Unawatuna is a horseshoe bay a few kilometres east of Galle, protected by a reef that keeps the water calm for much of the year. It is busier and more built-up than Ahangama, but when you want an easy swim or a snorkel, it is the place to go.
On the bay’s western side, the forested Rumassala headland hides Jungle Beach, a small cove reached by a short walk, and the white Japanese Peace Pagoda, with views over Galle harbour.
Top things to do: Unawatuna & Jungle Beach
Swim and snorkel in the bay
The reef shelters the middle of the bay; snorkel near the rocks for reef fish and, if you are lucky, a turtle.
Walk to Jungle Beach
A path from the Peace Pagoda leads down to the cove. Go early in the day, before it gets busy.
Watch sunset at the Peace Pagoda
The pagoda on Rumassala hill was built by Japanese Buddhist monks. It is a peaceful place: dress modestly and remove shoes on the platform.
How to get there from Ahangama
- About 25 minutes west of Ahangama by tuk-tuk. Unawatuna also has a station on the coastal railway.
- Jungle Beach is a 10-minute walk downhill from the Peace Pagoda car park.
Insider tips
- From May to October the bay is usually still swimmable, but check the flags.
- Leave nothing on the sand at Jungle Beach: monkeys are bold.
Best tours & tickets
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to do it from Ahangama:
Galle Fort Walking Tour with Local Guide & Lunch
Galle Fort is a living Dutch colonial town inside 17th-century walls, and a local guide turns a pretty stroll into the story of Portuguese, Dutch and British Ceylon. Walk the ramparts, the churches and the old warehouses, then sit down to lunch.
- UNESCO-listed fort town
- Ramparts, lighthouse and Dutch church
- Lunch with a local guide
Galle: Sri Lankan Cuisine Cooking Experience
Rice and curry is a dozen small dishes, not one, and this private class in a family home shows you how: coconut sambol, dhal, a fish or chicken curry and whatever the garden is producing. You eat it the local way, by hand from a banana leaf.
- Private class in a family home
- Several curries and sambols
- Transport to and from the house
Live availability: tours around Unawatuna & Jungle Beach
Real-time prices and availability from GetYourGuide. Free cancellation on most experiences.
