Unawatuna is a coastal village with a palm fringed golden beach 5km south of the historic city of Galle. Unwatuna beach is one of the most popular spots for both local and foreign tourists.

There are no large five star resort style hotels in the village but there are reasonably priced family friendly hotels, villas, guest houses and inexpensive backpacker hostels close to the beach.

The tourists of today are not the first foreigners to land at Unawatuna. Since ancient times ships that sailed from Galle harbour to Europe and the far east would stop off at Unawatuna to take on board water from Watering Point near Unawatuna Bay. In the sixteenth century Portuguse pirates used the Bay as a base to attack, loot and sink Arab merchant ships trading in the Indian Ocean.

In the seventeenth century Unwatuna was home to high ranking officials of the Dutch East India Company which controlled trade between Asia and the Netherlands. Several Dutch homes from the seventeenth century still remain in use today and some have been converted into boutique hotels.

In the 1950s wealthy diving enthusiasts from Colombo and abroad arrived in Unawatuna for snorkeling and exploring ancient shipwrecks. The famous science fiction writer and inventor of the communications satellite Dr Arthur C. Clarke and his friends were among that crowd. He lived in Unawatuna for a while and was so impressed with the range of diving opportunities he settled in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and set up a scuba diving business.

In the late 1960s with the dawn of affordable jet travel Unwatuna was discovered by less affluent tourists including long haired hippies who went in search of places to turn on, tune in and drop out from the realities of the world. Today the long haired hippies are no more and Unawatuna is no longer the preserve of the wealthy, it is now a destination that caters to all travellers of all budgets from everywhere.

SNORKELING

You don't need to be a scuba diver to explore the fascinating underwater environment off the coast of Unawatuna. Equipped with a mask, snorkel and fins you can see exotic tropical marine life, explore the vibrant coral reefs and experience the fascinating underwater world in all its splendor.

There are two snorkeling points that have been popular since the 1950s. They are Unawatuna Bay and Jungle Bay where there are many shallow spots and shallow entry points making them ideal locations for snorkeling.

SCUBA DIVING

Unawatuna has a range of diving spots with different depths, reefs, rocks and wrecks. So whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver there is something for everyone. For divers who want expert coaching that too is available locally as Unwatuna is home to diving centres with qualified divemasters and instructors.

SURFING

The south coast of Sri Lanka is one of the most popular areas for surfing on the island. Gentle waves in some parts of Unawatuna bay make it ideal for beginners and intermediates alike while other parts are more suitable for experienced surfers.

It is important that inexperienced surfers get surfing lessons from local professionals to avoid venturing into the bay without prior knowledge of local conditions. There are surf schools on the beach where the cost of lessons and board rentals are incredibly low making Unwatuna a very affordable destination for surfing.

YOGA

Yoga is not something that is normally practised by Sri Lankans so it still remains unknown to the majority of the population. However, with the increase of tourism, yoga retreats have mushroomed in tourist spots along the coastal towns of the island including Unawatuna.

Numerous yoga retreats that run courses for aspiring yoga teachers are also found dotted along the coast. The retreats are mostly run by travelling yoga teachers from Europe or Australia and attended by an increasing number of students from all over the world.

ROPE SWINGS

For those who want to have a bit of fun and get some epic pictures for Instagram, there are rope swings at nearby Dalawella beach, Wijaya beach and a little distance away at Mihiripenna beach.

MYSTERY OF BUONA VISTA HILL

For many years there have been reports of strange happenings on Buona Vista hill overlooking Unawatuna bay. People who have been to explore the area have reported getting lost and finding themselves in what appears to be another place where even the vegetation appeared to be different from that of SrI Lanka. Some people say there is a time portal and others say there could be a gateway to a parallel universe but no one has come up with a credible explanation, so the mystery remains unsolved.

Dr. Arthur C. Clarke inventor of the communication satellite and author of "2001 A Space Odyssey" who was himself a former resident of Uwantuna has said that there is a distortion of the earth's magnetic field around Buona Vista hill which could be due to the properties of an asteroid that had crashed into the area in the distant past. He has also said that the orbits of some satellites in space are affected when flying over the area.

PEACE PAGODA

The pristine white Peace Pagoda built by Japanese Buddhist monks in the forest on the hill at Rumassala (Buona Vista) to the north of the bay provides unrestricted views for miles. It has now become a tourist attraction and is an ideal spot for watching the golden sunsets over the ocean.

TRAVELLERS should take care to act respectfully as the premises is a functioning religious institution and a place of worship.

PARTY ON THE BEACH

Although Sri Lanka is not a party destination, some seaside towns such as Unawatuna have a party scene during the tourist season. After sunset some of the restaurants and bars in town transform into night clubs. The party scene really comes alive on weekends, the alcohol can be London prices but the music is free, so for those who want to party on the beach under the stars, there are plenty of opportunities.

Unwatuna is one of the most popular beaches in Sri Lanka, it is near Galle and easily accessible from road and rail. It is a beach spot that is also popular with local and foreign families. For travellers who have an interest in surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, yoga or simply relaxing on the beach, Unawatuna would be an ideal destination.