Have you ever thought of including the Sinharaja Rainforest in your Sri Lankan itinerary? More and more visitors are choosing the Rainforest to spend a few days, and I can understand why… It’s simply beautiful! Nature in its raw state that challenges you at every turn.
You may not associate Sri Lanka with rainforests, but Sinharaja is a gem that deserves to be part of your trip to the country.
It is one of Sri Lanka’s last examples of virgin rainforest, and 830 of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of flora and fauna can be found here.
What’s more, many of these specimens are rare, which makes a visit to the rainforest even more special.
As you can imagine, it wasn’t possible to visit the entire rainforest on my trip, but what I did see I liked very much and I’m looking forward to returning.
The Sinharaja Rainforest has been part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1978 and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.
Underwater perspective: the magic of catching a crab in the Sinharaja Rainforest river.Sudden mist rising over the waterfall.
Exploring the Sinharaja Rainforest
My experience
My experience in the Sinharaja Rainforest began discreetly, but quickly turned into something extraordinary.
I arrived late at night, just long enough to have dinner and settle into the lodge. The darkness of the night hid everything around me, but that only made the dawn even more special.
In other words, when dawn broke I realized I was in paradise. Green, green everywhere, and a fresh, intense scent that seemed to embrace everything around it.
After breakfast, the adventure began: the first walk through the famous Sinharaja Rainforest.
Large, ancient trees in the Sinharaja Rainforest.
The trail was slippery and challenging, but I walked through centuries-old trees, while the guide shared stories of the rainforest and showed how the forest is a pharmacy for the locals, full of medicinal plants with incredible uses.
I saw a wonderful waterfall, and a few meters further on, the river had those little fish that feed on dead cells, in other words, it was a free “fish spa” moment.
Total relaxation: free fish spa directly in nature!
At the end of the trail we returned for lunch, a delicious sambal followed by some well-deserved free time.
Lunch at The Rainforest Ecolodge Sinharaja.
I took the opportunity to rest in the room and chat with the group while we waited for the sun to go down and have dinner.
The next day, we left the lodge. But Sinharaja still had one last surprise: the path we had at night was revealed in the light of day.
Trees in vibrant shades of green, some with orange flowers, and tea fields stretching as far as the eye could see. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
Vivid greens and fiery oranges of the ancient forest.Jeep trip through the tea fields, as the lodge roads are not accessible to normal cars.
What can you expect from a trip like this?
It’s hard to describe how special this place is! Be prepared to experience moments of great emotional intensity.
The place is beautiful for those who, like me, appreciate natural landscapes and are easily overwhelmed by so much to see.
So here you’ll find giant trees, delicate shrubs, colorful mushrooms, elusive butterflies, noisy frogs, monkeys jumping in the canopy and birds that seem to dance among the branches. Incredible!
Another surprise for me was the sound of the Rainforest, as I never thought that a rainforest would be so noisy, especially at night.
The animal sounds echo so loudly that I found myself trying to guess which animals they were.
So if you’re looking for peace and quiet, you’ve come to the right place, but don’t expect silence or boredom.
Small details of the Sinharaja Rainforest: mushrooms on a branch, showing the incredible biodiversity of Sri Lanka.Exploring Sinharaja Forest Reserve.Wild Nutmeg fruit (Myristica fragrans).Vaccinium angustifolium, commonly known as the wild lowbush blueberry.Fish SPA Sinharaja Rainforest.Tour guide at Sinharaja Forest Reserve, ready to share the secrets of this lush rainforest.
Everything you need to know before visiting the Sinharaja Rainforest
Where is the Rainforest and how to get there?
The Sinharaja Rainforest is located in the southwest of Sri Lanka, more specifically in the province of Sabaragamuwa.
From Colombo, the journey to Sinharaja takes several hours, and tends to take even longer if it’s raining. Most of the road is in reasonable condition, but there are lots of bends and traffic.
So my recommendation is that you go with plenty of time to allow for any delays.
Another thing to consider is that access to the Rainforest is not possible in normal cars.
In other words, in our case, the bus was parked in one place and we drove the last few kilometers by jeep.
Jeep trip to Sinharaja.Our group in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
What precautions should I take when visiting the Sinharaja Rainforest?
It’s important that you go properly prepared. First of all, don’t forget to have good travel insurance, just in case.
Next, to visit the forest reserve you need to be accompanied by a certified guide.
They will be prepared not only to guide visitors through the Rainforest, but also to help you with the dangers inherent in such an inhospitable place.
For example, in this region of Sri Lanka leeches are very common and when you enter the rainforest it is inevitable that they will cling to your shoes and clothes.
For some reason, at the lodge we were loaned knee-high protectors.
Socks to prevent the leeches from getting stuck to your legs.
I was a little apprehensive at first, but that’s part of the experience.
What’s more, the rules for entering the Rainforest are identical to other protected areas. In any case, here’s a photo of an information panel I found at the entrance to the forest, which you can read:
“This land is protected by Forest Ordinance and National Heritage Wilderness Area act.
It is compulsory to obtain a permit issued by the Department of Forest Conservation and the assistance of an authorized guide to enter this reserve.
Under Section 451 of 6 of Forest Conservation Ordinance, it is a punishable offense to enter the forest without permission (make fire, collect forest materials, damage flora and fauna, use liquor and drugs, dispose various waste, make unnecessary sounds.)
This reserve is administered by the Department of Forest Conservation in accordance with conditions of United Nations World heritage”.
Rainforest entrance sign (with an indication of what is not allowed).
Fallen trees in the Sinharaja Rainforest.
Is the Sinharaja Rainforest worth a visit?
Absolutely! Despite the challenge of access and the leeches, a visit to the Sinharaja Rainforest is a unique experience that I recommend without hesitation.
Accommodation
I stayed at The Rainforest Ecolodge Sinharaja and loved the experience.
The little wooden houses are placed so that you are close to the Rainforest, with decks where you can touch the trees and the birds land.
What’s more, the large windows not only let the light in, but also allow you to see outside, which is particularly interesting when it’s raining.
Watching the rain fall at Rainforest is an experience you have to have, believe me.
The Rainforest Ecolodge Sinharaja.
In the common areas there is a fireplace surrounded by sofas, and from one of the windows you can enjoy a wonderful sunset.
Preferably accompanied by a cup of tea and scones. By the way, the hotel has its own tea plantation.
Sunset at The Rainforest Ecolodge Sinharaja.Tea and cakes at Rainforest Ecolodge Sinharaja.Tea plantation at Rainforest Ecolodge Sinharaja.
Days here start with an English or traditional breakfast in the restaurant.
Breakfast at The Rainforest Ecolodge Sinharaja.
Then it’s time to take advantage of the activities the Ecolodge offers: tours to see birds, the rainforest and its waterfalls.
You can choose morning, afternoon or evening tours, according to your preference.
Morning trails at The Rainforest Ecolodge – Sinharaja.Afternoon trails at The Rainforest Ecolodge – Sinharaja.
You can enjoy your meals at the restaurant. Check out these photos to tempt your taste buds!
Vegetable tempura with spicy garlic sauce.Mushroom soup.Tamarind sorbet.Roast chicken marinated in garlic, mustard and barbecue sauce.
*My visit to Sri Lanka was hosted by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau as part of a blog trip organized by ABVP – Associação de Bloggers de Viagens Portugueses. For more information about Sri Lanka, visit the official website: http://www.srilanka.travel/.
We are a Family traveling around the world and sharing our journey and experiences at passaportenobolso.com. Here you can find plenty of family budget travel tips as well as practical information about numerous destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia and America. We have visited 40+ countries and we don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. From time to time I travel alone… Follow everything on YouTube / Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / X/ Pinterest.
Plan your trip!
Book your trips with Passaporte no Bolso partners. The brands listed below are to be trusted, and for that reason, we recommend them!
Also, by using these links, we receive a small commission, which helps us keep the blog up to date. We appreciate the contribution!
