Mirissa is a beautiful beach town at the southern tip of Sri Lanka. You can find a variety of things to do in Mirissa or, if you have the time and energy, take a day trip to one of the surrounding towns.

We based ourselves in Mirissa for a few days because of the central location and because the whale watching boats left from here.

But if we ever return to Sri Lanka, we would certainly plan for a few days in Mirissa again.

10 Awesome Things to do in Mirissa

 

Whale Watching in Mirissa

Whale watching was one of our favourite things to do in Mirissa. Having a chance to see these majestic creatures in their natural habitat was a huge drawcard for us. The whale watching boats leave from Mirissa port and roam the ocean on the lookout for the whales.

While waiting for the whales to appear, we saw a few dolphins and what appeared to be a school of tuna. After about 3 hours, we were given quite the show with a whale suddenly rising from the waters close to our boat (pictured). It didn’t hang around too long but it didn’t need to. To be that close made the morning boat trip worth it.

Trips can be easily organised through guest houses and hotels and most (if not all) come with a guarantee that if you don’t see a whale you receive another trip free of charge.

Visit a Spa – Ayurvedic Massage

If lying in a hammock with a coconut in hand doesn’t relax you enough, head to one of the many spas in town offering an oily Ayurvedic massage.

Whilst an Ayurvedic massage can form part of an Ayurvedic therapy program, we came just for the massage (twice) and found it to be the best massages we experienced in Sri Lanka.

Surfing

There is some good reef surfing in Mirissa suitable for beginner and intermediate surfers.

We didn’t surf while in Mirissa, but if you are keen to hire a board or learn to surf, there are a number of surf schools located along Mirissa beach.

Eat at Roti House

There are a few Roti houses worth trying when eating in Mirissa to get a taste of the local food. There is one place recommended in the Lonely Planet Guide Book to Sri Lanka – No.1 Dewmini Roti Shop – but we didn’t end up visiting that one.

We found our favourite located at the east end of town near Sunanda Road, on the inland side of the main road. It serves a very tasty curry and rice, roti, and a great plate of kotthu, one of my favourite Sri Lanka dishes.

Eat seafood on Mirissa beach

If you love fresh seafood, as we do, Mirissa beach has plenty of options. Every afternoon, the days’ catch of fresh seafood is displayed on tables in front of the Mirissa restaurants specialising in preparing seafood.

In our case, as we went for an early evening walk along the beach, we would take a good look at each of the tables to see what their particular “catch of the day” was, before returning later to make a choice and sit down to a delicious dinner.

Relaxing on the beach

This may sound obvious for a beautiful beach town like Mirissa, but the crescent shaped and palm tree-lined beach is perfect for an afternoon stroll, catching a bit of sun, or “taking a dip” in the ocean where the waters are clean and the waves inviting.

We made sure we were there each night for the sunset.

Diving

There are a number of different dive sites in and around Mirissa suitable for different experience levels. There are also a number of courses you can take from refresher dives in a pool through to the open water dive course.

Mirissa Dive Centre seems to have a number of great reviews.

Day trips from Mirissa

One of the great things about this part of Sri Lanka is the many little towns within easy reach of each other meaning day trips from Mirissa are easy and fun.

Galle

We spent a few hours exploring the laneways of the Dutch-built Galle Fort. The historic buildings within the fort walls are in great condition and we could have easily spent a full day there.

At the southern end lies the lighthouse and you can stand on the fort walls and watch over the Laccadive Sea.

One very interesting place worth a visit is the Maritime Archaeology Museum, which is located in a 1671 Dutch warehouse, and has on display a number of maritime-related artifacts.

Weligama

Although Weligama is probably best known for the stilt fisherman who were the focus of Steve McCurry’s iconic photo, it was the small, yet still vibrant, fish market that we came for. Expect an early start to the day for the most action.

Sea Turtle Hatchery

Dotted throughout the southern coast of Sri Lanka are a number of animal protection organisations concentrating on the rescue, rehabilitation, and breeding of sea turtles.

I’m not an expert on the practice of turtle rescue activities, but the Sea Turtle Hatchery Mahamodara, just north of Galle, seemed to be reputable, and at the time we visited, were hosting students from a private school in Dubai.

The tour of the small working property is hands-on (we helped relocate a turtle to a new tank) and quite informative with an explanation of the turtle’s lifecycle, and the dangers turtles face at sea, the biggest manmade issue being plastic bags.

Entry is free but we left a donation for the terrific work they do.

 

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