Unawatuna resort in Sri Lanka is the birthplace of Ceylon tea, known throughout the world. This is a small village and it’s main population is represented by fishermen and their families. At the beginning of the 2000s, there were only two small hotels, and some random tourists, who occasionally reached this region.
Today, Unawatuna has flourished: you can find there hotel complexes with swimming pools, clean beaches and restaurants with the freshest seafood. But until now, this resort remains one of the quietest and most peaceful, designed for a serene trip to Sri Lanka.
Check this post on best things to do in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka. This is the ultimate travel guide for first timers that provides details on what to see and most popular tourist attractions to visit.
Unawatuna General Info
- Location: South of Sri Lanka.
- Average air t: in winter: during the day – + 29-30°C, at night – + 24°C degrees; in summer : during the day – +29°C, at night +26°C degrees.
- Average water t: in winter – +28°C; in summer – +27°C.
- Best season to visit: January to March.
- Rainy season: summer.
- Book a day tour to Kosgoda, Balapitiya and Unawatuna here.
- On the map: link .
How to get to Unawatuna, Sri Lanka
International flights arrive at Colombo Airport. From there, there are several ways to get to Unawatuna:
- Transfer from the hotel. Most hotels in Unawatuna offer their own airport transfer for several groups of tourists at once. Such an option is available only during the high season.
- Bus. There is no direct train. You need to go from Colombo bus station to Galle, and from there take a bus to Unawatuna. Both tickets cost about $90 per person.
- Taxi. Near the airport there are always cars that will take you to the desired resort. The cost of the trip is around $200.
The road from Colombo to Unawatuna will take 5 hours. In the village itself tuk-tuk is the main transportation option.
Things to Do in Unawatuna
You can find day tours from Unawatuna to all nearby cities. You can just ask in your hotel about possible options and make booking. But in the village itself there are enough interesting places to visit:
Fort Galle
5 km away from Unawatuna there is ancient Dutch fort. The atmosphere of colonial times is felt here even today. The fort was built in the 17th century. Near the ancient fortress there are cafes, shops with cheap souvenirs and a park area. It’s a perfect place to meet sunset.
Japanese Peace Pagoda
Near the port, is the lush Unawatuna greenery there is a white Japanese pagoda, that was built in 2005 by Japanese monks. A beautiful white stone building with an observation deck overlooking the port and the sea. If you’re thinking of what to do in Unawatuna, make sure to visit this place, that was built to bring hope to people even during the time of conflicts and wars.
Mihiripenna Beach
One of the best Unawatuna beaches for families with kids. In the center of the beach there is a deepening with sea water, with the depth that reach out maximum to the waist. Little tourists love to splash around here. The beach itself is small but picturesque. If you would like to see sea turtles, make sure to visit this place.
Jungle Beach
Maybe not the best place to visit in Unawatuna, especially if you’re looking for some privacy and calm atmosphere, but still worth visiting. Locals mostly prefer to spend time on this beach, it’s especially full on weekends. It’s not so easy to find, pretty small lagoon is surrounded by jungles.
Another drawback of this place – it’s really dirty, with a lot of plastic that’s all over the place.
Sea Turtle Hatchery
Just 10 minutes drive from Unawatuna there is sea turtle hatchery, which is one of the best places to visit in Unawatuna region. The main goal of this place is to preserve turtle eggs and small turtles, while most of the species are endangered.
You can not only visit this place, but also render all possible assistance, as there always a lot of volunteer work, like cleaning aquariums, assisting with other daily duties.
