Mirissa Beach

Mirissa is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, located in the Matara District of the Southern Province. It is approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 4 metres (13 ft) above sea level. Mirissa's beach and nightlife make it a popular tourist destination. It is also a fishing port and one of the island's main whale and dolphin watching locations.

Mirissa is the largest fishing port on the south coast and is known for its tuna, mullet, snapper and butterfish. In 1980 the first tourist accommodation was built however it wasn't until the mid-1990s that tourism to the town started to dramatically increase.

Mirissa was affected by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, with numerous homes, guesthouses,shops, schools and temples destroyed or damaged and fourteen reported deaths.

Mirissa is located on the A2 Highway, connecting Colombo to Wellawaya.

The Mirissa railway station is located, approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) to the east of Mirissa, on the Coastal or Southern Rail Line

Parrot Rock sits directly In front of Mirissa Beach: a huge red-colored mound that towers over the water. It’s become one of the best things to do in Mirissa as it has beautiful views of the palm tree-lined beaches below.

Because Parrot Rock sits out at sea, you’ll have to research the tides as low tide is the safest time to cross over (and you’ll avoid getting wet). It can be dangerous to cross over during high tide, especially in the monsoon season when the waves will be high.

Once you reach the rock, climb the rickety stairs to the top. From here, you’ll see beautiful views across Mirissa. It’s particularly popular to visit at sunset but can get very crowded. Because of this, we recommend getting up early and climbing at sunrise. At this time, you can see the beautiful early morning pinks and oranges of the Mirissa skyline, and watch the light filter through the green palm trees.Coconut Tree Hill is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Sri Lanka and one of the top things to do in Mirissa. The private coconut farm is just a 15-minute walk from Mirissa Beach and offers some of the best views in the area! Once you reach the top of the hill, the headland stretches out ahead of you, allowing you spectacular views over the ocean through the many leaning palm trees. We recommend going at sunrise to take photos when there are fewer people around.