A curving, palm-fringed bay with calm reef-protected water, one of the south coast's most popular beaches.

Overview

Unawatuna's crescent bay is sheltered by a reef, giving it some of the calmest, most swimmable water on the south coast. Golden sand backed by coconut palms lines the shore, with seafood restaurants, cafes and beach bars just behind. It is a good spot for swimming, snorkelling over the near-shore reef, and relaxed sunset evenings.

History

Once a quiet fishing village, Unawatuna developed into a popular tourist beach from the 1980s. The bay was heavily damaged by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and subsequently rebuilt.