Introduction
Hey everyone, in this article we will share with you the best things to do in Unawatuna.
Our travel in Sri Lanka was touching its end. We were now in our last location. Unawatuna, where we stayed 2 nights before going back to Colombo and then to Europe.
We stayed in Unawatuna as it had many things to do around, and Galle fort was right around the corner.
Among the best things to do in Unawatuna, there is: visiting the beaches, the peace pagoda, the old city of Galle Fort as well as some well-deserved chilling time in a hammock or by the swimming pool.
In this article, we will tell our story going around all the best things to do in Unawatuna. So, if you too are planning a trip to Sri Lanka and to Unawatuna, then let‘s dive in these best things to do in Unawatuna.
Here is our complete video from this trip :
Table of Contents
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Getting there
Depending on where you are coming from there are multiple solutions. If you are coming from Mirissa, the easiest way is to hire a tuktuk. It takes less than 1 hour to reach Unawatuna and along the way, you can stop in a turtle hatchery.
A cheaper option would be to take the bus from Udupila station in Mirissa until Welle Dewalaya in Unawatuna. The bus is the 350 to Galle Central Bus.
Moving Around
The best way to move around Unwatuna is by scooter. We hire one from our accommodation which was super easy. With a scooter you will be free to move where you want when you want. Plus, it will be cheaper than other means of transportation.
Of course you can also use tuktuks. Always ask your accommodation to organize it for us as you will be able to know the rate before taking it and won’t need to negotiate.
When to Visit
Sri Lanka is a year-round destination thanks to its combination of weather systems ensuring that one or several regions has a good weather. Meaning that each side of the island has its own best time to visit.
The dry seasons by month and destination are:
- North – May to September
- Center – January to April
- South – December – March
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If like us you plan a trip around the country, the best time to visit to Sri Lanka will be between January and mid-April.
Temperatures are constant year-round, with coastal regions enjoying average temperatures of 25-30°C and the highlands 15-18°C on average.
We visited it beginning of April and got quite a good weather with only some rain on our final days there. However, it was hot and humid.
Where to Stay
 Our favourite accommodation in Unawatuna :
What to Eat
The best things to try in Sri Lanka are:
- Dhal curries
- Vegetable curry
- Vegetable Kotu
- Egg Hoppers
- Coconut Sambals
Regarding alcohol, the Lion beer is quite nice, and you can also try the coconut spirit.
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Our favorite places to eat in Mirissa are:
- SkinnyTom’s Deli
- The Social Unawatuna
- Koha Surf Lounge
- Society Unawatuna
- La Boheme
Best things to do in Unawatuna
Galle Fort
Let’s start with the obvious best things to do in Unawatuna, Galle Fort is a must to visit. The old fort was built in 1588 by the Portuguese, it was then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century.
The old fort is filled with old building, shops, stores, restaurants. It is the perfect place to enjoy some colonial experience and get lost in an old town.
There is even a beach in the old fort if you want to rest for a while but what we preferred was to simply stroll around and try to visit all its streets. After all, the old fort isn’t that big.
Turtle Beach
This could even be the best things to do in Unwatuna, Turtle beach, also call Dalawella beach or even Wijaya beach is the most famous beach around Unawatuna. The reason for that is that the beach offers a natural pool where you are sheltered from the strong ocean waves.
It is therefore really enjoyable to swim there. But the best part is that many turtles reside in the natural pool formation.
So, that’s a spot where seeing a turtle is always guarantee and you won’t even need to snorkel.
Swings
On the other side of the turtle beach, you can also find a swing rope, however, you will have to pay to use it. Swings are not anymore, a true things to do in Unawatuna and in Sri-Lanka. It may have been in the past but not anymore.
Stilt fisherman
A bit further, you can also see stilt fisherman pole still standing in the water. Those are not really used anymore, and, on most places, you have to pay to see a fisherman going on them.
Heenwella beach
Heenwella beach is one of our favourite beaches in Unawatuna. The beach offers a picturesque stretch of golden sands that softly meet the azure waters of the Indian Ocean.Â
We visited it early morning and what we truly preferred was seeing local fishermen.
Thalpe Natural Pool
Next to Heenwella beach are The Thalpe Naturals. Â Locals carved these rectangular pools over 50 years ago in the coral reef.
They were filling them with coconut husks to soak them to separate the coir from the husk. This was done mainly during April and May when the weather was clear and the water calm.
Once the importance of the coral reef was understood, they abandoned this practice and moved their pits to land.
Jungle Beach
Jungle beach is another one of the best things to do in Unawatuna and one of the best beaches in Unawatuna. The beach is hidden behind a jungle, so, to access it, you will have to hike a little bit. But don’t worry, it isn’t too long nor too hard.
Jungle beach has 2 parts that are connected through a small trail. However, each part is completely secluded from the other.
It is a nice beach that is usually not too crowded.
Unawatuna Beach
Well, you do visit Unawatuna for the beaches, the next best things to do is Unawatuna beach itself which is most probably the longest beach of the area.
Unawatuna beach is located right on the main street of Unawatuna. It is a more developed beach with lots of restaurants, cafes, and water activity on it.
Peace Pagoda
The final place on our best things to do in Unawatuna is the Japanese Peace Pagoda.
In 1947, a Japanese Buddhist monk by the name of Nichidatsu Fujii dedicated his life to constructing Peace Pagodas around the world as symbols of peace. He built more than 80 Peace Pagodas all over the world, one of them being in Unawatuna.
Its clean, rounded design is intended to represent harmony between people of any and all backgrounds. The immense white stupa that rises out of the Japanese Peace Pagoda is surrounded by statues painted in gold, while a nearby flight of stairs leads to a walkway that goes around the shrine, offering breath-taking views of the jungle, the sea, and the stunning Galle Fort.
Other Activities
And that’s it. But we would also recommend that you take time enjoying your accommodation and its swimming pool, especially during the hottest hours of the day.
And do try some of the restaurant in Unawatuna, they are more expensive than elsewhere in the country but are quite good and with some many of them, you can really experience new flavors.
More things to do in Unawatuna
If you want more things to do in Unawatuna, you can consider:
- Turtle Hatchery
It is not the destination where you end up but the mishaps and memories you create along the way
Get our full map
Why pin one by one when you can get them all at once? With this map, you get all our pins, destinations, things to see, where to eat and sleep, and so much more in one time.
