East Coast

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At a Glance

A thirty-minute drive north of Trincomalee, on Sri Lanka’s undeveloped eastern coast, Jungle Beach is built into the lush landscapes, Swiss Family Robinson–style, and fronts an expansive beach and the Indian Ocean. 

Indagare Loves

• The miles of sand beach in either direction without another structure in sight
• Sundowners overlooking the massive Indian Ocean
• The relaxed setting: all you need to bring are a couple of bikinis and sarongs (shoes are optional)
• Grilled seafood for dinner, including local prawns, lagoon crab and squid
• The small but lovely spa

Review

The same Indian Ocean you overlook from Sri Lanka’s southern coast fronts Jungle Beach, but it seems more expansive, impressive and beautiful here. Perhaps that is because you literally cannot see another building or structure for miles to the right and left of this laid-back, eco-style resort.

Forty-eight freestanding bungalows are folded into fifteen acres of jungle that has been kept purposefully wild and lush (only two big trees were cut down when the property was built in 2012). Arriving guests walk up a walkway made of wooden planks into the al fresco reception area that resembles a tree house. None of the common spaces, including a bar, restaurant and several sitting areas are enclosed (and therefore nothing is air-conditioned), so indoor and outdoor spaces blend seamlessly together. It all feels a bit like the setting for Swiss Family Robinson or Castaway, albeit with some really nice accommodations.

The bungalows are all spacious, with high ceilings, large bathrooms and outdoor showers. Floors are cool stone, there are some touches of colors (in throws and pillows) but overall, interiors are understated, allowing the greens of the outside to shine. All have outdoor sitting areas as well (though some are so surrounded by vines, trees and vegetation that they are a bit dark). Even the so-called Beach bungalows are not directly on the sand but a bit set back in vegetation (this Indian Ocean gets wild during monsoon season). But the jungle setting is quite romantic and you never have to walk far to get to the water. The three top bungalows are built in a cluster and share a sizeable private pool. Contact Indagare to know which room to book.

Days at Jungle Beach have the languorous rhythm of a vacation in a place where you can really unplug (there’s WiFi but the speed varies around the property). After breakfast, you decide whether to settle by the medium-sized pool, tucked in the jungle and by a pond or claim one of the loungers on the beach (most opt for the latter). The rest of the day is spent in a cycle of swimming, reading, napping, eating and repeating the whole thing again.

Nothing at Jungle Beach is overly fancy: the loungers on the beach are a bit close together and have only small side tables for dining. No one gets dressed up for dinner here, even though romantic special dinners can be organized right at the beach, and the team is laid-back, a little dreamy and very friendly (just don’t expect wishes to be fulfilled at the speed of light).

The crowd is made up primarily of couples looking for pure relaxation at the end of an activities-heavy Sri Lanka itinerary. Besides some boogie boards and a local snorkeling expedition, there’s zero entertainment here, so there’s no pressure that you’re “missing something” by not venturing beyond the hotel’s boundaries. The menu at the restaurant casts a wide net of local and international eats—which is good news considering that no one leaves the property for dinner (there’s simply no place to go).

Who Should Stay

Laid-back couples, eco-minded travelers and anyone desiring bragging rights to knowing the East Coast when it was still undeveloped and undiscovered. These expansive uncrowded, peaceful beaches won’t stay this way forever probably.

Ideal Length of Stay

Two to three nights, depending on how good you are at entertaining yourself. There’s little to do here besides read and spend time with a loved one.

Getting There

From Anuradhapura, driving to Jungle Beach takes about 2.5 hours. Cinnamon Air also offers flights into Trincomalee from Sigiriya (about 25 minutes).

Author

• Simone Girner