Unakuruwa Beach – Point Break in Paradise
Unakuruwa Beach has two point breaks – one a decent and fun right. It’s also super chilled and super beautiful, not to mention hardly discovered.
An introduction to Unakuruwa Beach
Unakuruwa Beach still has the feel of what Sri Lanka was 20 years back. Yea, there’s more beachside bars and hotels than there were in the 90s, but it’s still super chilled.
It’s a place to slow down the pace of your trip, chillax some, and surf on some half-decent point breaks.
The sand itself is a pink-tinged run maybe 700 meters from end to end.
It’s clear at its center, where palm trees jostle for position over the sunbeds of the sporadic curry houses on the shore.
To the left and right are patches of rocks and boulders, which extend out to rugged points – both of which, incidentally, can work as surf breaks.
A bit attention has come Unakuruwa’s way as the nearby resort area of Tangalle has boomed in popularity. We say boomed but it’s still very relaxed out there on the southernmost beaches of Sri Lanka, where pounding shorebreaks are interspersed by lagoons patrolled by crocodiles.
That said, you’re still likely to surf here alone. And you’ll find that there aren’t many crowds in the bars and hotels. It’s one of our happy places. Easy surfing; good living. Oh yea, and it’s gorgeous.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Sri Lanka
What’s in this guide to Unakuruwa Beach?
Where is Unakuruwa Beach?
Unakuruwa Beach is in the far south of Sri Lanka. It’s actually only about 27-ish miles from the southernmost point of the island, Dondra Head.
You’ll find it nestled a bit off of the main A2 coast road about two thirds of the way between the uber-famous (yes, it’s now been discovered!) surf village of Hiriketiya and the more relaxed resort beaches of Tangalle (which are wonderful, by the way).
To get here, we’d go for a private transfer. That, or we’d take the local bus. The first option is simple and easy and should cost under $100 for the whole car from Colombo Airport. Plus, it’s the way to go if you want to bring your own boards (but be sure to run that by the driver before you arrive).
Taking a bus will be slower but it’s the fun choice – Sri Lankan local buses are a proper ride.
You’ll need to either catch a train to Matara or Weligama from Colombo and find a local connection going east from there (loads do). Or get buses from Colombo and then switch. You can’t pre-book; just work it out on the ground the old-school way. One NB: No surfboards on buses.
Surfing in Unakuruwa Beach
This being a surf-travel guide, we thought we’d lead with the reason that Unakuruwa Beach came to our attention: It’s duo of point breaks.
Look, they’re not Noosa. But they are okay. Working on both ends of the same bay, they can throw out semi-decent, sometimes-hollow lefts and rights that are fun and, crucially not too busy.
Let’s take a look at those, plus other spots in Unakuruwa Beach and its vicinity.
The Right
On the western side of the bay, a bulge of black boulders can offer up a nice peeler of a right that’s mellow and forgiving.
It’s a good intermediate wave that peels very slowly and is excellent for practicing turns on since it offers loads of time to get back into the pocket after extending out.
There can also be days when it’s steeper and shoots off sections of mini barrels you can crouch into for showy coverups. Those are its best days.
Othertimes it’s a mushburger that closes out and gurgles towards the shore with no real power. It’s good to wait for the larger set waves here, which can often reform on the inside of the bay to make a nice and easy beach break wave at the end.
That’s the spot where the beginner groups hand, catching nice whitewash for hours and having loadsss of fun.
The Left
The more fickle of the two waves in Unakuruwa Beach, The Left comes off the opposite headland on the east side of the bay. It needs a bit more acute SW angle to swells to work, but can be fairly steep and fast. It’s over shallower reef, so leave it for those with a bit more experience.
Get down to Thilak Surf School if you want lessons. We think he’s still the only school still based in Unakuruwa. He’s got a nice selection of long blue foamies and does lessons both in Unakuruwa itself and in nearby Dickwella/Hiri.
If you’re looking to base yourself in Unakuruwa and travel around to other spots on your own then first, good idea! It’s nice to stay in this chilled beach village and get your surfing done on more consistent points. There are good options nearby too, including…
- Kudawella Beach – Less than 15 minutes’ tuk-tuk from Unakuruwa, Kudawella is a similar sort of place. It’s upcoming but best known for its ultra-beginner-friendly beach break wave that’s rarely more than 2 foot. Come here for your first ever surf lesson.
- Hiriketiya – Hiriketiya is the natural choice if the surf is flat in Unakuruwa. It’s now the hub of surfing in this part of the island, though it used to be a chilled beach town like Unakuruwa itself! It’s got a left point break that’s very good fun and a fatter beach break for learners, loads of schools, and tons of surf camps.
Top things to do in Unakuruwa Beach (that aren’t surfing)
Unakuruwa Beach isn’t just about surfing. In fact, we’d say it’s just as good for non-surfers as for surfers.
Naturally, lazing around sipping coconuts and tanning yourself will be close to the top of the to-do list.
You could also consider…
Udawalawe Safari
This is one of the bucket-list things to do in the southern region of Sri Lanka and the area between Hiri and Tangalle (right where Unakuruwa is!) is the perfect jump-off point.
Take a tour as it’s the only really convenient way to go about a day trip and game drives.
They typically involve a transfer of just over an hour followed by a Jeep drive through the heart of the national park. It’s one of the best on this side of Sri Lanka, with possible sightings of serpent eagles, wild elephants, and even Sri Lankan leopard (though they are rarer here than in Yala).
Kati Corner
Just around to the west of Unakuruwa Beach are a few seriously lovely and totally remote beaches.
For some reason, the best one has been marked as Kati Corner on Google Maps. We’ll go with that, whoever Kati is. It’s a narrow isthmus of perfect yellow sand that’s flanked by section of fish-filled reefs.
A few chilled bars on the shoreline can offer sunbeds. You’ll have to find your own way through the side streets to reach the spot, but it’s worth it if you just want to kick back for a few hours with a book.
Silent Beach
A very short walk to the east of Unakuruwa, Silent Beach is a picture of the southern shoreline at its best. There’s one café. Settle there with a tea and a dal and chill all day long.
Where to stay in Unakuruwa Beach?
We have to say, we’re biggggg fans of the hotel offering on and around Unakuruwa Beach. It’s not too pretentious or overbearing – no big resorts or anything like that. It’s really a mix of local guesthouses with nice rooms and a nicer welcome…
- SLOW – Villa & Café – A happy place on the jungled hills above the beach (the walk is about 300m and under 2 mins to the surf), SLOW – Villa & Café is a cracking spot. Landscaped gardens offer wonderful views of the coast, there are little reading nooks in the garden, and the breakfast is to die for.
- Secret Swell – There are just two well-appointed rooms at this lovely locally-owned guesthouse. Let Mama be your host and enjoy the tropical vibes. Interiors have that Sri Lankan beach house feel with polished concrete floors and whatnot. Surfboard rental is available.
- Sunset Resort – Tangalle – Very highly rated, this local B&B has clean and comfy rooms overlooking the eastern side of the bay. Fork out for the sea-view room – it’s worth it for $5 more!
For more hotel inspo, check our guide to the top hotels for surfers in Sri Lanka – it’s a shortlist of cracking places to stay if you want to surf every day.
Where to eat in Unakuruwa?
Unakuruwa used to have hardly a jot in the way of cafes and restaurants. Today, there seems to be another place to drink and dine added to the list every year. That could be a hint as to where this town is headed. Either way, it’s good for when the hunger pangs begin.
Our top spots in the area are:
- Break Point Restaurant – A super-cool place with a breezy garden overlooking the beachfront from the eastern headland, this one serves up healthy bowls and semi-fancy seafood salads. The outside space is great for chilling.
- Sunset Beach Bar – Come here for your hit of proper Sri Lankan curry and rice. Oh, and also come for the best sunset angle along the whole beach.
- Moon River – Doubling as a place to rent boards, Moon River specializes in locally caught seafood. It’s right on the beach and usually the busiest spot in Unakuruwa.
When to visit Unakuruwa Beach?
Unakuruwa is situated in South Sri Lanka, which means the monsoon here runs between April and October. The upshot? The best time to come is the opposite season, between November and March.
That also goes for the surfing. The Southwest Monsoon in Sri Lanka brings storms across the southern side of the island and turns much of the Indian Ocean swell into mush. It’s better to wait for the dry season, which is characterized by light NE offshore trades and good, clean groundswells – the type needed to get the semi-fickle points at Unakuruwa working to their prime.
If you are considering a low-season trip, we’d just say a few things. First, expect rain. Monsoons have been getting worse in Sri Lanka in the last few years and the storms can be brutal. Two, Unakuruwa doesn’t have much open in the monsoon, so hotels and places to eat might be very hard to come by.
Packing should be simple – you need lots of beachwear for this part of SL. It’s all warm-water surfing no matter the season. The only thing we’d highly reccomend is a good, ocean-safe, non-nano zinc sunscreen.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
