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The south coast has many great places to offer. In this blog post I want to show you many cool activities around Habaraduwa, Unawatuna and Galle you can easily reach by bus.
The south coast west of Matara is dotted with so many tourist resorts that we couldn’t decide for a long time exactly where we wanted to stay. Basically, it doesn’t really matter, as you can get from one place to another by bus within a few minutes anyway. That’s why we decided to stay in Habaraduwa (and not in Unawatuna, which is full of hotel complexes), as we could explore the coast in both directions.
Habaraduwa offers a long and empty beach to hang out, a supermarket, a bus stand and some small restaurants.
Talpe Beach is more like a rocky hangout with little pools of water here and there. At first glance, it doesn’t exactly shout “perfect for a swim,” and it’s definitely not the spot for a chill beach day (there’s no place to lay back and soak up the sun), but the beach still has its own charme.
One afternoon, we found ourselves here for a quick break and were pretty surprised to see a bunch of local families having a blast in the water. Not a single tourist in sight, except for Janis, who wasted no time jumping right into the fun. While he was making new buddies with two Sri Lankan kids, I just hung back, taking in the whole scene. It was such a rad, genuine moment, and the water crashing against the rocks had this amazing icy blue vibe.
A trip to Galle is a must for most tourists. The city is rich in history, featuring the iconic Galle Fort and its charming old town. Even though much of the city was devastated by the 2004 tsunami, the fort’s walls stood strong, shielding the historic area from the worst.
Nowadays, you can enjoy a laid-back afternoon wandering through the streets. Also it is the best place to buy souvenirs, as there a many small shops which offer different stuff, from cheap magnets and other touristy stuff to handmade thngs like paper, clothes and wooden cutlery. But as Galle is not very big, half a day is proabably enough for a visit in my opinion.
To get to Galle just go to the local bus stand and ask for the bus heading to Galle or wait for it and wave at the bus driver. In general there runs a bus from Matara to Galle every few minutes, making stops along the road.
This small town has become a popular destination for backpackers and surfers over the past few years. It’s filled with trendy restaurants and cafés, perfect for grabbing a bite or getting some remote work done. There are also plenty of surf spots, making it a great place to join a surf camp.
One of the beaches worth checking out is Ahangama Secret Beach, though it’s not the best for swimming. We learned that the hard way when we felt the strong current after swimming out just a few meters!
The Palm Rope Swing is one of those iconic Instagram spots in Sri Lanka. It’s especially magical at sunset when you can snap some amazing pics, swing into the golden horizon, or just sit back and watch others try it.
The vibe at the nearby restaurant is super chill too, with lounge music and tasty food. That said, I do think the swing is a bit overpriced at 500 LKR (1.5 EUR) for just three swings.
Dalawalla Beach is best known for the turtles that live there. However, the beach is also very narrow and crowded. People frolic in the water and feed the turtles with seaweed. We turned around at the sight, but I can imagine that it is very beautiful here early in the morning.
At the other end of the beach is Frog Rock, a small rock in the water. You can climb up for a quick photo, but that’s it. It’s just a rock.
Away from the big Unawatuna Beach, there are other beautiful and smaller places.
We started our morning with a short photo shoot at the Unawatuna train station. A single track runs through the middle of tropical nature and as in many parts of Sri Lanka, you can take a relaxed stroll along the tracks here. The train only passes here a few times a day.
The somewhat hidden Jungle Beach a little off the main road is also very well known. To get there, we took the bus to Unawatuna and then a tuktuk to Jungle Beach. You only have to walk down a small path to get to the small, not particularly crowded beach. The water here is calm and it’s great for swimming.
Nearby is the Japanese Peace Pagoda from where you have a great view over the coast. Just fullow the road at jungle beach for a few meters. Entry is free of charge.
Stilt fishing is a distinctive and iconic tradition in Sri Lanka, particularly along the southern coast. Perched on wooden poles embedded in the shallow waters close to the shore, fishermen sit on a small bar known as a “petta”.
Although stilt fishing was originally a key method for catching small fish like herring and mackerel, it has since evolved into more of a cultural symbol and a popular tourist attraction. Nowadays, many fishermen pose for photos in return for tips rather than depending on their daily catch.
On this location you can find the fisherman early in the morning. I read that people only pose for photos here for money. But when we passed by in the afternoon, we really saw a man fishing, so maybe you have to be lucky.
From the coast: Buses run along the entire coastline in both directions. If you’re coming from places like Galle, Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Mirissa or anywhere else along the coast, you can easily take a bus. Just hop on a bus heading in the right direction and let the driver know where you’d like to get off. You can either start at a bigger bus station or simply wait at a bus stop along the route.
From bigger cities: Highway buses to Matara are available from major cities like Colombo, Negombo, Kandy, or even from the airport. Once you reach Matara, it’s just a short ride to Habaraduwa on a local bus (towards Galle).
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