Unawatuna is a famous beach town located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka and the place is well known for having some of the best beaches in the country, including Unawatuna Beach, Jungle Beach, Dalawella Beach, and Mihirpenna Beach.
The famed palm tree rope swing at Dalawella beach has made the site extremely popular on Instagram. Another great hobby in Unawatuna is learning to surf. Even if you don’t like to party, spending a night out on the Unawatuna beach and experiencing the exciting nightlife is a must-do activity.
Top 8 Exciting things to do In Unawatuna
1. Take a break at the beach.
In Unawatuna, the best place to relax your self is in the middle or south of the beach, where there are fewer people and boats. you may rent a sunbed, sit back and watch the sunset, or if you want to go a step further, you can order cocktails and food from the seaside cafés to have the finest experience at the beach.
2. Snorkeling
Unawatuna is popular among snorkelers due to the presence of stunning coral reefs and shipwrecks off the coast. Turtles may even come to nest on the beach at certain times of the year. In addition, there are various laid-back small restaurants, bars, and hotels to choose from.
- Unawatuna Bay is not only a world-renowned beach on land, but it also provides an excellent underwater experience. It is also ideal for snorkeling due to its many shallow places. Snorkelers can enjoy a pleasant experience with a little ship wreck, rocks, and corals.
- Jungle Beach Bay is only a few kilometers down the road, between Unawatuna and Galle. The bay is a local’s secret, with a gorgeous beach and relatively shallow entry spots, making it ideal for snorkeling.
3. Scuba Diving
Taking a Scuba diving class is one of the most popular activities that you can do while you are in Unawatuna. The diving instructors in Unawatuna are one of the best diver groups in the area and offer a wide range of courses, including basic, advanced, and instructor level scuba diving. One-day diving courses, such as the “Discovery Dive,” are also available, in which an instructor will accompany you and show you the numerous underwater species and stunning coral reefs. Payment is accepted in Euros, therefore one should exercise caution when converting the currency.
4. Enjoy The Nightlife
Unawatuna Beach’s nightlife is vibrant, with music and an ecstatic atmosphere. During the peak season, this region’s nightclubs and pubs are packed with both tourists and locals. The Kingfisher Beach Bar and Koha Surf Lounge are ideal for those looking for a calm night at the beach. Regular discos organized by Happy Banana and Jungle Beach Restaurant are available for dancing.
5. Visit Galle Fort
Exploring the surrounding places is one of the best things to do in Unawatuna. Galle is a city adjacent to Unawatuna that provides excellent exploration options for visitors. The Galle Fort is one of them, and it showcases excellent Sri Lankan architecture with hints of Portuguese, Dutch, and British influence. One may spend an entire afternoon exploring Galle Fort and even witnessing the spectacular sunset from the top of the fort wall. Don’t miss out on these fantastic Galle Fort sites.
- Old Dutch Hospital
- Maritime Museum
- Dutch Church
- Clock Tower
- All Saints
6. Whale watching in Unawatuna
Uawatuna is an excellent location for watching dolphins and whales. Bottlenose dolphins and Spinner dolphins are frequently seen around the area. Whale or dolphin watching is planned with pre-identified whale sightings that are confirmed by other boats on the same day. Whale tour companies provide extensive and one-of-a-kind services to customers, and this is the ideal way to watch and enjoy the gigantic animal. The boats are designed specifically for whale watching and are perfectly suited to the South coast sea conditions. Hundreds of dolphins are discovered during this journey.
7. Enjoy the view from the Japanese Peace Pagoda
The stately Japanese Peace Pagoda is nestled in the forest on a hillside north of Unawatuna beach. The monument, which was created by Japanese monks in 2005 as part of a programme to establish peace temples in conflict zones, serves as a beacon of hope for people all around the world. It’s now a popular tourist destination with stunning views of Galle Bay and Galle Fort. Please be courteous when visiting; this is a working religious monument.
8. Visit a Sea Turtle Hatchery in Unawatuna
Habaraduwa Hatchery, located only 8 kilometers from Unawatuna, is an excellent site to take your family or children to learn about the life cycle of sea turtles, see turtle eggs, and even handle young turtles. This facility also serves as a rehabilitation center for injured sea turtles. The most common sea turtle species discovered in this hatchery include leatherback turtles, green turtles, loggerhead turtles, hawksbill turtles, and olive ridley turtles. You could even get to release the newly hatched baby turtles into the water if you’re lucky.
Best Beaches to explore in Unawatuna
- Dalawella Beach
- Unawatuna Beach
- Mihiripenna Beach
- Jungle Beach
Unawatuna Beach
Unawatuna Beach is distinguished by its beautiful palm trees, glistening ocean, and golden beach. Unawatuna Beach is shaped like a banana and is a small, intimate beach. The beach boasts a lovely view of the pagoda and the Buddha statue, making it ideal for wandering.
Jungle Beach
Jungle Beach is a remote beach near the Japanese Peace Pagoda. To get here, trek down Rumassala Hills for around 10-15 minutes (super easy hike). The advantage is that Jungle Beach is less congested than the main Unawatuna beach and is ideal for snorkeling.
Dalawella Beach
Thanks to Instagram, the Dalawella beach swing in Sri Lanka is on everyone’s bucket list. Unawatuna beach is 1.5 kilometers away from Dalawella beach. Search for Dream Cabana for the swing. The swing will cost $3 for one person.
Mihirpenna Beach
Mihirpenna beach is much quieter and more suitable for swimming and sunbathing. It is 3 kilometers from Unawatuna Beach. There are numerous more activities available around Mihirpenna beach, such as snorkeling, climbing the rocks to get a drone perspective, and watching stilt fishing.
Unawatuna Beach
Jungle Beach
How to get to Unawatuna from Colombo
Take a Train
Take a Bus
If you want to travel by bus, there is a direct service from Maharagama bus station in Colombo’s suburbs to Galle. You’re guaranteed a seat, and the air conditioning is a great comfort in Sri Lanka. You can then take a tuk-tuk or a local bus from Galle to Unawatuna.
When to visit Unawatuna
Unawatuna is best visited between October and April, when the monsoon rains have passed and the temperatures have stabilized. The best time to visit is between February and April, when low rains and calmer waters give ideal conditions for exploration.
How to get around in Unawatuna
When it comes to traveling around, you have a few options. Tuk-Tuks are common in Unawatuna, so you may haggle a price with a driver and be on your way. This is a low-cost and happy method. Unawatuna is a popular place in Sri Lanka to rent a moped, and there are a number of rental firms offering amazing prices.
Where to stay in Unawatuna
When it comes to lodging in Unawatuna, you have many options. There will be something to suit you whether you are looking for affordable, mid-range, or deluxe accommodations.
- Tartaruga Hotel & Restaurant
- La Verandah Di Serena
- Angel Beach
- Calamander
Whatever you Decide, you won’t be let down in Unawatuna, where the people are friendly and inviting, the food is cheap and good, and the scenery is magnificent. We sincerely hope you enjoyed reading about Unawatuna in Sri Lanka! Send us a message or leave a comment below if you have any inquiries so we can get back to you!
Image courtesy of Sergei Gussev Shyam Habarakada José Ozorio Amila Tennakoon Hassan Rafeek via creative commons licenses. some rights reserved.
Ceylon Hunt has tour packages which facilitate your tour to Unawatuna and you can check them going through our tour packages or make the resevations through our website.
