Koggala Beach, Unawatuna Overview

Sri Lanka is home to many different beaches and is a paradise for all the beach lovers. Located in the Galle district is the unexplored and pristine Koggala beach. Kogalla beach takes the credit for being the longest beach in Sri Lanka, for visitors to indulge in the perfect holiday of sand, surf and sun.

The Koggala beach has a perfect location which is away from the crowd and the noise of the main areas and beaches, but yet makes it easily connected to them. You can easily explore the different places like Galle town, or Hikkaduwa or Bentota to enjoy the attractions and then return to your peaceful resort or hotel. For the best experience, choose a hotel or resort which is close to the beach and wake up to the sound of the ocean and the breathtaking views of the long beach. Further, there is also a newly constructed highway which connects Koggala to the airport, making it easy to commute and also relax after your trip before you take the flight back home.

So soak in the beauty of the beach, relaxing on the golden sand with a coconut in your hand or just taking a swim in the ocean. There are also many shops located nearby the beach to fulfil your daily necessities, and you can even enjoy some authentic local food near the beach.

Things to do

1. Go surfing on the beach:

The Koggala beach is one of the best beaches on the south coast to go surfing. However, we recommend you to go surfing if you are an experienced surfer. While surfing the ocean current, you may spot some beautiful sea turtles or occasionally a white tip reef shark.

2. Visit the sea turtle hatchery:

Located close to the Koggala beach is the sea turtle hatchery which was opened in the year 1966 and it takes immense efforts to protect and nurture the sea turtles. To reduce the sale and poaching of the sea turtles, they buy the sea turtles from the fishermen. Head out, to witness how the sea turtles are cared for before they are released back into the sea.

3. Take a boat ride in the Kogalla Lake:

Visit Kogalla Lake, which is just a few minutes away from the Koggala beach. The lake attracts many tourists due to its vibrant sea life and boat ride to soak in the whole experience. The boat ride will take you on the tour of islands like Cinnamon Island, Bird Island and Spice Island.

4. Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum:

The museum is inspired by Martin Wickramasinghe, one of the crucial and renowned Sinhalese writers of the twentieth century. The museum is home to authentic Sri Lankan heritage which depicts everything about the Sri Lankan life from catching fish to chasing away the evil spirits. The collection varies from agricultural tools to utensils and industrial machines, along with a colourful display of dance costumes and puppets.

5. Handunugoda Tea Estate:

Immerse yourself in the beautiful tea gardens of Sri Lanka where you can enjoy a free one hour tour. On tour, you can learn about how they produce various varieties of tea. So take in the aroma of the tea leaves and get ready for this enriching experience.

6. Kataluva Purvarama Maha Viharaya:

One of the most absorbing temples of the south of Sri Lanka is the Kataluva Purvarama Maha Viharaya temple. Built in the 13th century, this is one of the lesser visited temples of Sri Lanka. The beauty of the temple is visible from the beautiful murals which depict the story of Gautama Buddha, which the monks will happily explain to you once you are at the temple.

Shopping near Koggala

After your memorable trip, you usually wish to remember it by taking something back home with you. The place does not have many shops to shop; however, there are some small little shops where you will find some items to stock up for your daily needs and even take back some authentic fruits or vegetables.

Local food and restaurants

There are many small and cute cafes and restaurants in and around the beach which offer you mouth-watering Sri Lankan cuisine.

1. Stick Fishermen View Restaurant: Offering fresh and tasty lunch options ranging from Sri Lankan cuisines to seafood along with some delicious vegetarian options.

2. Café Ceylon: What more can you ask for rather than good food and a splendid atmosphere. Enjoy options like seafood, international and multi-cuisines along with many vegetarian options.

3. Restaurant Patty Place: Great place for a freshly cooked meal along with some refreshing cocktails. Enjoy some tasty seafood along with Asian and Sri Lankan cuisines.

4. Surf and Turf: Awesome place for some tasty fish along with the Mediterranean, Asian and Sri Lankan cuisine offering many vegetarian options as well.

5. Wiener Dschungel: Lovely lunch with an open bar, offering amazing seafood and Sri Lankan cuisines, along with Indian food, which is also vegetarian-friendly.

How To Reach Koggala Beach

Koggala beach is a three-hour drive away from Colombo, and you can hire a taxi to reach your destination. However, if you are looking for a more economical means of transport, then you can also opt for a bus or the train. (But you may end up spending more than half your day travelling)

If you want to access the Koggala beach from Unawatuna, then you can take a taxi or travel by tuk-tuk covering a distance of approximately 8 km, which should not take more than 10-15 minutes to travel.