Unawatuna
A beach town on Sri Lanka's south coast, where you can swim, snorkel and dive over coral reefs, about 6 km from Galle Fort.
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Unawatuna is a coastal town in Galle district, in southern Sri Lanka, and a suburb of Galle. It lies about 5 km southeast of Galle's city centre and about 108 km south of Colombo. The beach is the main reason to go. Offshore coral reefs hold shipwrecks, many fish species and turtles, which attract divers and snorkelers. Sea turtles still come ashore to nest on the sand, and Rumassala hill above the bay has shrub jungle trails and the Unawatuna Peace Pagoda, built by Japanese Mahayana Buddhist monks.
A beach stay works well with a day at Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 6 km away. Days go to the water, a trek through the shrub jungle of Rumassala hill, or birdwatching in the marshland, where more than sixty bird species have been recorded. Trains on the Coastal Line from Colombo to Matara stop at Unawatuna station, and the A2 highway connects the town to Colombo. The southwest monsoon, May to September, brings rougher seas to this coast, so check sea conditions before swimming or diving.
Unawatuna in five
- Treat Unawatuna as Galle's beachSri Lanka Tourism calls Unawatuna a suburb of Galle, about 5 km south-east of the center. Sleep in the bay and ride in for the fort, or stay in the fort and ride out for the sea.Galle travel guide
- Walk up Rumassala to Jungle BeachSri Lanka Tourism describes Jungle Beach as small and secluded, calm enough to swim, and reached by climbing Rumassala and walking down through greenery. Bring your own snorkel gear.Sri Lanka Tourism
- Compare the CCF's Galle diving toursThe CCF price list, updated 24 September 2026, includes Galle shipwreck dives at USD 89, USD 60 (deep) and USD 48 around the fort, plus reef diving nature tours at USD 59. Ask what each includes.CCF ticket prices
- Ask about rips before you enter the baySurf and rip currents vary by season and by day, so ask your guesthouse before you swim and avoid swimming alone.UK travel advice
- Pick the dry monthsSri Lanka Tourism gives Koggala's large dry season as December to March, with a small one in July and August. The south-west monsoon runs from May to September.Koggala note
Need to know
- Airport
- Bandaranaike (CMB); a long road journey to the south coast
- Getting there
- The coast road and coastal line to Galle, then a short ride
- Getting around
- Tuk-tuks and walking; Galle is a short ride away
- Best base
- The bay itself, or Galle Fort for the old town
- Time needed
- 2 to 4 nights, plus a half day for Galle Fort
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain19 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry seasonJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 163 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry season
- FebruaryRain17 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Dry seasonFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry season
- MarchRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Dry seasonMarchRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry season
- AprilRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Hot, showersAprilRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, showers
- MayRain30 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°SW monsoonMayRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 447 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
SW monsoon
- JuneRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°SW monsoonJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 304 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
SW monsoon
- JulyRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Small dry spellJulyRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 249 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Small dry spell
- AugustRain29 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Small dry spellAugustRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 291 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Small dry spell
- SeptemberRain29 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°SW monsoonSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 359 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
SW monsoon
- OctoberRain28 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Rainiest periodOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 344 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainiest period
- NovemberRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rainiest periodNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 430 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainiest period
- DecemberRain23 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry seasonDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 214 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry season
Average daily high and low in Unawatuna (Galle), 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Unawatuna
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 89%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Galle
02:11 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today28°24°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed31°23°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu30°23°100%Thursday: Rain. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri30°23°100%Friday: Rain. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat30°23°100%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun29°22°100%Sunday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 11:14 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 332.4 LKR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Unawatuna
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Unawatuna, checked
- CCF price list (24 September 2026): Galle shipwreck dives USD 89, USD 60 (deep) and USD 48 around the fort; reef diving nature tours USD 59.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source
- FCDO: nude or topless sunbathing is not allowed, and police may fine people who ignore no-smoking or alcohol-ban notices in public areas.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source
Plan around Unawatuna
The fort and the coastal train
Read the guideWeligama travel guideA wide bay and stilt fishermen
Read the guideMirissa travel guideWhale boats and a small bay
Read the guideHikkaduwa travel guideReef snorkeling and a long beach
Read the guideThe SouthThe whole beach coast in one plan
Read the guideTravel insuranceCheck cover for diving and swims
Read the guideAll of Sri LankaRoutes, seasons and entry rules
Read the guideUnawatuna FAQ
Is Unawatuna worth visiting?
Yes for an easy beach base beside Galle. Sri Lanka Tourism lists a reef, turtles that nest on the shore and walks on Rumassala. Skip it in the May to September monsoon if the sea is your reason to come.
How far is Unawatuna from Galle?
Sri Lanka Tourism puts Unawatuna about 5 km south-east of the Galle city center, a short tuk-tuk or taxi ride. Traffic on the coast road decides the real time, so ask your driver on the day.
Unawatuna or Weligama: which beach town?
Unawatuna for Galle Fort access and a reef, Weligama for a wide bay and stilt fishermen with Mirissa's whale boats close by. Choose by whether the fort or the boats matter more.
Can you swim at Jungle Beach?
Sri Lanka Tourism describes calm water for swimming and snorkeling at a small, secluded beach reached on foot over Rumassala. The FCDO still warns of rips on many beaches, so check conditions and do not swim alone.
When is the best time to visit Unawatuna?
December to March, which Sri Lanka Tourism lists as the large dry season near Koggala. The south-west monsoon runs May to September, and October and November are the rainiest period island-wide.