Why Unawatuna & Jungle Beach will steal your heart
Unawatuna has everything you could want from a beach holiday, just ten minutes from Galle Fort. Its crescent-shaped bay is protected by a reef, so the water is often calm, clear and perfect for swimming, and the beach is lined with cafés and restaurants.
Legend links the area to the Ramayana. According to the story, the monkey god Hanuman was sent to the Himalayas to fetch a medicinal herb to heal Prince Rama's brother. Unable to identify the right plant, he carried back a whole mountain, and a piece fell here, forming the Rumassala hill. It's still famous for its unusual variety of medicinal plants.
Tucked beneath Rumassala lies Jungle Beach, a small, secluded cove framed by forest. The water is calm and clear, and you can snorkel over coral and among colourful tropical fish. It's one of the loveliest swimming spots on the south coast, and it feels a world away from everything.
On top of the hill, the gleaming white Japanese Peace Pagoda looks out over the ocean, with sweeping views across the bay to Galle Fort. It's a peaceful place, especially at sunset. Nearby, you'll find diving schools, yoga studios and cookery classes.
In the evening, Unawatuna comes alive with beach bars and seafood restaurants. It's the perfect base for combining lazy beach days with trips to Galle Fort, the stilt fishermen at Koggala and the turtle beaches further along the coast.
