Dalawella Beach is a small beach on the south coast, a few kilometres past Unawatuna along the Galle–Matara road. It is known for a rope swing hung from a palm tree, which became a social-media favourite. The same beach has a quiet, reef-sheltered stretch of water where visitors swim and look for turtles.
Is it worth visiting?
Go if you want a calmer swim than Unawatuna’s main strip, or a sunset photo from the swing. It is easy to fit into a day around Galle.
Think twice if you dislike queues. Visitors report a queue for the swing when people arrive for sunset, and one guide warns of copycat swings along this stretch of coast.
The swing
The palm swing hangs at a beachfront guesthouse, Dream Cabana, and its owners run it. Visitors say you pay a small fee or buy a drink, and that a local helps you onto the swing and gives you a push. We could not find the amount, so ask first. Sunset is the busiest time, and early morning is the quietest.
Because there may be several swings along the road, check that you are at the one you meant to visit.
Swimming and turtles
Travel guides describe a lagoon sheltered by a coral reef, where the water stays shallow and calm, and call it a good spot for families with young children. Check the month before you go. On this coast the sea is calm from about November to March according to Sri Lanka Tourism, and rougher in the south-west monsoon from May to September. Ask locally before you swim, and take care when the waves are up. Our guide to swimming safety and rip currents explains the risks along this coast.
Guides say sea turtles often visit the lagoon, and that early morning is the best time to see them. Don’t touch, feed or chase them, and keep off the coral. Snorkelling gear can be rented from vendors on the beach. For more on reefs, see our guide to snorkelling in Sri Lanka.
Getting there
Dalawella is a few kilometres from Unawatuna and Galle, along the Galle–Matara road. Buses run along that road, and a tuk-tuk from Unawatuna is the easy option. Agree the fare before you set off.
Around Dalawella
Most people combine Dalawella with Unawatuna Beach and Jungle Beach, or with a day in Galle and Galle Fort. The dry months, December to April, are the usual advice for the south coast.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Where is Dalawella Beach?
On the south coast, a few kilometres past Unawatuna and Galle, along the Galle–Matara road.
Is Dalawella Beach good for swimming?
Travel guides describe a calm, shallow lagoon sheltered by a reef. Sri Lanka Tourism says the sea on this coast is calm from November to March, so ask locally in other months.
Do you have to pay to use the swing?
Visitors say there is a small fee, or you can buy a drink. We could not find an official price, so ask first.
Can you see turtles at Dalawella?
Often, according to travel guides, and early in the morning is best. Don’t touch, feed or chase them.
When is the best time to visit Dalawella?
The dry months, from about December to April, with sunset for the swing and early morning for a quiet swim.
Header photo: Umeshani Wickramanayake / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
