Unawatuna is a coastal town with incredible beaches and sunsets located on the south coast of Sri Lanka, approximately 5 kilometers south of the city of Galle. During my visit to Sri Lanka I had the opportunity to stay in Unawatuna for 4 days and explore the entire area, it is undoubtedly a worthwhile stop on your visit to Sri Lanka.
📸 All pictures you are going to see in this post were taken from my camera during my visit to Unawatuna .
What to see and do in Unawatuna
To enjoy everything you can see and make the most of your visit, this city deserves a stop of at least a couple of days. You will be able to enjoy its paradisiacal beaches and a more relaxed atmosphere than its neighboring city, the busy city of Galle.
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Dallawela Beach and the famous swing at the Palm Tree
I am sure you have already seen somewhere on the internet the famous picture of the swing on a coconut tree in Sri Lanka. This famous spot is located on Dallawela beach, about 10 minutes by Tuk Tuk from Unawatuna. The sunset on this beach is amazing, and while it is true that there is not much to do around, the place is perfect for relaxing while having a drink at a restaurant overlooking the beach.
To swing on the coconut tree will cost you about 500 LKR, the equivalent of 1.5 euros. This spot is located in front of the Dream Cabana hotel, on the main beach of Dalawella. Besides swinging and taking pictures, you can also stroll along the beach, enjoy swimming and if you are lucky enough you will see turtles, they often visit this area.
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Unawatuna Beach
One of the most popular and visited beaches in the country, the beach is characterized by its banana shape, surrounded by palm trees, crystal clear waters and golden sand.
You can visit the famous Peace Pagoda Statue, enjoy local street food, watch stilt fishermen, participate in beach parties, learn to surf or attend morning yoga classes.
On the promenade on the way to the beach you will find all kinds of souvenir stores, clothing stores and restaurants. It is a very quiet street to stroll, even at night, when the party starts.
Visit Jungle Beach
Jungle Beach is a bit more secluded and quieter compared to the main beach of Unawatuna. It stands out as a serene destination, ideal for those looking for a more relaxed and less crowded beach experience.
Despite its quieter atmosphere, Jungle Beach has a small beach bar where you will find fresh seafood and refreshments, making it convenient for spending half a day enjoying the sun and sea without straying too far from basic amenities.
Surfing in Unawatuna
It is important to note that Unawatuna is not the main surfing destination on the south coast of Sri Lanka. Still, if you want you can find a good spot for beginners near Bona Vista Bay.
To discover the best surfing beaches in Sri Lanka read my article about the best spots on the island.
Plan your visit to Unawatuna
There are a few things you need to know beforehand before visiting Unawatuna. In this section I am going to give you some recommendations about restaurants, accommodations and transportation to make your experience exceptional.
Where to stay: Recommendations
Unawatuna is an area of hotels and tourism that is somewhat more premium than other neighboring beaches, more hippie and surfer, so it will be a little more difficult for you to find hostels, but if what you are looking for is to relax in a more premium tropical environment, you are in the right place. . During my visit I had the opportunity to stay in Unawatuna beach and Dalawella beach, in two resorts that I consider to be the best accommodations I have stayed in in Sri Lanka.
The pictures you can see here were taken at Rockside Cabanas.
Top 3 Accommodations in Unawatuna
- Rockside Cabanas Hotel: Hotel on the beachfront of Dalawella beach, the cabins are spectacular and have direct access to the beach.
- Nooit Gedacht Ayurveda Heritage: Undoubtedly one of the best resorts in Unawatuna, with swimming pool and central location 2 minutes from the beach.
- Green Escape Unawatuna: One of the best 4 star hotels in Unawatuna with restaurant and swimming pool.
Recommended Restaurants
I would definitely recommend trying Koha Surf Lounge, they have quite a variety to choose from, and although it is somewhat more expensive than usual, for about 8 bucks you can try the best poke bowls on the island.
In addition to poke bowls, they have burgers that make you drool and desserts that are just as incredible. In my case I tried the tofu poke bowl, as they have vegan options, but I could not resist trying the chicken burger and I can confirm that it was a super yummy.
Another must-try restaurant would be The Hideout Unawatuna, without a doubt this was my favorite. What I would highlight the most is their Mexican food. It had been a long time since I had tried anything other than local food, noodles and curry, and when I got there and tried their nachos and tacos I almost had a tear of emotion.
Undoubtedly the best place in Unawatuna value for money to eat comfortably.
How to get to Unawatuna
If you are heading southwest of Unawatuna from Colombo The best option will be to take a bus on the highway from the Makumbura Multimodal Center station. Once you arrive at the station you will have to ask for the bus to Galle.
Make sure you get on the Highway Bus, if you make a mistake it may take much longer than expected.
Once in Galle you will simply take the local bus in front of the bus station on the way to Unawatuna. Total duration of these two buses from Colombo is usually between 2.5 and 3 hours.
Where to go after visiting Unawatuna
Once you have finished your visit to Unawatuna you can continue on your way to the next coastal town that I recommend, Ahangama, one of my favorites. From this point you will be getting closer to the surfing area of Sri Lanka, around Ahangama you will find numerous beaches where you can practice this sport.
Likewise, after Ahangama I recommend visiting the beaches of Midigama, Weligama, Mirissa and Hirikatiya in this order. These are the main coastal towns and cities that you should not miss under any circumstances in the southwest of Sri Lanka before continuing your way to the Safari in Yala and the north in Ella.
My Experience in Unawatuna
My experience in Unawatuna was a 10/10, since I arrived I fell in love with the place. The mgical sunsets make it a unique place in Sri Lanka, it was an oasis of tranquility during my visit to Sri Lanka.
It is also true that I was lucky to be able to stay in the best hotels in Unawatuna for free and see the sunrises on the beach practically from the window of my room. In any case, I think it is a good place to spend a few days, specially if you want to visit Galle I recommend staying in Unawatuna and make your visit from here.
