Unawatuna Bay
The small resort overlooking Unawatuna Bay, a few Kilometres out of Galle, was once a suburb where Dutch commanders and merchants built their quiet country residences. Even in the late 1980s unawatuna was a calm and peaceful haven. Recently, its golden beach, clear waters and offshore reef have been discovered by younger tourists and it is now peppered with a rash of guest houses and beachfront cafes. This gives the beautiful bay a slightly raffish and free wheeling ambience, a pleasant contrast to the organised and orderly tourist resorts of Bentota and Negombo.

The reef off the far end of the beach can be reached from the shore, or you can sail out further in a traditional catamaran, which skims across the waves like some kind of prehistoric pond skater. There is talk of setting up a coral sanctuary here (following in the footsteps of Hikkaduwa, yet again) to prevent exploitation of a reef that shelters more species of fish than the great barrier Reef. Snorkelling equipment and scuba diving gear can be hired.