include: crescent-shaped infinity pool (Moon Pool) which curves 60m around the cape’s summit; Fun Pool, ideal for children and located close to the Wallawwas; a gym, and Sports Centre which offers first-rate PADI dive courses, exciting dives and other activities. Pathways through the gardens lead down to the secluded beaches of Weligama Bay, perfect for swimming and snorkelling between December and April.

Why we like it

Expect to be pampered in every way, from the high quality of accommodation, range of facilities, high-class food and an exceptional attention to detail

Sustainability

The Resplendent Ceylon hotel group, which Cape Weligama is a part of, run a variety of projects through their MJF Foundation (named after the founder of Dilmah, Merrill J. Fernando). One of these is the Empower Culinary and Hospitality School which provides some of Sri Lanka’s most enthusiastic and conscientious students with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of cuisine in relation to hospitality. Other projects include supporting disabled children and their families through donations and protecting ageing workers from poverty through retraining and medical assistance.

Location

Cape Weligama sits above Sri Lanka's pretty south-coast village of Weligama. The journey form Colombo’s international airport will take about three hours. If you are then heading from the coast into the hills, we offer competitive rates on a daily sea plane between Koggala and Hatton.