Weligama

Weligama — "sandy village" — is a wide bay on the south coast with a long, gently sloping beach and consistent, forgiving waves. That combination makes it the best place in Sri Lanka to learn to surf. Dozens of surf schools line the beach, boards can be rented by the hour, and the atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious. It is also the closest town to Mirissa's whale-watching harbour.

Surfing in Weligama

• Season: November to April, when the swell is clean and the bay is calm enough for beginners.
• Surf lessons: typically 1.5–2 hours including theory on the sand. Choose a school with qualified instructors, a small student-to-teacher ratio and soft-top boards.
• Board rental: available all along the beach; ask about rash vests and reef booties.
• More experienced surfers head to the reef breaks around Ahangama, Midigama and Hiriketiya.

Other things to do

• Taprobane Island — the tiny island just offshore with a single villa, once home to a French count and the writer Paul Bowles.
• Whale watching — boats leave from Mirissa harbour, 10 minutes away (November to April).
• Stilt fishermen — at Koggala and Ahangama, a short ride west.
• Weligama fish market and town — a real working town, with good local food.

When to visit

November to April. From May to September the south-west monsoon brings bigger, messier waves and rain; Weligama becomes a stop for experienced surfers only.

Getting there

About 2–2.5 hours from Colombo via the Southern Expressway, 40 minutes from Galle and 10 minutes from Mirissa. Weligama has a railway station on the coastal line.