Those who seek the pleasures of Sri Lanka’s famed golden beaches will be more than satisfied with the abundance of things to do in Unawatuna, Galle, Hikkaduwa and other cities situated along the southern coastal belt. From visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Galle Fort to snorkelling the coral gardens of Hikkaduwa; you will be spoilt for choice. However, should you be willing to take an hour’s drive away from Unawatuna, you will have the opportunity to witness something truly magnificent, the Blue Whales of Sri Lanka!
Since of recent times, whale watching in Sri Lanka has become so famous that travellers from all corners of the globe have come to this tiny, teardrop of a nation to see these spectacular creatures. Out of the many whale watching destinations in the country, Mirissa happens to be one of the best due to two reasons. One being, that the whale’s migration path from Africa to Australia happens to be just off Dondra Point in Mirissa. The other reason is that the waters around the area are rich in plankton, the tiny microorganisms that whales feed on. Due to the latter reason, scientists believe that there is a resident population of whales in Mirissa. Thus, spotting whales is not difficult, especially during the peak season, which is between the months of November to April. There are many establishments that offer whale watching tours including the Sri Lanka Navy. However, when booking a beach hotel, check if the hotel itself arranges them. This is the best way to go about reserving a tour as places like CoCo Bay Unawatuna, takes care of everything from the drive to the harbour to even arranging the refreshments.
Going on a whale watching tour in Mirissa gives you the chance to not just see the beautiful blue whales, but other species as well. These range from sperm whales to Fin whales, Bryde’s whales and sometimes, the ferocious killer whales. That’s not all; cute bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, spinner dolphins, Risso’s dolphins and striped dolphins can also be spotted.
