Weligama

Ideal stay

3–4 nights

The vibe

Easy, salty, learner-friendly

From our guides

1. 01

   Learning to surf

   Board hire and instruction line the beach, and the long shallow sand bottom means falls are soft and the whitewater keeps running a long way.

2. 02

   Stilt fishermen

   Fishermen perch on poles planted in the shallows along this stretch of coast, largely for visitors now, so agree a fee before photographing them.

3. 03

   Galle Fort

   A Dutch-built walled town half an hour west, with ramparts to walk at sunset, a lighthouse and shaded colonial streets inside the walls.

4. 04

   Mirissa and whale watching

   Boats leave the next bay along early in the morning between roughly December and April to look for blue whales offshore.

5. 05

   Coconut Tree Hill

   A headland of leaning palms above the sea near Mirissa, a short walk from the beach and busy at sunrise for good reason.

6. 06

   Rice and curry

   The everyday meal is a plate of rice with five or six small curries around it, often including jackfruit, dhal and coconut sambol.

1. Fly to

   Colombo (CMB)

   Nearest airport to Weligama, about 147km away as the crow flies.

2. Then

   To Weligama

   Colombo (CMB) is the realistic gateway, about two and a half to three hours by car on the southern expressway. Koggala (KCT) is far nearer but handles almost no scheduled flights.

3. On the ground

   Getting around

   The bay is a long walk end to end, with surf schools and board hire strung along it. Tuk-tuks cover the coast road to Mirissa and Galle.

Public transport: Good and very cheap: the coastal railway stops at Weligama and buses run constantly along the coast road.

Surf camps with board and lesson packages, family guesthouses, and a growing crop of boutique villas set back from the sand. Large hotels are few on this stretch.

• Best base overall

  Weligama Bay

  Right on the beach where the learner waves break, with surf camps, board hire and cheap eating along the road. The main coast road runs behind it and is noisy.

  Find stays in Weligama Bay →
• Best for couples

  Mirissa

  Ten minutes east, a prettier bay with headland bars, whale-watching boats and sunset crowds. The swimming is rougher and prices have climbed.

  Find stays in Mirissa →
• Best value

  Midigama

  A string of simple guesthouses just west, popular with surfers chasing the reef breaks for very little money. Beaches are rocky and facilities minimal.

  Find stays in Midigama →
• Quietest

  Ahangama

  Further west towards Galle, with villas and small boutique places set among palms and paddy. You will need a tuk-tuk for most meals and every surf session.

  Find stays in Ahangama →

Worth knowing before you book: The south coast season runs November to April, and Christmas and New Year rates double with minimum stays. Surf camps sell weekly packages that are cheaper than booking daily.

Season

November to April is the reliable window on the south coast. The southwest monsoon from May leaves the sea rough and the beach narrow.

Getting there

The expressway from Colombo airport reaches the south coast in around two and a half hours, and the coastal railway runs right past the beach.

Sun and rocks

The bay is sandy but there are rocks at the edges. Wear a rash vest, as the equatorial sun burns quickly even through cloud.

Etiquette

Cover up away from the beach, remove shoes and hats at temples, and never pose with your back to a Buddha image.

Cash

Machines are in town and cards work at surf schools and larger cafes, but small places, tuk-tuks and market stalls run on rupees.