Joanna James
Mirissa is more than a fab location for whale watching. The beautiful coastal town will enthral you with its stunning beaches, water-based activities and plenty of relaxing vibes; so do read on.
Swimming in Mirissa is extremely safe, one can wade deep out into the ocean and still be in the shallows, hence, families will find the place extremely thrilling. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean are highly conducive, not to mention, very inviting for an invigorating swim. The sandy shores are quite welcoming and are ideal to plop down on and just stay immobile for the rest of the day, well, or maybe until those hunger pangs kick in and you set off to the nearest roti shop.
Let your taste-buds determine if the above statement is true as Mirissa roti shops take their business of roti making quite seriously. Piping hot roti, stuffed and folded into neat little squares is served with a variety of fillings that veer towards savoury and sweet. Look forward to stuffings of spicy chicken, savoury prawns, melted cheese and sweet tooth favourites such as chocolate and banana with ice cream. Ideal hunger busters, especially if you are on a budget, the roti shops are rustic little wooden kiosks that offer views of the ocean and services of smiling locals. You can tour the area on any budget as accommodation ranges between low-cost hostels to the comfortable villas in Mirissa.
Head over to the western edge of the beach in Mirissa and you will come across plenty of surfing schools located right on the beach. Surfing is best between the months of December and March, and the breaks are ideal for beginners and intermediates. Surfboards can be easily rented from the kiosks on the beach, with experienced instructors ready to offer lessons to absolute beginners. Similar to YOHO Bed there are plenty of booking sites that let you choose accommodation close to the beach in Mirissa, in case surfing is your thing.
The mild waves and shallow surf make body surfing quite a popular activity at Mirissa. Enjoyed by the entire family, the act of rolling in with the surf can never get old. Do give it a try.
You can enjoy a bout of snorkelling in Mirissa just off the west and east coasts of the town. On the western end, there is a lovely little coral reef harbouring a variety of marine life while just off the eastern coast is a small islet, around which all types of little fish can be spotted.
Saving the best for last; whale and dolphin watching thrills are Mirissa's biggest lure. Tours are available from either your Mirissa resort or the nearest tour agency. Do check online for the best tour company, and the ideal seasons to take on the tours and you won't be disappointed with the variety of dolphins and whales that one comes across on these excursions.
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