We had two weeks to discover Weligama Sri Lanka. Weligama, which means “sandy village” in Sinhalese, is a sleepy town on the southern coast of Sri Lanka in the Matara district. Popular for surfing, fishing, and relaxing – Weligama is a quintessential Sri Lankan beach town.

Disover Weligama Sri Lanka

 

Weligama Sri Lanka

When you first discover Weligama, not much stands out admittedly. It is easy to overlook much of the charm that the town possesses because of its location near Galle, Mirissa Beach, Matara, and others. The quiet is part of what makes Weligama an ideal spot.

The primary industries of the town are tourism and fishing. Here, you’ll find the iconic stilt fisherman as well as many regular fishing boats. The area around Weligama Bay is dotted with numerous boats and marinas, and it is easy to get freshly caught fish from fishmongers along the shore.

Surf’s Up – Discover Weligama Activities

The primary tourism in Weligama revolves around the sea. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean and the sheltered cove that is Weligama Bay make for a perfect location. Depending on the season, there are numerous activities to do.

• Surfing – the bay provides excellent conditions throughout most the year, though the peak season is during the winter months from October to March. Visiting in June, the town appeared to be devoid of most tourists. Weligama sits near the famed Mirissa beach as well as other surf spots. Book lessons here.
• Whale watching – is a popular activity in the south of Sri Lanka. With blue whales, dolphins, and whale sharks just offshore, it is a great activity for a day with calm seas. Book your tour here.
• Village exploration – this is one of our favorite activities that is constantly overlooked. Simply walking around town at a leisurely pace really opens your eyes to how locals live.
• Rock of the Leper King – is a medium-sized sculpture carved directly into the rock. It carried a little bit of history and making a point to visit is a great way to explore the town.
• Festivals – occur at various times of the year. Buddha’s birthday is a big one and the center of town decorates itself accordingly for the festivities.

A Great Home Base To Explore Southern Sri Lanka

Its location is also optimal for taking day trips around southern Sri Lanka. Weligama is great for relaxing and taking it slow, but if you’ve come all the way out to this tropical island, no doubt you want to do more than just lounge on the beach. 

• Galle Fort –  is an iconic Dutch fort on the southwestern corner of the island. With a history dating back over 500 years, it is a great day trip. It is only about an hour’s drive from Weligama.
• Yala National Park – on the eastern coast of the island has the highest concentration of leopard’s in the world! Our safari was the highlight of Sri Lanka where we saw elephants, crocodiles, a bear, a leopard, water buffalo, and countless birds. It is located about 4 hours away, but can still be made into a day trip. Book your safari here.
• Ellakanda National Park – is a bird lover’s paradise. The park is home to numerous tropical birds and also has a large lake in the center that you can kayak on. Great news – it’s only about an hour from Weligama.
• Udawalawe National Park – is the place to go if you really want to see elephants. Although you’ll see them in many of the parks in the southeast portion of the parks, Udawalawe has over 500 elephants! It is a 3-hour trip from Weligama. Book your safari here.
• Sinharja Forest Reserve – is another bird lover’s paradise. Situated along a mountain ridge, numerous birds call this home. At just over 2-hours away, it is another easy day trip. Book your trek here.
• Sri Pada – or Adam’s Peak is a phenomenal hike that takes you to the top of a mountain that holds reverence across multiple religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. At 6-hours away, it is too far to make a day trip out of but is still reachable from Weligama. Book your hike here.

Accommodation

There are a few hotels and many homestays that one can elect to stay at. The variety of selection and cost means that everyone has an option open to them.

• Local homestays – offer the cheapest option and are great for budget travelers. This is the way we went, and although we had a few issues there was nothing serious. This option is the best way to really get to know the locals and experience everyday life.
• Along the beach – is a wide assortment of hotels and condos ranging from basic rooms to high-end resorts. These are great options for families or travelers who want a little more comfort.
• Taprobane – which will cost between $1000 and $2200 a night depending on the time of year, is the luxury goal. A private island situated just offshore in Weligama Bay, accessible by foot only during low tide make for a perfect private retreat.

Hit Hard

Hit hard by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, 15% of Weligama was destroyed. 2,200 homes were damaged and 469 citizens killed. Due to the civil war, most humanitarian aid and funds were misappropriated towards the war in the north. The town put its best foot forward to reconstruct on its own.

Anything to Eat?

The food is not as varied as you will find in the capital of Columbo. It is truly local food, as the local population is too poor in general to afford going out to high-end restaurants. So while you won’t find many places serving anything not strictly Sri Lankan at a reasonable rate – you can find plenty of local fares such as:

• Kottu – sometimes referred to as Sri Lankan hamburger, is a unique dish of roti, vegetables, and meat chopped into chunks and stir-fried. 
• Rice and Curry – pretty self-explanatory. Sri Lankan curry tends to be drier than what Westerners typically associate. Instead of rich gravies, you will receive stir-fried rice with bits of vegetable, meat, and curry leaves.
• Fish – is a staple here. Weligama is a fishing village, so one would expect the fish to be excellent. I was treated to a fish bbq one night and it was flaky and flavorful.
• Hoppers – are Sri Lanka’s version of crepes. Usually cooked into a bowl shape, they are then left empty to be eaten as is or filled with something. A common version has an egg cooked inside the bowl.
• Roti – is ubiquitous across South and Southeast Asia, and the Sri Lankan variety is cakier and thicker than other varieties. It is eaten with most meals. The most popular variety is made with coconut and accompanied by a spicy sambal sauce.
• Curd – is essentially water buffalo yogurt. It is thicker and creamier than your typical yogurt because of the higher fat content. Our host got this for us on our last night, and it was great. Served typically as a dessert with honey, it is delicious.
• King Coconut – is the best coconut, so the locals say. Bright orange, ultra sweet, and softer flesh give the king coconut a unique and delicious character. It is difficult to grow anywhere else in the world, so for the moment, it is something you can only get while in Sri Lanka. I have to agree that it is the best coconut in the world.

 

Getting to Weligama

If you want to visit Weligama, you have a few options. The infrastructure on the island is not great though, so you’ll need to choose carefully depending on your situation. Since everyone arrives in Sri Lanka in Colombo, it is assumed you’ll be traveling from Colombo.

• Motorbike – this option is only for those who are comfortable on a bike already. The roads are dangerous due to traffic and wildlife. We got into a wreck on a motorbike on our way back from Yala and were very lucky to walk away with only scrapes and bruises. Take this at your own risk – we do not recommend.
• Train – this option is the one that we took. It is very cheap and will get you where you need to go. While it is certainly an experience, it is not a modern luxury by any means. Trains are nearly 100 years old, and very crowded. I was pick-pocketed and witnessed others get robbed as well. If you are experienced with rough travel, go for it, but if you are traveling with family or have a larger budget, just skip this option.
• Bus – highly irregular and very dangerous. We don’t recommend this option period. Unless you are very comfortable in the country, this option is best left to the locals.
• Tuk-tuk – cheaper than a hired car, but essentially the same. Finding a tuk-tuk willing to take you the distance might be difficult though. Since tuk-tuks are three-wheelers and open-air they also aren’t quite as safe. This option is ok for a couple or single traveler with limited luggage.
• Hired car – the most expensive option, but arguably the best. Cars tend to get the right of way on the roads, and you can ride in comfort while avoiding the heavy smog in the cities. This option is also the fastest. Book your transfer here.

Prepare to Discover Weligama

Weligama is a small town and while it has the ability to cater to tourists’ needs, you shouldn’t be surprised if they don’t have everything you may need or want. That is why we recommend that arrive with a few items to ensure that your stay is as good as it can be.

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• Travel Pack – Carrying the right pack can make a huge difference while out. Our Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Travel Pack will help ensure you get off on the right foot.
• Water Bottles – Collapsible Water Bottles – These are some of our favorite items to bring with us. They’re really light-weight and you can also roll them up so you can store them away easily. If there is one item that is most important to bring with you, it is water.
• Hiking Clothes – There is plenty of trails and treks you can take from Weligama, and the tropical climate can be punishing. Keeping yourself covered can really help. A recent addition to my wardrobe has made a big difference. For him | For her
• Raingear – Sri Lanka experiences the monsoon, and when it decides to rain, it rains. Even during the dry season, you should be prepared for the occasional storm to blow through. I really like this jacket because it’s light enough to wear without getting hot, but if it’s cool out it will also keep you from getting chilled. As a plus, it folds into itself making it very easy to carry or pack. For him | For her
• First-aid Kit – You really need to be prepared for anything when hiking, which means you need to be prepared for injury. We don’t often get hurt, but we have. You never know what could happen so you should always carry a basic first aid kit to be able to patch up whatever may happen. First-Aid Kit
• Sun Screen – Sri Lanka is a tropical island and if you don’t cover up with clothes, then you should wear sunscreen. We’ve used these and we haven’t been burned since, plus they are allowed in carry-on luggage. TSA Approved Sunscreen
• Bug Repellant – Mosquitos are a real menace in this part of the world and the best way to fight them is to be proactive. We like to use wipes so that we can effectively get any exposed spots without having to spray noxious gases everywhere. Off! Deep Woods Towelettes

Discover Weligama Sri Lanka