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Mirissa is Sri Lanka’s ultimate beach destination, and one of the best things to do here is go snorkeling! With clear water and turtles galore, you really can’t pass up the chance to don a mask and explore the marine life here.
We have traveled around Sri Lanka extensively, and we’ve spent a lot of time checking out Mirissa’s best snorkeling spots. So we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to snorkeling in Mirissa, full of tips on how to find the best spots and maximize your chances of spotting turtles. You’re not going to miss out on Mirissa’s marine life on our watch!
Where are the best places to go snorkeling in Mirissa?
Turtle Point in Mirissa
Turtle Point is a postcard-worthy beach, about a 5-minute drive or 15-minute walk from Mirissa Beach and Parrot Rock. We love this spot because true to its name, turtles like it here! It’s one of the spots where we’ve had the most success spotting them.
Turtle Point is just off of the main road, and as you walk onto the sand, you will see a sign and some friendly guys selling masks and snorkel tours. You can either rent a snorkel mask here for 1,000 LKR ($3.50 USD) and use it for as long as you like, or opt to hire a guide. About 3,500 LKR ($12 USD) will get you a 45-minute guided tour, with a lifejacket and kickboard to use if needed.
Polhena Beach
Polhena Beach is one of our favorite beaches on Sri Lanka’s southern coast! It’s a protected beach and around 15 turtles live permanently in its calm, shallow waters, so this is an ideal spot to see turtles.
When we got to the beach, we rented snorkeling gear for 400 LKR ($1.30 USD) and got to use it for the entire day – what a bargain! There’s even a turtle hatchery here so if you’re lucky, you might be able to see babies being released and running towards the water.
We were lucky to visit Polhena Beach when it was quiet, but this place has become super popular recently. My advice would be to visit early in the morning before the crowds arrive!
Turtle Beach Galle
Polhena Beach is sometimes referred to as Turtle Beach, but there’s also another turtle beach nearby, closer to the city of Galle. It’s a 45-minute drive from Mirissa, but the water here is super clean and clear so you don’t even need a snorkel mask to spot turtles in the water. How cool is that?
The only downside to this beach is that it has become a bit of a tourist trap. Hawkers on the beach sell seaweed to tourists to feed the turtles, but please don’t do this, as it disrupts the natural ecosystem. I would also recommend visiting early to get ahead of the crowds!
Hikkaduwa
Swimming with turtles at Hikkaduwa’s main beach is free, and it’s one of the best experiences we’ve ever had in Sri Lanka! Hikkaduwa is just over an hour’s drive from Mirissa, and in our opinion, it’s well worth making the day trip. Check out our full guide to Hikkaduwa for more ideas on what to do here!
In fact, we were able to spot turtles from the shore on the main beach! And when we went out to paddle, they just swam right up to us, as the turtles here aren’t scared of people. It was pretty epic.
We found another great turtle spot in Hikkaduwa by walking about 10 minutes south along the shore to the smaller beach in front of the Hikka Tranz Cinnamon Hotel. The water here is often full of turtles, and there are even signs that let you know you’re in the right place.
What are the best snorkeling tours in Mirissa?
Private Snorkeling Tour with Turtles in Mirissa
If you’d rather have all the details taken care of, we can’t say enough good things about this snorkeling tour. It’s a private tour, so you have the freedom to look for turtles with your guide without worrying about other members of the group.
This tour includes all the equipment you’ll need like snorkels, flippers, and goggles. But I have to mention the HUGE perk is getting underwater photos and videos after your experience! This helped us be in the moment rather than worry about snapping photos. And this is an experience you want to savor!
The guides pretty much guarantee you’ll see turtles … it’s more a matter of how many you’ll see! We saw two turtles on our tour along with lots of colorful fish around the reef.
This tour is highly rated and is really affordable for all it includes at only $25 USD per person.
Read the 100+ 5-star ratings and book this tour here!
Snorkeling with Whales in Mirissa
I know I’ve been raving about the turtles, but Mirissa is known for its amazing whale watching. So why not get a bit closer to these gentle giants with this tour that lets you go snorkeling with whales!
It provides everything you need to do so. I’m talking about transportation, snorkeling gear, and even snacks!
What we love is that this is a small-group experience with a max of 10 people. Plus, you take a smaller boat, so it’s much easier to get to the whales faster than on the traditional cruises. It’s almost guaranteed you’ll swim with whales! If you don’t find any whales, the tour operator offers a 50% refund or a chance to come back the next day for free.
Tours leave daily and cost $349 USD.
Book this whale snorkeling tour here and you can choose to pay later!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
Related Read: Did you know you can go whale watching here year-round? Our guide to whale watching in Mirissa has all the details!
Is the snorkeling in Mirissa safe?
Yes, especially during the high season, which runs from December to March. The waters in and around Mirissa are generally very calm, and many turtle hotspots are in protected bays.
As an added bonus, when you book a snorkeling tour like this one, all the equipment is provided and you’ll have a local guide to look after you.
Can you go snorkeling in Mirissa on your own?
Yes, you can, but you’ll need snorkeling equipment. This is available to rent along the beaches and at most turtle hotspots, so no worries there.
If you go snorkeling on your own, it’s important that you know the rules beforehand and never touch or try to interfere with the turtles – or any marine life, for that matter! As long as you’re respectful and remember that you’re simply there to observe, then going on your own is absolutely fine.
Related Read: For more tips on what to check out while you’re here, we have 17 ideas on what to do in Mirissa!
Where to Stay in Mirissa, Sri Lanka
There are tons of options for places to stay in Mirissa – it is actually kind of overwhelming! Below are some great choices for every budget:
Luxury – $$$
If you’re looking for the most luxurious stay in Mirissa, head to the Three Gables Boutique Villa. This beachfront property has everything you need for a relaxing stay – modern rooms (some with sea views), an upscale restaurant, a pool overlooking the beach, private beach access, and unmatched service! They are villa-style rooms, so you have lots of privacy and access to the shared lounge and free breakfast.
Prices start at $205 USD. Check availability and book your stay online.
Mid-range – $$
Sira’s Chalets – If you’re looking for a seaside hotel then Sira’s Chalets is a great option. They are literally on the beach and offer amazing private rooms all with air conditioning. For a few dollars more than their cheapest room, you can also get an ocean view! Rooms cost around $50 USD per night and can be booked here.
Ballena Regency – These guys aren’t quite on the beach but their rooftop restaurant gets some great views. The rooms here are super luxurious and some rooms even have views of the ocean. It’s located just 150 meters from Mirissa Beach and they have a very nice pool. Rooms are priced at $85 USD and higher, you can book it on Booking.com.
Budget – $
Green Garden Guest Mirissa – The Green Garden is one of the places we stayed in Mirissa. It’s a really good budget choice that’s super close to the beach and beach access (the resorts block access to the beach in most places). It was the cheapest private room with air conditioning, breakfast included, and a private bathroom – we highly recommend it!
Rooms start as low as $10 USD and can be reserved online in advance.
Hangover Hostel – The Hangover Hostels are famous around Sri Lanka and are the perfect place for the solo traveler or group looking for a social atmosphere and a little bit of party. The Hangover Hostel Mirissa is in a great location with beach access only a minute from the front door.
Shared dorm rooms start at $7 USD per person, and private rooms are $25 USD. Check availability and book your stay on Booking.com or Hostelworld.com.
Getting Around Sri Lanka
To visit all of the best places in Sri Lanka, you’re going to need a mode of transport. You have a few choices when it comes to getting around Sri Lanka:
Rent a Tuk-tuk
Easily the most popular (and most fun) way to travel around Sri Lanka. We actually rented a tuk-tuk on our trip and absolutely loved it! Tuk-tuks are easy to drive, cheap to rent, and the freedom that comes with your own wheels is unmatched.
If you do decide to rent a tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka, be sure to go with a reputable company that provides quality tuk-tuks, such as Tuktuk Rental (who we rented from.) These guys not only offer an amazing service, but their tuk-tuks are actually rented from local families, providing income for the local community.
If you decide to rent from Tuktuk Rental, be sure to use the coupon code ‘DEST‘ for 5% off!
For more info, read our blog: The Truth about Renting a Tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka.
Hire a Driver
If you’re only planning on going to a couple of destinations, then a private driver is not a bad idea. In the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle, your driver can take you to your next destination. All you have to do is sit back and relax!
You can hire highly-rated drivers in advance to pick you up right from the airport when you arrive in Sri Lanka. This driver will take you to your hotel in Mirissa, Galle, Bentota, or Unawatuna. Whereas this driver will take you to Kandy.
Of course, every time you want to change destinations you will have to arrange for another driver (unless you book this driver who will drive you around for an entire week). Car transfer can easily be organized through your hotel.
Take Public Transport
This is a choice I only recommend for those on a very tight budget and with plenty of time. Public transport is everywhere in Sri Lanka in the form of public buses and trains. It is also very cheap, costing less than a couple of dollars per journey.
However, it isn’t the most comfortable way to travel. The buses don’t have air conditioning and neither do many train services. They can also be slow-moving, stopping every couple of minutes to pick up more passengers.
With that said, public transport is popular with budget backpackers, and it is mostly safe. This is one way to travel for those who want to get around as the locals do!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
Snorkeling is one of our all-time favorite experiences in Mirissa! I hope this guide to snorkeling around Mirissa helped fill you in on our favorite spots. Whether you go on your own or with a tour, you’re sure to have fun exploring these waters!
If you’re traveling around the country, be sure to look at all our blogs about Sri Lanka! We have tons of local tips and travel inspiration for your trip.
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