Named as “Best Beach in the World” by Discovery Television Channel in 2004, the stunning Unawatuna beach is the crown of the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Among all the best Sri Lankan beaches, Unawatuna considers the most beautiful one on the island. Sweeping along the palm-lined shore with turquoise waters, it has an unsurpassed scenic beauty. This spectacular crescent-shaped beach continues to attract visitors from all over the world. Certainly, this picturesque golden beach is the most famous tourist paradise in southern Sri Lanka.
It locates just 5 km south of historical Galle city. The Unawatuna Beach is a long stretch of coastline that spans nearly 1 1/2 km. The coral reefs of Unawatuna helped to create a waveless natural pool that made it a safe haven for safe swimming and sea bathing. It is a popular spot for water sports including surfing, scuba diving, and deep-sea diving. Owing to its natural splendor and premium facilities, Unawatuna is a pleasing tropical retreat for thousands of visitors throughout the year.
Here we are going to show you 10 amazing things to do at Unawatuna Beach. Remember to enjoy all these marvelous attractions while you are visiting this wonderful beach in Sri Lanka.
1. Snorkeling
Do you like to see the fascinating underwater life on Unawatuna Beach? You don’t need to be an experienced diver to get close to the splendor of the underwater world. Equipped with a mask, snorkel, and fins you can float on the water surface and watch the vibrant coral reefs, rocks, and reef fish below.
Snorkeling is one of the most famous things to do in Unawatuna. There are lots of colorful varieties of coral species under the sea near Unawatuna. With snorkeling, you can get a perfect look at them. This wonderful experience will be an unforgettable moment to enjoy on Unawatuna Beach,
2. Diving
Stunning Unawatuna Beach is the most famous diving spot on the southern coast. Both locals and foreigners come to get their diving licenses from PADI diving centers in Unawatuna. It is an excellent diving site consisting of rocky formations, many shipwrecks, and numerous varieties of fish.
One of the wonderful sightings in Unawatuna is an endangered, rare species of Napoleon wrasse. Moreover, you can see whale sharks while diving in Unawatuna. Whale sharks are ocean giants which grow up to 20 m and 15 tons. Since Whale sharks are vegetarians and harmless, you can swim with them closer at a distance of 10 m.
3. Surfing
Unawatuna Beach is one of the best family-friendly destinations in Sri Lanka. The reef in Unawatuna acts as a protected sanctuary and it is a well-known safe place for surfing. The gentle waves in this area are safe for even the kids. The best time for surfing with clear weather in Unawatuna is October to April.
If you are a newbie, there are plenty of surfing schools and camps around Unawatuna Bay, where you can learn this sport. It is possible to get surfing lessons for both adults and kids from experienced instructors. They will show you the best surfing spots around the bay where you can try this sport together with your kids in safe waters.
4. Jungle Beach
Jungle Beach is one of the most gorgeous hidden beaches in Sri Lanka. The entire stretch of beach is well sheltered by a sweep of palm-fringed land right behind the coast. It is a quiet, protected place bordered by lush green jungle from one side and enclosed by coral reef breaks from the other side. Thus, it is similar to a large pool, without any strong waves. Jungle Beach is ideal for safe swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and even surfing.
Accessing the beach is a bit challenging, you need to hike up along the jungle beach road and climb down through the vegetation to enter the beach. This jungle pathway to the beach will give you a wonderful experience. The hike to the beach takes around half an hour and it is certainly worth visiting this less crowded, spectacular beach.
Jungle Beach is a serene place with a magical feeling to it. This small beach is mostly empty, and you can enjoy a peaceful time. You could lie on the beach and lose all track of time in a relaxed state, listening to the whispers of gentle waves of Unawatuna Bay.
5. Peace Pagoda
There is a shining pure white Buddhist stupa sitting pretty on the Rumassala hill overlooking the jungle beach. This is one of the five Sanjeevani mountains in Sri Lanka, related to the legend of Ramayana. The beautiful stupa atop the hill is a gift from Japan and calls as Japanese Peace Pagoda. This is a beautiful monument in the background of the lush green jungle and deep blue ocean.
This Buddhist temple provides a quiet spot away from the crowds. Visitors can walk through the shaded path to the Peace Pagoda and they will be rewarded with a marvelous stupa surrounded by gold-painted statues of Lord Buddha.
It takes a small hike to get there, but the sweeping views of Unawatuna Bay are a wonderful sight to witness. There you can enjoy the panoramic scenery that runs until Galle Dutch Fort. This is a lovely place where you can enjoy the gorgeous sunset.
6. Devol Devalaya
There are two important temples in Unawatuna Bay. One is Devol Devalaya and the other one is the Peace Pagoda. Since both are two different places with distinct characteristics, remember to visit them while you are visiting Unawatuna Beach.
Unawatuna Devol Devalaya is a temple located on a rocky hill at the end of the Unawatuna beach. On top of the hill, you can get a wonderful view of the entire Unawatuna area. Since this is a religious place, you need to remove your shoes from the bottom of the stairs to the top.
This ancient temple is quite famous as a spiritual spot. On the temple premises, you can see some very rare, ancient trees in Sri Lanka. One of them is called the Konthalan tree. Reportedly, there are only a few trees of this type available on the island.
7. Dalawella Beach
Just closer to Unawatuna Beach, Dalawella is another lovely beach you shouldn’t miss in southern Sri Lanka. Unlike busy Unawatuna, this is a very calm and quiet place with only a few visitors. It is a perfect place to relax under the huge palm trees.
There is a special point call as Turtle Beach, famous for watching turtles. Turtles often swim right into the lagoon and you can have an epic encounter with these beautiful creatures. You don’t even need to snorkel, just wade through the water and watch they are swimming in the crystal-clear ocean.
8. Frog Rock
A visit to Dalawella Beach isn’t completed without visiting Frog Rock. You can find Frog Rock in front of the Rockside Cabanas Hotel. This rock is a wonderful place with an exactly similar appearance to a frog. You’ll see how this rock is sitting like a giant frog on the beach! It is a really cool photo spot with a horizontal palm tree growing alongside it.
This huge rock locates on Wijaya Beach is quite famous among visitors. It is a sweet place where you can catch the gorgeous sunset behind the Frog Rock. It makes wonderful scenery in the evening, along with the painted background of the horizon. Couples prefer to take a romantic shot at the top of this rock and keep it as an eternal symbol of their love.
9. Palm tree rope swing
The palm tree rope swing on Dalawella Beach considers the best beach swing in Sri Lanka. It locates right in front of the Dream Cabana hotel. This swing has become a tourist hotspot for travelers who want to capture some wonderful Insta-worthy shots. It is an awesome experience for thrill-seeking adventure lovers.
The swing locates in a bent palm tree, that hangs over the beach and allows you to swing out over the blue ocean. The sight is absolutely unreal during the sunset and you can get some seriously beautiful photos. Since this is a quite famous attraction among tourists, you may have to wait for the photo opportunity. But you’ll see it’s completely worth waiting for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
10. Thalpe Rock Pool Beach
Thalpe rock pool beach is an amazing hidden gem that locates just closer to Unawatuna Beach. It is a local secret popular among Sri Lankans who like adventurous sea bathing. Most foreigners are unaware of this lovely place. The rock pool beach provides beautiful seaside pools in a secluded area.
Since the rock pools are cut off from a coral reef, there aren’t any strong waves in these pools. If you’re looking for an extraordinary beach filled with serenity, this rock pool beach is definitely your spot for a unique experience.
To sum up, Unawatuna Beach is a superb beach destination in Sri Lanka. Certainly, it is the crown of the southern coast with unparalleled scenic beauty. Unawatuna is a tourist hotspot with all the facilities required for travelers. These include beach hotels, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, water sports gear rentals, fresh seafood, and all other facilities. Moreover, there is a quite vibrant nightlife which is ideal for party lovers. Without a doubt, none of the visitors to the stunning Unawatuna Beach will be disappointed. Happy beach time for everybody!
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Booking.com, Facebook, and Twitter. All copyrights are reserved by the original authors.
