There are a few things Sri Lanka is known, first the “tea”, ever heard of “Ceylon” tea, well that’s tea specifically coming from here(as Sri Lanka was formerly called by British), next the scenic landscapes (unsurprisingly this too is contributed by the never-ending tea estates) and the other thing is the sandy beaches, as you would from a small island nation. However, you’d be surprised how less known Sri Lanka is for their beaches and we are going to put that right by first talking about one of it’s most popular destinations “Mirissa”.

 

 

Mirissa is a small coastal town in the south of Sri Lanka (Protip: South and the East are the areas typically known for beaches in Sri Lanka), and as you’d expect you can pretty much do all the beach stuff you’d expect to do here

 

Going to Mirissa beach

 

First and the most obvious place to visit in Mirissa is the Mirissa beach (otherwise, why’d even bother going there). Mirissa beach is one of the most popular beaches here and this is as mentioned earlier may be the most popular beach in Sri Lanka and is a bit populace especially with foreigners so be mindful. You can easily cool off here but it could get hectic, if that doesn’t appeal well you are in luck as there are less popular beaches here as well (relatively that is). 

 

Going to Polhena beach

 

Another beach located in Mirissa is a less popular destination but still pretty crowded, especially on weekends. This beach is particularly known for “snorkeling”, wouldn’t call it the best snorkeling place quite honestly the visibility isn’t great but there is a reef and turtles can be spotted pretty regularly hence it’s worth a shot.

 

Going to Secret beach

 

This is the not so secret “secret” beach of Mirissa. This might have been a sight behold before it got popular but not it is crowded and a bit disappointing. This is not the “hidden gem” experience you might wanna experience however it not a bad beach you can rest and have a good time but do not expect the extraordinary. The best way to reach here is via maps.me and searching “Secret beach bar”, it’ll guide you enough for you to figure out yourself.

 

Surfing

 

I previously mentioned you can do pretty much all the “beach stuff” and it doesn’t get more typical than this. The waves in Mirissa are considerably big, meaning perfect for surfing, for beginners. There isn’t much for professional surfers here or for expert surfers who seek a thrill but if you have no idea about surfing and wants to try it, this might be the place. The surfboards can be rented in nearby places for a relatively cheap price so it is highly recommended, you will have a good time.

 

Watching Sunset at the Palm Tree Grove

 

 

One of the best places you can watch the sunset from if not the best is here. The arrangement of the Palm Groves brings you serenity and a perfect place to rest, what makes it better is that it is just 30-minute walk away from the main beach, work a bit of sweat while enjoying the surroundings and finally reach here to enjoy the sunset for a memorable afternoon. If you walk along the sea past the parrot rock you will eventually reach here or walk along the main road until you reach Maison D’hotes Sanda beach and take the path right to it and you’ll get to your destination as well.

 

Whale Watching

 

Here is another unexpected and absolutely wonderful experience you can get here and that is whale watching. Sri Lanka is famous for few things as mentioned earlier but another unexpected thing is the fact that its seas are filled with whales, in fact, this is one of the most if not the most popular place for the whales including the largest creature ever, the blue whale. Whale watching season is generally from April to November. You are more than likely to spot whales but even if do not, you are guaranteed to see the abundance of other sea life including dolphins, orcas, sperm whales, whale sharks, turtles and more. A trip usually cost around Rs.6000 however it varies depending on the operator and for the locals, this price could go considerably down. Another very important thing to keep in mind is to pick an ethical operator like the “Mirissa whale watching club”. Ethical treatment of animals is very important and especially wildlife, please do it while respecting the creatures, so make sure to pick an operator that keeps a reasonable distance from the wildlife while not overcrowding them.

 

This is the first of the Mirissa and expects more posts on where to Stay and Places to eat in Mirissa.