What to do in Mirissa? Surfing & 3 best Restaurants!
What to do in Mirissa? Surfing & 3 best Restaurants!
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Next stop is Mirissa and this area has it all – long surfing beaches, clear coral reefs, palm trees, and the best restaurants and cafés. We had the cutest couple hosts at our overnight stay near to the center. We got some good waves at Mirissa Beach and Weligama Beach and we had a wonderful sunrise view from the Coconut Tree Hill. We often stopped at the best cafés Shady Lane and Wood Space in the center to get a fresh Acai Bowl, mashed avocado bread or a vegan wrap – you know what I mean ;).
1. Coconut Tree Hill
We highly recommend this beautiful place for sunrise! It is only a 15-minute walk from Mirissa Beach, and if you are staying at Sounds of Nature Hotel like us, it is only a 5-minute walk. You will find a coconut farm on a hilltop with a beautiful headland and it is probably the best place to see the sun coming up behind the horizon at Sri Lanka’s South Coast. We found a way next to a restaurant but there is also a way through the water.
In the early morning you might also meet some athletes, but make sure to come as early as possible to avoid the crowds.
2. Surfing and Snorkeling at Mirissa Beach
Mirissa Beach is probably one of the most popular spots on the South Coast. The beach is separated by the Parrot Rock, one side is perfect for snorkelers, the other side offers good conditions for surfing. We rented a surfboard for 300 LKR per hour (1,80$) and spent half of the day surfing. You have to paddle out very far, but far out there are the perfect waves for beginners! Don´t be afraid, the water is waist-deep and perfect for beginners.
In some area the ground is full of corals and you might be able to see a turtle gasping for breath. Also, there are a lot of bars with tables directly at the beach.
3. Parrot Rock
The famous Parrot Rock separates two parts of Mirissa Beach. We highly recommend going there as early as possible, because on midday and especially at sunset there are a lot of people! You can walk through the water (not at high tide) and climb up Parrots Rock.
3. Visit Secret Beach Mirissa
This is an absolutely lovely beach, although it isn´t that secret anymore. But compared to other beaches on the South Coast it is very empty and a very chilled place for both, tourists and locals. You have to take a tuk-tuk up the hill, from there walk along the way to the Sri Lankan woman selling coconuts. Buy a coconut and walk down the little path to the beach. Down there, you will find several different bays and lots of rocks to climb. There is also a little bar.
4. Surfing at Weligama Beach
This is a second great surf spot with sand ground and no corals at all. The long waves come in perfectly for beginners and you will not be alone on the water. You can rent a board everywhere along the beach (300 LKR per hour) or you can take a surf lesson. We spent 3 hours surfing there until it got very crowded around midday.
5. Whale Watching
There is a great chance to see whales, dolphins, and turtles in this area. At Mirissa Beach they offer a lot of different boat tours to spot animals. The season for whale watching is from November until March. From April to September you can see whales on the East Coast of Sri Lanka.
6. Visit our 3 favorite Restaurants:
We totally fell in love with three wonderful restaurants. Because we eat plant-based, we are always looking for some nice and modern restaurants or cafés. Avocado toast, smoothie bowls or wraps are our
1. Shady Lane
This wonderful café isn´t located at the beach, but it is only a few minutes away from the ocean and has a nice garden. They offer several smoothie bowls, avocado toast and many more
2. Wood Space
This café is our absolute favorite, it is located directly at the main road in Mirissa and it is designed so beautifully. Wood Space is built by a lovely couple, they create every recipe together. The wooden bar and the wooden menu cards are very lovely. We really enjoyed seeing how passionate they are about what they do and the meals…
3. Dewmini Roti Shop
This place offers local Rotis. Don´t expect a modern interior like in the other cafés, it is all about the yummy food and the cute family history! Dewmini Roti Shop is running by a lovely local family. They had to move several
Where to stay?
We stayed at Sounds of Nature mini hotel for 26$ per night and we absolutely recommend it! The rooms aren´t extraordinary but the family is the cutest we met on our whole trip!! It is their passion to make you feel good and to help you with everything. They try to offer you every breakfast you like, especially for plant-based eaters. They even asked if we would like to have tea in the evening.
When I got a surfing injury on my forehead, the women pressed a cooling pad on my skin and got me more tea ;). Also, we have to mention that they have two roof terraces, it is only 5 minutes to Coconut Tree Hill and this hotel has very good ratings on booking.com!
How to get there?
From Talalla you can take a tuk-tuk to Mirissa, from the airport you have to take a car. The cheapest way to get a taxi is to book via the app pick me, the prices are fair and we had only good experiences with the drivers. You can also look for tuk-tuk prices in the app.
From Mirissa to Unawatuna you can easily take a tuk-tuk!
Where to go next?
We would recommend to either visit Talalla Beach or to explore Unawatuna and the lighthouse in The Dutch Galle Fort. You can also visit Galle for a day trip!
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