Cantaloupe and the big blue

Cantaloupe Aqua features 15 contemporary rooms overlooking the beach, while Cantaloupe Levels faces Galle Bay in Rumassala, looking out over the Unesco-listed Galle Fort and a short walk away from Jungle Beach near the iconic Peace Pagoda. 
The two hip hideaways have combined to offer the “Big Blue” experiences that take guests to the heart of a special natural heritage that makes it an ideal breeding grounds for turtles and blue whales.
“It’s a celebration more than anything else,” says Cantaloupe Hotels Group director Nadeem Rajabdeen. “We are blessed with an incredible environment so we want to showcase this to guests. It is a marine safari but one that needs to be delivered with sensitivity and insight. 
“It is a core part of our philosophy as hoteliers. We feel incredibly excited about revealing our heritage, culture, environment and food – which is another huge area that is undergoing a massive renaissance. And there’s no better place than Galle to start this journey.” 
The “Big Blue” packages take guests out into the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean to explore an astounding variety of sea life. With nothing but an expanse of ocean separating Sri Lanka from Antarctica, the waters off the island’s south coast are home to a breath-taking array of marine mammals, including dolphins, sperm whales, pilot whales and blue whales. With the breeding ground for a 200-strong pod of blue whales lying just 10 kilometres offshore, there are few better places to see the largest animal ever to inhabit the Earth in its natural environment. 
Guests at both Cantaloupe Aqua and Cantaloupe Levels can encounter these leviathans in the company of an expert guide, with a series of energising multi-day experiences that also include visits to the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. This not-for-profit organisation is dedicated to the conservation of five of the seven recognised species of sea turtle worldwide, which return to Sri Lanka’s beaches every year to lay their eggs. 
At Cantaloupe Aqua, the Big Blue package rates start from US$880 (Bt29,200) net for a three-night/four-day package, and from $1,350 net for a seven-night/eight-day package, based on double occupancy. This package includes accommodation in an Aqua Ocean Play room with daily breakfast and Wi-Fi, airport transfers, a whale-watching experience and a visit to the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, plus a Sri Lankan dining experience for two. 
At Cantaloupe Levels, the Big Blue packages start from US$1,100 net for a three-night/four-day package, and from US$1,800 net for a seven-night/eight-day package, based on double occupancy. This package includes accommodation in a Deluxe Silhouette room with daily breakfast and Wi-Fi, an airport transfer, plus the whale-watching experience, visit to the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery and Sri Lankan dining experience. 
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