How To Make the Most of Your Trip to Mirissa

Mirissa is situated in the far south of the island of Sri Lanka and is much less visited than other parts of the coastal area in the south. This has left room for the pristine beaches to remain untouched and the waters as blue as lapis lazuli. Definitely the beach lover's paradise! Here's how to make the most of your holiday in Marrissa and places around.

The destination Mirissa

The location is about 171 km which is a 2 hour and 35-minute drive from Colombo. If you feel like you won't be able to make it to Mirissa straight after your flight, hitch a stay at one of the hotels in Colombo to relax and get rid of that jetlag. Wake up and begin your journey early the next morning to your Mirissa resort. When it comes to places to stay Mirissa is still an emerging destination but has a few decent villas like Sri Sharavi Beach Villas & Spa. Some of them even open up on to the beach itself. In these cases, privacy is guaranteed most of the time, so, it'll be like having the beach all to yourself. The sands here are light beige, almost white. There are some great waves to catch here as well, but make sure to look out for the red flag.

Things to know

If you love surfing, the beach in Mirissa is going to make you want to stay back in Sri Lanka. Not to mention, the fact that the town is quiet makes the place so relaxing. You won't find many people on the road here, but you'll always have a ride waiting to take you anywhere you want to go. A ride? Of course, it's the famous tuk-tuk rides, which you must experience when in Sri Lanka. You will be able to travel to other coastal cities as well by tuk-tuk or public transport like buses are available too. If you do prefer travelling by tuk-tuk, then negotiate the price before you get in. Look out for the tuk-tuks with meters to make sure you are charged a fair price for your trip. Tuks and buses both don't accept cards and aren't equipped with special travel cards either, so you'll need cash in hand to get you around. Also, bring sunscreen with you as the heat can get quite unbearable on the skin.

Things to do

There is much to see and do in Mirissa especially if you are into water sports. Surfing is one of the most loved activities as mentioned before. Weligama beach is full of surfers trying to conquer the waves. You'll even find surf schools here where you can learn the basics. Once you've had your fun surfing, try just lazing around on the beach and relaxing in the warm breeze. Secret Beach is perfect for a few hours of relaxation. Whale watching tours are quite popular here in Mirissa. The whales migrate to these waters from November right to the end of April. If you happen to be here during this period of time, make sure you take that whale watching tour for a delightful experience.

Not only Mirissa, but places around Mirissa are a pleasure to visit as well. Day trips to Galle, a neighbouring city is also possible. This is a historic place that is definitely worth your time. The best place to visit here is the Galle Fort which is absolutely unmissable. It is a massive wall built surrounding the coastal line of Galle.

Don't forget sunset views in Mirissa as well, for the best views of all, head to Coconut Tree Spot where the sunsets are gorgeous.