Wattura Resort and Spa

Though it’s barely an hour’s drive up Sri Lanka’s west coast from Colombo, and mere minutes from the city of Negombo, Wattura Resort and Spa feels quite convincingly secluded. The immediate setting, with a sunset-facing beach on one side of the property and the peaceful Gin Oya river on the other, certainly contributes to the idyllic atmosphere. And if you’re familiar with Sri Lanka’s tropical modernist architectural tradition, you know there’s something uniquely calming about the clean geometries of the forms and interiors, as well as the juxtaposition of polished concrete and stone with richly figured wood and traditional craftsmanship.

The humblest of the suites stretches out over nearly 800 square feet, and comes complete with butler service and a view of either the lagoon or the river. From there they double in size, and double again, adding extravagances like jacuzzis, plunge pools, even, in the case of the Wattura Residence, a rooftop infinity pool. And there’s always the hotel’s central infinity pool — and by the poolside, Pappali, the hotel’s restaurant, with its tucked-away booths and its contemporary Sri Lankan cuisine. Excursions include everything from whale-watching to rainforest walks to the country’s first elephant orphanage — safe to say the experience has all the makings of a memorable one.