7 Best Beaches In Unawatuna For Swimming, Snorkeling & Surfing

Share This Article

Did you know that Sri Lanka is divided seasonally? When half the country is not in monsoon, the other half of its coast is. The most ideal time to visit Unawatuna is December to April if you plan on spending the majority of your time in the ocean. These are perfect months for snorkeling in clear waters and swimming in a calm ocean. 

After April, the rains make the waters cloudier, and the wave sizes start to increase. If you’re not the strongest swimmer, it can be a little daunting playing around its ocean. That being said, I visited Unawatuna in June, and the weather was still fine. We had some rain, but not excessive. I don’t know if this was pure luck, but for the best experience, I suggest the earlier months. 

(I am from South Africa, so for me, it wasn’t a problem. But I can totally emphathize how the ocean can appear a bit scarier for some at this time of year.) 

Heading to the southeastern town any time soon? Here are the best beaches in Unawatuna! 

P.S. Unawatuna isn’t super big, and the towns in Sri Lanka are all within close proximity to each other. Some of the beaches on this list are a 5 to 15-minute drive from Unawatuna. 

1. Mihiripenna Beach: Turtle spotting if you’re lucky 

Mihiripenna Beach ticks every single one of my boxes when deciding on the best beaches in Unawatuna. 

Natural beauty, fewer crowds, and a really tropical paradisical type of feel. You’ll also spot traditional Sri Lankan fishermen on their stilt pedestals here. Stand on the famous rock at sunset for incredibly romantic photos. 

We hired a scooter in most destinations, so cruising to the various beaches was an easy one for us. It’s a good tip, but make sure you carry your license with you. We were pulled over by cops doing a routine check. 

It’s also famed for its turtle-spotting. But please, DO NOT TOUCH the turtles if you spot any. They’re not always around, though. The best time for seeing them is in the morning. There is a nearby restaurant/cafe, too, and tuk-tuks bring travelers here. It’s an eight-minute drive from Unawatuna. 

2. Habaraduwa Beach: Beach for beginner surfers 

Tall palm trees jut at all angles at golden softsand Habaraduwa Beach, and some are so low you can hop onto them for epic photographs. 

When it’s season, the ocean is really flat most days, and you’ll often spot surfers in the water, especially those who are finding their feet on a board for the first time, as the swell doesn’t get too big here. So, if you’re learning to surf, this is one of your best bets. It’s not a MEGA popular beach, either, in case you’re too shy to surf in front of crowds.  

Technically, this beach is part of Habaraduwa town, but Unawatuna is just 15 minutes away. 

Baby turtles often hatch on the beach (where there are conservation efforts to protect them), so be aware and watch your step.

3. Dalawella Beach: Home to the famous tree swing 

Have you ever seen that iconic picture of a person swinging mid-air from an outstretched palm tree branch in Sri Lanka? Well, that, ladies and gents, is Dalawella Beach! 

Thanks to this now iconic photo opportunity, the beach does get rather busy in comparison to some of the other best beaches in Unawatuna, but not excessively so, if you’re comparing it to Aragum Bay or even Hikkaduwa. 

Snorkeling is totally doable, as well as wallowing away in its rather shallow waters. It’s a perfect spot for sunbathing, sea, and fun! There are also a handful of accommodation options here. 

P.S. When the waves get a bit bigger, the right-hand break can be epic. 

4. Jungle Beach: Popular but still quiet 

Any guesses as to why one of Unawatuna’s most well-known beaches gets the name? Yup, that’s because it is wrapped in a lush thicket of tropical jungle, giving it this very wild and rugged sort of appeal. 

Instead of the typical drive to get here, amp up the adventure and embark on a small, easy trek via Rumassala forest, which eventually brings you to Jungle Beach in a small enclave. 

This sandy locale has always been pretty popular for snorkeling, but unfortunately, this means that in more recent years, the reef has taken a beating and isn’t as full of sea life as it once was. Still, it’s fun for first-time snorkelers, but please, take caution and don’t stand on the reef or disrupt it in any way. Let’s continue to protect our oceans! 

5. Wijaya Beach: Grab a cocktail and chill 

Around the corner from Dalawela Beach lies Wijaya Beach. If you like heading to a beach where you have access to facilities like restaurants, a place to grab cold drinks and water, etc., then Wijaya is one of your top bets among the best beaches in Unawatuna. 

The Wijaya Beach Restaurant (also with accommodation) serves takeaway, so you can grab yours and enjoy some food with your feet in the sand.

Golden Hour is really pretty at Wijaya Beach. This is a lovely option for families in particular. 

6. Koggala Beach: A lovely long sandy beach with a lagoon 

Planning a beach-hopping adventure for the day? Koggala Beach is just a couple of minutes away from Habaraduwa Beach, so why not visit them both in one go? 

Koggala Lake is on one side of the beach, with a long stretch of sand leading up to this part, and then the Indian Ocean is on the opposite end of the lagoon. 

Towering palm trees line its shorefront, like most Sri Lankan beaches, and there is quite an impressive amount of shorebank to hang ten on. 

It’s not listed on surfing hotspot lists, but there are a few sections of Koggala Beach which provide surf breaks. Just look out for stilt fishermen! Also, because it’s not so well-known among the surf community, you won’t have to fight for waves. Bonus! 

7. Unawatuna Beach: The most popular of them all 

I’ve saved the most obvious for last: Unawatuna Beach – the town’s main sandy hangout among the best beaches in Unawatuna. 

The shoreline drizzles in restaurants, cafes, bars, and accommodation, and this is where you’ll discover most of the town’s visiting crowds to be all day. 

Jam-packed with people, the ocean is always full of people, especially in December and January. It’s not really my vibe, but that’s because I prefer exploring beaches where I feel miles away from the rest of the world, like the more secluded beaches on this list. If you don’t have transport or want to save cash on tuk-tuk rides, then opt for this beach. 

You might have noticed that when searching for any information about Unawatuna, Galle keeps popping up. That’s because Galle is a major city, and Unawatuna sits beneath it on the coastline (five kilometers apart). If you’re heading to Galle at any point, check out some of its best restaurants here.

Or pig out on all the seafood you could imagine in Negombo. Traveling on a tight budget?  A sure way to save is to skip the restaurants and cafes and fill up on local food. In Sri Lanka, their snacks are known as “short eats,” and they are super yummy. Get to know 11 of the most popular Sri Lankan snacks with this list. 

---

Read more of our best insights from around the world

• 
  7 Best Beaches In Unawatuna For Swimming, Snorkeling & Surfing
• 
  Insider Guide to the Best Area To Stay in Rome in 2026: Centro Storico and Beyond
• 
  Check Out These 6 Unusual Things To Do in San Diego
• 
  8 Best Restaurants In Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka: Local Cuisine to Trendy Vegan
• 
  Discover The Best Area to Stay in Budapest in 2026
• 
  8 Best Restaurants in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka: From Curries to Seafood