Unawatuna is a paradise on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. It offers tourists – a sandy beach with a length of 1 km, shady areas for recreation under palm trees, beautiful coral reefs. The most famous of them is Rumassala. Diving enthusiasts come here. Under the water are hidden the remains of drowned ships, colonies of turtles, flocks of exotic fish. Ecotourism is developing in the vicinity of the city. On the coast and in the jungle there are no large hotel complexes. Guests are welcomed by villas and small hotels. Each of them is unique in its own way. The best 5 star hotels in Unawatuna are presented in the review.
Royal Indigo Villa
This is one of the most luxurious villas located on the coast. Here it is customary to individually serve each guest, so the service is always on top. It offers a stunning beach holiday, accommodation in comfortable and spacious modern rooms, a swimming pool with sea water, the services of a chef who specializes in local and international cuisine. The interiors are made in colonial style. It is not only 4 comfortable bedrooms with private bathrooms, but also a shared lounge, shared and private pools, a bar, an outdoor terrace. Only four steps lead to the beach. This is an ideal beach area according to the estimates of vacationers – yellow clean sand, azure warm water (+ 26C), swaying palm trees. Turtles graze in front of the entrance. To see the clutch of eggs or the hatching of small turtles, you need to ask someone from the staff to wake up at the right time. The villa is located 15 minutes from the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort with its many eclectic and architectural masterpieces, shops, bars and restaurants. The famous and world-famous Unawatuna Beach is just a five-minute drive away.
Era Beach
A beach boutique hotel, in which a small number of rooms is compensated by luxurious furnishings and service. It occupies two old mansions left over from the colonial era. Both have been restored and feature antique and modern furnishings. The concept of service is based on the privacy and exclusivity of guests. The place is ideal for a romantic getaway. The fund includes 8 rooms of the Luxury Suite category. It offers a tropical garden, a terrace, a library, a barbecue area, an internet corner. Children are provided with cots, babysitting services, high chairs. In the courtyard there is a swimming pool with sea water. Spa treatments, all types of massages are available, including Ayurvedic, aroma and reflexology, lymphatic drainage. The staff will help in organizing excursions, fishing, diving, sea and river cruises, kayaking, snorkeling, surfing. Dolphin and whale watching can be enjoyed directly from the terrace or balcony. The hotel’s restaurant is famous for its seafood dishes. An Asian breakfast is served in the morning. You can have a cup of coffee or tea during the day at the bar, which is located in the lobby.
KAJU GREEN eco lodges
In the vicinity of Unawatun, eco-hotels are thriving. One of the most interesting is the lodge “Kaju Green”. It is located in the heart of the “Bird Sanctuary”. The nearest beach is about 9 km away. You can get there and back on a free tuk-tuk (motor rickshaw). Lovers of relaxation come here. They are attracted by the architecture of the hotel, fully inscribed in the natural landscape, the opportunity to quietly practice yoga and a completely vegetarian menu. Vegetables, fruits and coconuts are sourced from a local farm. If guests wish to eat something meat or fish, they will be taken free of charge to Dalawella Beach, where international restaurants can be found. A spa salon is open on site. Specialists conduct Ayurvedic massages. The hotel accepts adults only. The service is not designed for children. At the reception you can book an excursion to any attractions of the island.
“Lovely eco villa! Everything is created in it for a quiet rest and meditation. We took a room with a view of the lake. Very soulful and beautiful. Breakfast is served in the morning. It is far to go to the beach, and you should not stay here if you want a noisy beach holiday. Kaju Green has a very different atmosphere. Here you are completely immersed in the surrounding nature. It’s valued above all else” Ksenya
Sielen Diva
Two-storey mini-hotel is located on the ocean. The rooms have 7 spacious bedrooms with bathrooms. The large grounds offer plenty of quiet and secluded places to relax, sunbathe, and the infinity pool is ideal for lazy or vigorous swimming. It offers a restaurant, an infinity pool, a rooftop sunset terrace, a beach terrace, a cook, barbecue facilities, a games room, massage in the room and free Wi-Fi. The villa is under round-the-clock security. The owners wanted everyone staying at the Sielen Diva to feel like a personal family guest. They can spend time on the lawn near the house, play board games, enjoy a massage or swimming. Staff will be happy to help organise excursions and provide guidance on local attractions of historical, cultural and environmental interest.
Apa Villa Thalpe
Hotels such as Apa Villa Thalpe set the standard to which all coastal villas aspire. In the number of rooms – 6 suites on the ocean + 1 suite on the territory of a tropical garden. The restaurant menu meets the highest standards. Meals will be brought by a personal butler, who is assigned to each room. He serves the table wherever guests want – on the terrace, in the bedroom or near the hammock on palm trees. Breakfast includes Sri Lankan dishes, fresh juice and a fruit basket regardless of the season. A separate menu is available for children. For a birthday or family holiday, you can take advantage of a special offer from the chef serving the hotel. A cozy sandy beach is a stone’s throw away. The coral reef forms a natural and safe body of water where you can swim and enjoy water sports. It features a saltwater swimming pool and sun loungers.
“I loved Villa Apa. It is a secluded and beautiful place. Gorgeous rooms and a one-of-a-kind swimming pool. The staff is helpful and friendly. The manager gave us advice and helped us decide what to do with the day. There is no restaurant, but there is a butler service. Thus, you can order food, and it will be brought directly to the patio. Access to the beach is also located here. I will definitely be back» Susan
Thaproban Pavilion Resort and Spa – Level 1 Certified
The exclusive hotel is decorated in an old Dutch style with elements of Sri Lankan architecture. It offers views of Galle Harbour and the Dutch Fort. The fund has 16 spacious rooms. All suites and villas are designed according to Dutch architecture, as in Galle Fort, which is right across the bay, furnished in colonial style and have large sun-drenched terraces, perfect for sunbathing. The hotel has a magnificent restaurant, which feeds not only guests, but also all comers. It is conveniently located 400 metres from Unawatuna’s main beach. The cuisine is famous for dishes made from lobster and other seafood. On the territory there is a salon of health procedures “Sansevi”. The spa is designed to serve as a wellness oasis with luxurious features. In addition to spa facilities, guests can consult with the health experts at taproban Spa. They will conduct an extensive comprehensive analysis of the human body, offer a cycle aimed at recovery and rejuvenation.
Thaproban Pavilion Waves Unawatuna
A modern two-storey hotel is built right on the ocean in a small cozy bay. It is not for nothing that it is called the “Wave”, because from each window you can see the endless water surface. In the fund – rooms of categories Standard, Junior Suite and Suite. The restaurant offers two areas with tables. One is located in the main hall, the second – at a bird’s eye view. Guests can enjoy a buffet or waiters will serve a la carte. The menu offers dishes of Sri Lankan, Oriental, continental cuisine, “fusion” assortment. In the evenings, musicians perform here. At the reception they help to organize interesting excursions. Among them – a visit to the Dutch fort in Halle, a boat trip and observation of the colony of blue whales and their accompanying dolphins, a trip to the Japanese Pagoda of the World. A 15-minute tuk-tuk ride away is Unawatuna Beach. It is awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness and safety. Vacationers can rent a glass bottom boat, diving equipment, water sports facilities.
Levels Unawatuna
Rooms at the modern and elegant boutique hotel feature a pleasant design and ocean views. The fund includes a superior, a family deluxe, a junior suite and a suite with panoramic windows. In the courtyard there is a spacious swimming pool. The restaurant offers a menu with a large selection of international dishes. Wine is selected for each of them. In the evening, the bar opens with a good cocktail list. Guests can enjoy the services of a traditional Sri Lankan spa. There is also a relaxation area by the pool.
Elysium
Located right on the shores of the Indian Ocean and in close proximity to Galle Fort, the magnificent boutique hotel is among the best and most luxurious in Asia. The interiors are decorated with antique furniture from the colonial era. Designed by a renowned Australian architect and recently extensively renovated, Elysium offers the perfect blend of elegant and modern ultra-luxurious escapism on the shores of the Indian Ocean. The villa covers an area of one acre. On its territory there are – a 20-meter infinity pool, a pond with lotuses, a tropical garden, a private beach. The residential building is equipped with bedrooms, a cinema hall, a gym, a SPA-salon. Guests are served by butlers, cooks, stewards, maids and gardeners. The hotel is under round-the-clock security.
Pedlar’s Manor
The mini-hotel is located in the jungle, 2 and a half kilometers from the nearest beach. It is built in colonial style. Here, everything from four-poster beds to ceramic jugs in the courtyard is reminiscent of ancient times and traditions. There is a shared kitchen at guests’ disposal, but usually the house is rented entirely to a couple, family or small company. The owners try not to settle strangers. In the morning, an English breakfast is served. Guests can then go cycling, go to the beach or relax by the pool. This place is loved by writers and artists. Special conditions have been created for creativity here.
It is difficult to choose from the above options the best 5 star hotels. Royal Indigo Villa and Thaproban Pavilion Resort and Spa – Level 1 Certified stand out for their luxury. The first is located on the most picturesque and quiet section of the beach, the second is a visual embodiment of the Dutch fort and is located next to important tourist sites. Of particular interest is KAJU GREEN. The lodge is surrounded on all sides by mangroves, in which exotic birds live.
Selection of hotels Unawatuna on map
