Hotels near Kumana National Park, Panama

The cabanas are super unique and right on the beach. Waking up to the sound of the ocean and a tasty breakfast is amazing. Just a short walk down the beach there’s a surf spot with restaurants and board rentals. It’s the perfect place if you’re looking for something a bit different and really special. Would definitely recommend! There’s a bus going to Panama from Arugam Bay and the owner of the property helped me to get a tuktuk taxi to the Cabana, so it was no problem that I don’t have a vehicle.

Private location, extremely helpful and polite owner and staff, authentic Sri Lanka beach life vibe, everything was clean and tidy, Iroshana helped us with just about anything we could think off from arranging breakfast, barbeque dinner, recommending surf bays and trips to conversations about Sri Lanka ways of living. Thank you for everything, we will always remember and hope to come back one day.

Close to a wild beach. Amazing food and really welcoming owner.

During our two months in Sri Lanka and despite 5 days of straight rain, this was our favourite stay. The road to Panama was a safari in itself, with a 2.5 meter monitor lizard, crocodile ponds, scores of gray langurs and stunning views. We visited outside the tourist season so we were the only tourists in the village, which sports some lovely beaches, a lake with many crocodiles, charming rice fields and lagoons, friendly locals, affordable local restaurants and good access to the Kumana national park. The room is charming and clean and had everything we needed (though if you are very attached to hot showers you won't find one here). What made the stay so special though was the wonderful family who runs it. Their hospitality is genuine and our walks in the neighbourhood and evening talks thought us so much. Their cooking is fantastic, with many ingredients from their own garden and including original Sri Lankan dishes you won't find on any restaurant menu. It is people who live from their heart like them that form the true treasure of Sri Lanka. The only problem with this place is that if you spend too much time here, you don't want to leave anymore.

This is THE place to stay if you are interested in safaris within Kumana NP. We had an exceptional driver (as good an animal spotter as our guide!). We were lucky enough to have Sam as our guide. He is a BBC wildlife videographer and knew so much about the animals and their behaviours. It gave us the best chance of having so many great leopard/animal encounters. The food and hotel staff was also fantastic. If I come back to Sri Lanka I would skip Yala and come here for a few nights more. There is no mobile signal in Kumana to alert other drivers to where wildlife is so usually the leopard encounters are just yourself and no-one else. Just note - the national park is still about 45 min drive away from the hotel and Panama is a quiet place (more peaceful than Arugum Bay). Its def not a party place like Arugum bay. Safaris are from 5am until about 6.30pm. I would also recommend maybe bringing a neck buff and protection for expensive camera equipment (towel to cover). There is a lot of dust that kicks up off the road.

Great stay for us. The team that run the hotel were really good. Swimming on the Panama beach every morning before breakfast was magic, the food was great. The room facilities were great as well. This is the nearest hotel resort to the Kumana National Park entrance. Few mins drive to the Arugam Bay Surfing beach. We will be back!