Dalawella beach
This beach is the best example of how the media can make the most popular resort out of a typical exotic beach, and there are a lot of them in Sri Lanka. This beach can be seen in advertisements, magazines and popular bloggers' pages on Instagram! And the reason for that is the few ropes that are tied to the palms... That's it. Seems like nothing new, but you need to experience it firsthand. It's even better if you get to ride them. Especially since this activity costs only 3 dollars...
Photos
Beach description
The beach is located in the outskirts of Unawatuna, and you can walk to the coast from there. If you're coming from Colombo, the road will take about 2 hours, but you won't regret it. And if you relax to the point that you don't want to return, you can stay at one of the nearby hotels.
Dalawella Beach is spacious, 700 m long and 10-25 m wide and covered in sand. Thanks to the ropes, it has become famous worldwide and attracts large crowds of tourists during high season, but this isn't the only attraction here. Visitors like the beach for its grainy golden sand, crystal clearness of ocean surface and shallow water which is why the water gets warm quite fast. The even, almost perfect descent into water makes swimming safe both for adults and children. Low waves and wind are present on the beach but they don't make it uncomfortable for visitors and may be good for both beginner surfers and experienced ones.
Several rocks are located among the sand that tourists like to climb and take memorable photos with the sunset and exotic landscapes serving as the background. This is a nice place for family vacation. People can always be met here, but the crowdedness depends on a day of week.
When is the best time to go?
The best time to travel to Sri Lanka is the period from November to April, when the weather is dry. In summer, the rainy season takes place in Sri Lanka, however, the prices this season are much lower. So if you are not afraid of rainfalls (which commonly take place at night, and by morning the ground dries up), a trip in the summer can be a great option for a budget holiday.
Video: Beach Dalawella
Infrastructure
The infrastructure on Dalawella Beach is developed on an average level. This isn't the place for parties, so no bars or night clubs that operate all night long can be seen here. However, there's a wide variety of cozy cafes with great food. Taverns serve both local cuisine and European meals.
The beach isn't full of toilets, showers, as well as sunbeds and umbrellas. Due to thick flora along the coast you won't even need the latter.
As the local underwater world is famous for its exoticism and variety, this place is very popular among divers. A lot of colorful fish and sea horses will accompany you during your underwater swimming sessions. And if you're looking for something more active, partake in a kayak ride along the coast. You will only be able to paddle yourself after mandatory briefing though.
Weather in Dalawella
Best hotels of Dalawella
All hotels of DalawellaUseful information
- If you see a strange sight of men sitting on bamboo sticks in the middle of the ocean, don't be surprised. This is a traditional method of fishing that brings a lot of fish as well.
- Riding the rope costs 3 dollars. But the prices are dynamic in Sri Lanka and you always need to haggle. Ask a local merchant for a bottle (or 2-3) of water, and he should agree to untie the ropes from the palm.
- Some guides also call this place Vijaya Beach, named after one of the local cafes. Take note of this.