Unawatuna is a small beach resort village in Southern Sri Lanka.
Get in
The real live Unawatuna lies inside of Route A2 Galle - Matara main road. Unawatuna is located just 5 km south of Galle. The original village where it all started, Yaddehimulla, you turn off the main road just before 123 km Post. The motor-able, tarred road, a kilometre in length, brings you to the best area of Unawatuna with all the guest houses, homestays, restaurants, hotels, internet cafes, tuk-tuk stands, boutique hotels etc.
Most of them are on the world wide web with their own websites. If you search on any major search engine with keywords like Unawatuna, Unawatuna homestays, etc. you will find a host of sites offering varied style of accommodation.
Unawatuna is 150 km from Colombo's Bandaranayaka International Airport in Katunayaka. The journey through busy Colombo roads take over 3 hours by private vehicles. Most hotels and guesthouses offer an airport pick-up service for a hassle-free quick get-away (8500 rps).
Travelling from Colombo downtown to Galle and Unawatuna. Catch the Matara-train (with ocean-view) and jump off in Galle (takes almost three hours, 220 rps) and take either a tuk-tuk (300 rps) or local bus (15 rps) from Galle to Unawatuna. Recommended from Colombo downtown to Galle are aircon mini-buses that take three hours as well (230 rps).
Public transport from Bandaranayake International Airport to Colombo is available just outside the airport.
Get around
Easiest way to get around is by tuk-tuk. Day trips to Dutch Fortress in Galle, Martin Wickremasinghe Museum in Koggala, Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, Ahangama can be fun on a tuk-tuk.
Deal with the driver, make sure there are NO hangers on, or you will be taken for a ride.
They can be hired for the whole day, just the trip or to be dropped off some destination. Most of them can be contacted by mobile phone.
Get an idea of their charges before hand.
Longer trips and round tours can be arranged with car or vans. Sunrise Tours near the Wella Devalaya got well maintained cars and vans.
Public transport trains and air-con buses are the cheapest mode of transport.
See
Jungle Beach, (4 km from Unawatuna). Small beach lost in the the jungle, a good place for snorkelling. Access by boat or by tuk-tuk from Unawatuna
- Turtle Hatchery, Matara Road, Habaraduwa (About 3 km south of Unawatuna). Day time. A hatchery run by individuals just off the Beach to conserve turtle eggs laid on the wide long beach stretching all the way to the hotels in Koggala. Hawksbill, loggerhead and green turtles nestle here. 300 rps.
- Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya, Yatagala Unawatuna (Turn off at Eramudugaha junction), ☎ 091 2222199. Day&Night. Ancient Buddhist Temple built by Sri Lankan Royalty dating back to 2300 years when a sapling of the Sri Maha Bo Tree in Anuradapura was planted here during the reign of His Majesty Devanam Piyatissa. Donations accepted.
Do
Scuba Diving
Sea Horse Divers, Address, ☎ +94 77-6277622 ([email protected]), [1]. One of the diving centres on the Unawatuna beach, good instructors, possibility to dive for people without license with a discovery dive. 25€ per dive.
Snorkeling
The coral reef allows to discover beautiful fishes and seashells. Snorkels and masks can be borrowed in guesthouses or diving centres.
Swimming
Unawatuna bay is safe for swimmers. From the middle of the beach (Unawatuna Beach Resort area) it is safe to swim to the rock island, however climbing the rock island itself might be dangerous and is not recommended. It will take you one hour or more to go and come back. Giant but friendly sea turtles might pop up close to you.
Pagoda
Climb the pagoda at the West end of the beach and enjoy your time at the rocks. Especially sunrise and sunset offer stunning panoramas.
Boat Rides
Take a boat ride to see the local reefs. In off-season, expect high-pressure sales and reneging of struck deals followed by demands for extra cash.
Buy
The streets and beach of Unawatuna offer dozens of places to buy jewellery, clothing, art and other souvenirs.
Eat
In Unawatuna most guest houses have their own restaurant business. All over the beach and inside Unawatuna town you will find places to eat delicious seafood, rice and curry, vegetarian menus, rotty, Italian food etc. Recommended:
- South Ceylon Restaurant. Paradise for vegans / vegetarians. Wonderful service, reasonably priced organic food. http://www.southceylonrestaurant.com
- Peacock restaurant. Comfortable place with affordable food and the best sea views.
- Unawatuna Beach Resort - for those who prefer extended buffets.
Drink
- Riddim, Matara Road, ☎ +94 9112242015 (, [email protected]). Restaurant and bar located at the east end of the beach. A bar for the fans of world and reggae music. Parties organized on Wednesday and Sundays.
- Kingfisher, beach party on Saturdays.
- Happy Banana, disco party on Fridays.
- Lucky Tuna, also located on the beach.
Sleep
You will find a huge amount of nice guesthouses in Unawatuna. Guesthouses on the beach are usually the most expensive and they become cheaper if you move away from the beach.
Budget
- Ocean Hill, K.A. Arjuna, ☎ +94 912224827 ([email protected]). Cheap guest house located 100m from the beach. The rooms are clean and the breakfast is very good. There is no hot water. 1500 LKR (breakfast included).
- Sadhana Birdhouse, 212/A, Yaddehimulla Road (5 minutes along Yaddehimulla Road.), ☎ +94-912224953 ([email protected]). checkout: 12 Noon. The Bird House is a beautiful guest house set back from the Unawatuna beach offering a warm welcome from a friendly Sri Lankan family. The rooms are spacious and clean with an attached bath room and balcony. $10-25.
- Surfcity Guesthouse, Unawatuna beach (close to Unawatuna beach resort), (www.surfcity1.net). checkout: 12 Noon. This hotel is not in the beach but has beach views. So if you want to relax on the beach better opt for other hotels. If you want cheaper accommodation then this hotel is a good option. Cheap rates, clean, friendly staff. Three types of spacious rooms with beach-sight verandas: 1. basic double rooms, 2. double rooms with a.c. and hot water, 3. luxury suites. Breakfast, lunch and dinner available at extra cost. Free internet and wi-fi service. from Rs 1500.
- Upul Guesthouse, Unawatuna Beach Road, western part (Close to Hot Rock Restaurant). The Guesthouse is located on a small rock, the restaurant facing the sea. Fan and a/c rooms of different quality, the cheap ones without a window are smelly. The more expensive ones have a great sea view and are good value. Friendly owners, free WIFI in restaurant and some of the rooms, good food for a reasonable price. from Rs 1000.
Mid Range
- Celltantao Resort, (One-minute walk from the beach), ☎ +94-149318974 ([email protected]), [2]. Nice clean private rooms with attached bathrooms in a garden setting. Backpacker budget friendly(<US$10). Friendly and helpful owner.
- Sea View, Devala Road, ☎ +94-912224376 ([email protected]), [3]. Hot water, restaurant and internet. from 15$ to 55$.
- Strand Homestay, 218, Yaddehimulla Road (800 Meters along Yaddehimulla Road.), ☎ +94-912224358 ([email protected]). checkin: Any Hour; checkout: 12 Noon. Home-stay Strand is not a traditional hotel or a guest house, but a home-stay in a traditional ancestral Sinhalese family home. $15-50.
- Sudu Surfing Cottage (oposite to the bus stop, nearby Dalawella Beach Resort), 36/2 Matara Road A2, Dalawella, Unawatuna, Galle, 80600 Sri Lanka, ☎ +94-776970649 ([email protected]), [4]. A new brand wood cottage a few meters away from a nice beach. All facilities: hot water, Internet access, food. Run by a local family.
Contact
Get out
- Mirissa [25 km to the east, on Route A2 close to the Southern tip of the island] More low-key and unspoilt beaches than in its bigger brother Unawatuna. It's also the base for whale watching.
