De Perla Resort

I didn't stay here, but I rented a nice surfboard from Mr. Farooq for a great price. I also ate here a couple of times and kept coming back to chat with him. He's genuine, friendly, and caring. The place itself is really nice, relaxing, and well kept. It's a minute from Whisky Point and close to Pottuvil Point too. I'll come back.

Our family was pleasantly surprised by our stay at De Perla. It felt like a home away from home from the moment we arrived. Mr. Farook and Zyard really made it special. They speak Arabic, Hindi, English, Tamil, and Sinhala fluently, and their warmth made guests feel welcome. Mr. Farook's cooking was another highlight, with a wide choice of Western and Eastern dishes. The triple cabanas were spacious, very clean, and reasonably priced, with plenty of room to relax after a day out. De Perla is well placed for exploring the beautiful, lesser-known beach, the Rottai dam, where you can spot elephants and crocodiles, and Arugam Bay. It's a hidden gem that deserves more attention, for locals and overseas travellers alike. Kudos to the two of them for making it memorable. We're going back soon!

The sound of the surf was about all we heard in the garden, and it was wonderfully peaceful. I’d been to Arugam Bay twice before and loved the scenery, but the town felt overdeveloped and charmless to me. This time I stayed at De Perla at wiskey point and was glad I chose it. The room was huge and airy, with a bathroom larger than many rooms elsewhere. Farouk was a charming host, knew the area well, and turned out to be an excellent cook too.

The food was tasty and affordable, and Farouk was always ready to help and make sure we had good service. He also rents surfboards and can arrange tuk-tuk rides.