The coastal town of Unawatuna is famous for its crescent shaped bay, white sandy beaches and party atmosphere which attracts thousands of beach lovers and water sport enthusiasts each year. Fans of snorkelling can find plenty of beach shacks that provide gear and even boats to take you out into the bay. However, located just north of Unawatuna is Jungle Beach, the best setting to enjoy a relaxing day of snorkelling.
Less crowded than the Unawatuna beach, Jungle Beach is a small, semi-hidden bay enclosed by dense jungle and offers up a higher chance of seeing live coral, fish and if you’re lucky, some of the large sea turtles that have been known to swim near the shore. Unless you’re staying at one of the reputed Hotels in Unawatuna such as CoCo Bay Unawatuna for example, that provide safe and trusty worthy guides, avoid locals who say Jungle Beach is hard to find and offer to take you there for an exorbitant fee.
In fact, the beach is an enjoyable 30 to 45 minute walk away from Unawatuna and you can easily get there yourself by following sign boards, with lots of opportunities to view birds, exotic flowers, large butterflies, monitor lizards and even monkeys along the way! Once you get to jungle Beach, the reef and snorkelling begins just 30 feet from the beach, directly in front. It’s possible to snorkel around the rocks on either side of the bay, however do look out for waves that can push you close to the jagged edges.
Amongst the colourful reef fish, you might also glimpse crabs, parrot fish, moray eels and even the odd barracuda. It’s advised to bring your own snorkelling gear; if you’re renting it, do check all the gear before taking it as they can be duds and not safe for use. After a day spent out in the cool water, you can relax near a small make-shift restaurant on the beach which serves cold drinks and snacks.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+
