Unawatuna beach
A sheltered crescent of sand held by a reef, calm enough to swim in most of the year. Quiet early, busier by lunch.
Unawatuna
A bay on the south coast, an hour and a half or so below Colombo, with Galle around the headland.
The water is calm behind the reef for most of the year, the sand runs the length of the bay, and almost everything worth seeing here is close enough to reach in an afternoon.
The jungle path and pagoda
A short climb through the trees at the far end of the bay, ending at a white pagoda with the whole coastline below it.
Galle Fort
Dutch ramparts, old warehouses turned into shops and rooms, and a walk around the walls that is best kept for sunset.
Markets and kitchens
Fish landed at dawn, fruit stacked by the road, and cooking at the house if you would like to be shown how a rice and curry actually comes together.
When to come
The south coast is at its best from about December to April, when the sea is flat and the mornings are clear. May to September brings rain in bursts, greener gardens, fewer people and lower rates.
Whatever the month, the middle of the day is hot. Most guests fall into swimming early, resting after lunch and going out again at five.
- Colombo airport
- About 2 hours
- Galle Fort
- About 15 minutes
- Unawatuna beach
- A few minutes on foot
- Nearest shops
- Walking distance
- Koggala and the stilt fishermen
- About 20 minutes
- Mirissa, for whales
- About an hour
Travel times to be confirmed.
Stay a while
Most guests book three or four nights and then wish they had booked six.
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