Unawatuna

Unawatuna is a charming small village with magnificent sandy beaches and vast groves of palm and fruit trees. Over ten years ago, the Discovery Channel rated its beaches as some of the best in the world. The reef strips lying between the ocean and the lagoon act as natural breakwaters during storms, making the shoreline waves safe, although the currents can be quite noticeable.

It’s important to note that nature has created excellent conditions here for families with small children: about a quarter of the entire beach is a “frog pond” — a closed shallow area protected by reefs, with no currents and a maximum depth of 1.5 meters. This spot is also perfect for elderly visitors who often find it difficult to swim even in the gentlest surf. The lagoon maintains a pleasant water temperature, allowing for hours of comfortable swimming. The resort has no luxury hotel complexes or big resorts, so most tourists stay “off the beaten path.” Thanks to two reef barriers, the beach is considered the safest on the whole island.

Visitors can enjoy both calm, relaxing holidays and activities such as professional surfing, snorkeling, diving, and traditional fishing. Around the beach, there are numerous snack bars, restaurants, and pubs serving both Sinhalese and European cuisine. You can also find fully European-style bars — a novelty for this area. Jewelry shops and stores abound in Unawatuna, offering everything from Coca-Cola to photo film.

Unawatuna is ideal both for peaceful relaxation and for exploring nearby sights. For example, just 2.5 kilometers from this beach lies another equally beautiful beach. Only 45 minutes away is the Kottawa forest reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and just 9 kilometers away is the historic city of Galle.

The island’s authorities never impose swimming bans regardless of weather conditions. Unawatuna is a very cozy place for family holidays. A famous legend says that the village was created when Hanuman (the deity, son of the wind god Vayu) was carrying a small piece of the Himalayas with medicinal plants, which he accidentally dropped — forming Unawatuna with its abundant healing herbs.

The beach “Una” occupies only half of the resort village, and just minutes away you will find magnificent jungles that seem like a new world full of possibilities. In the evenings, along the horseshoe-shaped coast, colorful lights from cafes, shops, and restaurants light up, and music invites guests to discos where you can play billiards, dance, and enjoy exquisite drinks and cocktails.