Mirissa

The picturesque bay of Mirissa is located on the south coast of Sri Lanka and is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the country. The tranquil beach town has made a name for itself in the last ten years with whale watching trips. Not far away, the famous stilt fishermen sit on stilts above the sea waiting for the day's catch.

On the beautiful, partly narrow sandy beach of Mirissa you can swim and enjoy the tropical landscape, because the idyllic headland consists of many small, rugged, secluded bays with palm groves in the back and a surf interrupted by rocks - a bit of a postcard motif. However, Mirissa is not only a place for beach vacationers and sunbathers, but also for water sports enthusiasts, animal enthusiasts and photography tourists.

Activities on the beach of Mirissa

• Whale watching and dolphins : If you travel to Mirissa, you can hardly avoid a whale watching tour. Between December and April, the probability of seeing blue whales and/or sperm whales is over 90%. Dolphins often accompany the departing boats. Whale safaris depart early in the morning from the port of Mirissa.
• Water sports : Active athletes have the choice between surfing, ping, snorkeling and short bike tours.
• Stilt fishermen : About 15 km west of Mirissa, in Kataluga, lies the home of the photogenic stilt fishermen. Today, however, they hardly sit on their poles above the water because of fishing, but because of the tourists who leave a tip for the fishing acrobats for their pictures.
• Swimming and relaxing : If you stay in one of the numerous accommodations on the beach, you can simply walk barefoot from your cabaña into the sea in the morning, have lunch in one of the beach restaurants and later let the afternoon sun shine through the coconut palms.
• Excursions : 15 km west of Mirissa is the Dondra Lighthouse, which marks the southernmost point of Sri Lanka.
• Turtle visit : From January to May is the main breeding season in the turtle reserve of Rakawa.

Accommodation on the beach of Mirissa

In Mirissa, you will find what you are looking for if you like stylish boutique resorts in an idyllic location. But the bay also has a lively party scene on the weekends.

Best time to visit Mirissa

For whale watching tours, the months from December to April are suitable. Otherwise, the main travel season lasts from December to March. The temperatures on the west coast during this time are 22 to 31 degrees, the water temperatures are 27 to 28 degrees. The monsoon causes downpours around Mirissa between May and November.

Arrival and transport to Mirissa

Mirissa is not particularly accessible by public transport. The train station is a bit outside, the buses are usually overcrowded. Taxis or three-wheelers can be chartered for excursions and transfers.