Mirissa is one of the most popular beach destinations in southern Sri Lanka, and for a good reason! The area has it all, beautiful Sri Lankan beaches, great waves for surfing, and waters teeming with marine life, from turtles to big blue whales. Spend your days enjoying fresh coconuts in your hammock, eating delicious food from beachside restaurants, and zooming around by motorbike. Four days is the perfect amount of time to absorb the laidback culture of this sunny beach town, enjoying all the top things to do in Mirissa.
1. Secret Beach, Mirissa
Secret Beach might not be a secret anymore, but it still feels like a remote island paradise! The small, secluded beach is tucked around the corner from the main beach in Mirissa and is a little harder to get to. Because of this, fewer people visit the beach, and if you get there early enough, you can even have the whole place to yourself!
There are 3 beautiful beaches to choose from on this headland, each with its own unique characteristics, from rockpools to coconut palm trees. Spend the day enjoying the crystal blue water, snorkeling among incredible marine life (make sure to keep your eyes peeled for turtles!), and enjoying every moment of this slice of heaven.
Tip: There’s no entry fee to visit the beaches, but please buy some food, drinks, sunbeds, or snorkels from the locals working here to support the economy.
To get there, search Google Maps for Secret Beach bar and ask a tuk-tuk driver to take you there. You will need to walk 10 minutes from the drop-off point as the road is too steep for tuk-tuks.
2. Parrot Rock
Parrot Rock sits directly In front of Mirissa Beach: a huge red-colored mound that towers over the water. It’s become one of the best things to do in Mirissa as it has beautiful views of the palm tree-lined beaches below.
Because Parrot Rock sits out at sea, you’ll have to research the tides as low tide is the safest time to cross over (and you’ll avoid getting wet). It can be dangerous to cross over during high tide, especially in the monsoon season when the waves will be high.
Once you reach the rock, climb the rickety stairs to the top. From here, you’ll see beautiful views across Mirissa. It’s particularly popular to visit at sunset but can get very crowded. Because of this, we recommend getting up early and climbing at sunrise. At this time, you can see the beautiful early morning pinks and oranges of the Mirissa skyline, and watch the light filter through the green palm trees.
3. Coconut Tree Hill: Top Things to do Mirissa
Coconut Tree Hill is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Sri Lanka and one of the top things to do in Mirissa. The private coconut farm is just a 15-minute walk from Mirissa Beach and offers some of the best views in the area!
Once you reach the top of the hill, the headland stretches out ahead of you, allowing you spectacular views over the ocean through the many leaning palm trees. We recommend going at sunrise to take photos when there are fewer people around.
You can find the location of Coconut Tree Hill on Google Maps. If the weather is good and the tide is low, you can walk along the beach. Be aware that at certain times you may need to walk through water. If not, you can walk along the road that hugs the coastline.
Visiting the charming town of Mirissa in Sri Lanka will always be an appealing experience. Amongst the best things to do in the environs of this town would be surfing. Although the town happens to be a popular destination, you will often find that the beach is relatively uncrowded as well. Provided below is some useful information regarding surfing in Mirissa.
Understand how to get to and around Mirissa
To get to Sri Lanka you must fly into one of two international airports; these are the Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake or the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport near Hambantota which are accessible from cities around the world. For those based in the commercial capital, Colombo, you can travel to Mirissa by bus, train, taxi or car. If you choose to travel by rail, you may board a train at Colombo’s Fort Railway Station and get down at Weligama Station; from there, you can take a cab or tuk-tuk to Mirissa. You may also travel to Mirissa by bus from Colombo and other cities in Sri Lanka.
Once you are in Mirissa, a good way to get about would be by tuk-tuk. Buses also pass through the town’s main road and you will also have the chance to hire a scooter or just walk since it is a modestly sized town.
Choose the time to visit
Generally, in the southern region of Sri Lanka, you will find that the optimal time of year for surfing would be from November through to March at which period the climate would be cooler and drier. However, since temperatures will still be warm, you are likely to find that the best times for surfing would be the mornings and evenings. Still, Mirissa will be a pleasant locality to be at throughout the year.
At Mirissa Bay, you will encounter waves of intermediate level, with the best height to be experienced in the early hours of the morning as well as the late afternoon. However, it would be advisable to check the forecasts and the sea safety levels before heading out to surf in Mirissa.
Get to know the surfing conditions
You will find that Mirissa boasts a pleasant beach featuring a lovely crescent shape; in the local waters, you can expect both right and left-hander waves. The local conditions would be suitable for beginners with some skill as well as intermediate level surfers who desire to surf a reef break, with waves reaching as much as six feet.
Along the extent of Mirissa Beach, surfers will have the opportunity to ride a low-powered right-hander close to the rocks as well as a left-hander nearer the harbour. Since this beach features smaller waves, as well as, protection from the onshore winds, it will be suitable for beginners desiring to gain confidence and intermediate surfers seeking to develop their technique. A choice of accommodation to consider from which you could easily go surfing here would be Sri Sharavi Beach Villas & Spa; it could be regarded as one of the ideally located hotels in Mirissa right by the beach.
Take surfing lessons
If you happen to be a beginner in the sport of surfing, you will have the opportunity to take surfing lessons in Mirissa. You will be able to avail yourself of individual lessons taking roughly two hours each in addition to half-day sessions and special packages. If you haven’t brought your own board, you can also rent surfboards or purchase other surf gear.
Enjoy the dining options
After all the surfing action, you are bound to have worked up an appetite! The good news is that visitors will find that Mirissa offers a varied selection of cuisine including typical Sri Lankan fare as well as western favourites. At the restaurants in Mirissa, you will be able to feast on seafood which is a speciality on the south coast along with healthy options like vegetable wraps and fresh fruit.
