Do you have plans to travel down south of Colombo? If you’re interested in the country’s beaches, spend a few days by the ocean in Mirissa. It’s one of the island’s most popular seaside towns and there’s plenty to do.
Surf’s Up!
Mirissa is a hotspot for water sports activities. While you’re there, make sure to try out activities like surfing, snorkelling and boogie boarding. These are some of the most popular things to do in Mirissa.
Don’t know what that last one is? It’s similar to surfing, only easier. You don’t need to know how to stand up on a surfboard to try your hand at boogie boarding. Just rent out a board that’s suitable for you and head out into the water. Then, it’s all about timing. Wait to catch a wave just as it crests and ride it merrily to shore on your belly. It’s good fun!
A Whale of a Time
Sign up for whale watching. Mirissa and other towns along Sri Lanka’s south coast are famous for whale sightings. Read more about that here.
Keep an eye out for sperm whales, humpback whales, blue whales and more! You might also encounter pods of spinner or bottlenose dolphins.
An excursion usually lasts about 3 hours or so and starts early in the morning from the Mirissa Harbour. So it’s best to stay in town the night before. If you’re worried about sticking to a dwindling budget, have a look at these hotels in Mirissa. They’re quite affordable and come with basic perks such as AC and WiFi.
Go, Turtle Power!
Ever get the theme-song of the TMNTs stuck in your head from time to time? If you’re a fan of turtles or wildlife conservation, visit a local turtle sanctuary.
There’s a sea turtle farm in Habaraduwa which is about a 40-minute drive away from Mirissa. You can observe and hold turtles there, and if you time it right, help release baby turtles into the ocean.
Get Your Snake On
One of the lesser known Mirissa attractions is a snake farm located about a half hour’s drive from the town. If you’re fine with creepy-crawlies and dare to venture here, hat’s off to you.
At the farm, you’ll be able to observe a dozen or so snakes first-hand. And, if you’ve got the cajones for it, you can handle some of them as well (*shudder*).
Fill Your Belly
Being a popular beach town, there’s plenty of places in Mirissa where you can grab a tasty bite to eat. Examples of some are Café Mirissa and the Sea Fresh Restaurant. Food at independent eateries by the beach often tends to be cheaper than hotel fare. So do give places like these a try.
Featured image by Chris Kendall.
