Mirissa
Whale and dolphin boat trips, surfing and beach nightlife on Sri Lanka's south coast.
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Mirissa is a small town on Sri Lanka's south coast, in Matara District of the Southern Province, about 150 km south of Colombo. Visitors come for whale and dolphin boat trips, surfing on the main beach and the nightlife along the beach road. Its harbour is the biggest fishing base on the south coast, and its catch includes tuna, mullet, snapper and butterfish.
Plan a few days here for the beach, a whale-watching trip and a day in Galle. Parrot Rock and Coconut Tree Hill are both nearby, and Secret Beach is a listed attraction close by. Sri Sunandarama Temple is a Buddhist site in town. The A2 highway runs through the area, and Mirissa railway station on the Coastal or Southern Rail Line is about 2 km from the town centre. Sea conditions on this coast are usually calmer from November to April, outside the southwest monsoon.
Mirissa in five
- Choose a boat that keeps its distanceThe SLTDA guideline sets a 100 meter no-approach zone, a 300 meter caution zone with no more than three vessels, and under 6 knots near animals. Pick an operator that stays within them.Whale-watching guideline
- Wear the life jacket and hear the briefingThe guideline requires approved life jackets for everyone aboard and a safety briefing before departure, and says no swimming or diving with whales is offered. Ask about both when you book.
- Confirm the sailing the evening beforeSea conditions decide whether boats go. Ask your operator the evening before, and check the Department of Meteorology if the southwest monsoon is blowing.Department of Meteorology
- Look beyond the bay for Dondra PointSri Lanka Tourism names Dondra Point, reached from Galle, Hikkaduwa and Mirissa, and Trincomalee as the ideal whale-watching locations. Matara is the nearest city to Dondra.Matara travel guide
- Pair the bay with Galle FortGive a sea-rough or rainy day to Galle Fort, which is along the same south-coast road. Keep one spare morning in the plan in case the sea cancels the boats.Galle travel guide
Things to do in Mirissa
See all attractions in Mirissa
Need to know
- Airport
- Bandaranaike (CMB); a long road transfer to the south coast
- Getting there
- The south-coast road and the coastal railway line from Colombo
- Getting around
- Tuk-tuks and walking around the bay
- Best base
- Mirissa bay, or a quieter beach nearby
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Calm seaJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calm sea
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Calm seaFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calm sea
- MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Hot, calm seaMarchRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, calm sea
- AprilRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Hot, showersAprilRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, showers
- MayRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Southwest monsoonMayRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 308 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Southwest monsoon
- JuneRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rough seaJuneRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 169 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rough sea
- JulyRain23 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rough seaJulyRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rough sea
- AugustRain23 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rough seaAugustRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 169 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rough sea
- SeptemberRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°ShowersSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 234 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- OctoberRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rains, humidOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 253 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains, humid
- NovemberRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°ShowersNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 314 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- DecemberRain20 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Calm seaDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 161 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calm sea
Average daily high and low in Mirissa (Galle), 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Mirissa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 97%
Matara
02:08 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today27°25°97%Tuesday: Rain. High 27°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 97%.
- Wed28°25°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu28°25°100%Thursday: Rain. High 28°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri28°26°100%Friday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat28°26°97%Saturday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 97%.
- Sun28°25°98%Sunday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Mon28°25°98%Monday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 98%.
Updated 10:18 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 332.4 LKR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Mirissa
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Mirissa, checked
- SLTDA guideline: no approach within 100 m of whales or dolphins, no more than three vessels within 300 m, and under 6 knots inside the zone.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source
- SLTDA guideline: everyone aboard wears an approved life jacket after a safety briefing; swimming or diving with whales is not offered in Sri Lankan waters.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source
- Sri Lanka Tourism names Dondra Point and Trincomalee as ideal whale-watching locations, and says the Coast Guard monitors Mirissa whale watching.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source
Plan around Mirissa
The fort, a short ride along the coast
Read the guideMatara travel guideMarket city and Dondra Point
Read the guideHikkaduwa travel guideReef snorkeling and a long beach
Read the guideTravel insuranceCheck cover for boat trips
Read the guideAll of Sri LankaRoutes, seasons and entry rules
Read the guideThe SouthThe whole beach coast in one plan
Read the guideWeligama travel guideA wide bay and stilt fishermen
Read the guideMirissa FAQ
Is whale watching in Mirissa worth it?
Sri Lanka Tourism lists Mirissa and Dondra Point among the best places to see blue whales and other cetaceans, and the Coast Guard monitors boats there. It is worth doing with an operator that follows the distance rules, and best skipped if the boat chases the animals.
When is the whale-watching season in Mirissa?
Operators sail when the south-coast sea is calm, which is outside the southwest monsoon that the botanic gardens department lists as May to August. The exact season varies, so confirm it with your operator and the Coast Guard before you book.
Can you swim with whales in Mirissa?
No. The SLTDA guideline strongly discourages swimming, snorkeling or diving with whales or dolphins and touching them, and says no such swimming is offered in Sri Lankan waters. Boats should stay at least 100 meters from the animals.
How many days do you need in Mirissa?
Two nights cover a whale-watching morning, a beach day and a half-day trip to Galle, and three nights suit a slower beach stay. Keep a spare morning in case the sea cancels the boats.
How do you choose a whale-watching operator in Mirissa?
Ask whether the boat carries approved life jackets for everyone, gives a safety briefing before departure and keeps to the SLTDA distances: no approach within 100 meters, no more than three boats within 300 meters and under 6 knots near animals. Walk away from any boat that chases whales.