When I first heard about the South Coast of Sri Lanka, Weligama was on top of my list, later on, I added Ahangama, Midigama and Mirissa to my itinerary as well .

Weligama Beach is an ideal place for yoga, surf, good food, clear blue-green waters, and thriving nightlife.

If there’s ONE place you need to go to for the perfect Sri Lankan vacation, this is it.

I chose to stay in a cute Airbnb in Midigama, which was midway between Weligama and Ahangama (Approx 5-7 min drive each way). This was perfect as I am a travel blogger and a DJ so it helped to have a base to explore all the hot spots easily.

Things to do in Weligama – Must add to your Weligama Itinerary

So in this Weligama travel blog of mine, I will share my top hotspots in town, personally vetted for my readers.

Plan B Coworking

Okay so this was my biggest dopamine boost in Weligama – the quaint and quiet coworking space at Plan B. With super comfortable chairs and smiling staff, this became my go to spot for coworking in Weligama. The outdoor restaurant serves healthy, fresh, and delicious food. You can even use half of your coworking payment towards food.

For example, I always used to buy a 2 hour pass for 2000 LKR and this allowed me to use 1000 LKR for food and drinks in their restaurant. How cool is that? So in real I only spent around $3 on a killer coworking air-conditioned desk. I could just hunker down and get solid work done in these 2 hours and then relish a tasty meal as a reward.

Yoga with a view at Basecamp Yoga Beach House

Imagine you are practising yoga in an open air shala with the ocean breeze in your face and the sound of birds everywhere. This is the Basecamp yoga shala with jungles on one side and the ocean on the other. What an amazing spot for yoga in Weligama. I was floored.

I  just did one Yin yoga class with Natasha here, and I felt relaxed and rejuvenated. You don’t have to reserve your spot, just walk in and pay 3000 LKR (Approx $10) and grab your mat and blocks.

In off season (like now), Basecamp offers a flat 50% off on their rooms and dorms. This is fantastic as all their rooms/ dorms include 2 yoga classes morning and evening plus breakfast. With dorms as cheap as $25, you end up staying for free if you manage to do both yoga classes. It’s worth the money and the dorms are the fanciest I  have ever seen with double beds in a boutique set up.

Ocean dips at Jungle Beach

Jungle Beach in Weligama turned out to be my favorite. My travel companion (Sakshi) whom I  met midway through my trip, lived near the beach and we went for ocean dips all the time. Be it for sunsets or even post parties at wee hours of the morning. The beach has tiny rocks and is not the best place for a dip but surely has a calm vibe about it.

On our last day there was bonfire and drinks – kinda like a beach party vibe going on. We totally enjoyed the vibe here.

Sunsets at Coconut Beach Weligama

On my very first day here I was told that Coconut Beach has the best sunsets. Albeit the cloudy days of off-season, I was able to see vivid colors in the sky and even took a mandatory sunset dip.

Dip and Sip at Kai Beach Weligama

Kai beach is a popular place for booking your surf lessons, sipping cocktails, DJ nights, and taking a dip in their gorgeous pool. One of the most popular beach clubs in Weligama, Kai is surely a must-add to your Weligama itinerary.

Sipping Fresh Coconuts Everyday

Prior to my trip to the south coast of Lanka, I had never seen the yellow coconuts before. These have the sweetest, freshest water ever and my daily dose of hydration was exactly this.

I would drive by in my rented scootie and grab a coconut (or two) every single day. More so after all night parties as they aid in hangover recovery.

Hangtime Hostel for Stay, Surf, Yoga, Parties and Chill

Another cool spot among backpackers and travelers alike – Hangtime hostel has Friday open decks for DJ’s, cheapest yoga classes (prices at 2500 LKR per walk-in session), surf lessons, and a lovely terrace to chill at.

Friday Night Party at the Secret Pearl Beach Bar

Secret Pearl Beach is the biggest jungle party every Saturday night in the south of Sri Lanka. Their only competition is the Doctor’s House, which closes around midnight, so you can still hop to the Secret Pearl afterwards.

Entry is 5000 LKR (Approx $15), and music is more hard groove style. Go for intense bass, high energy, and making new friends on the floor.

Plus check out this post for other bars and nightlife options near Weligama.

Rent a Scootie and Ride around Town

I love driving scooties in coastal island destinations. Weligama and surrounding beach towns are very scootie friendly with relaxing, mindful coastal drives to boast of. The only thing to be vary of is owning a valid international driving permit and being careful while crossing the multiple railway lines with no stop lights or barricades.

If you don’t have an international driving permit, you can rent a small 48 cc scootie (like I did) – which is practically like an e-bike of sorts. It is super cute and easy to manoeuvre minus the power. Worked perfectly to get me places without being stopped by cops even once. Be sure to wear a helmet at all times – both for safety and to avoid getting stopped by cops.

For the train crossings, while I was there, there was actually a yoga student (a tourist), who got crushed by an incoming train because she was crossing the line with music playing in her airpods and didn’t hear it coming. This is very important as you will see railway crossings everywhere and even I almost didnt hear the train coming once until it was almost upon me (because I was on a curve). I shared a post will all tips about railway crossings in Sri Lanka on my Insta here –

Pro Tip – For bike/ car rentals/ airport transfers to/ from Colombo airport etc, book through this trusted person I used myself throughout my trip – Mr. Januka – +94 771647184

Surf in Weligama

The number one attraction of Weligama is the multitude of surf schools as the ocean offers excellent opportunities for beginner surfers. I was not very impressed by the number of rocks in the ocean and felt I would be better off staying on land and watching the ocean/ surfers. So, I would often find a lone spot of the Weligama beach strip and sit with a beer and watch.

Things to do Near Weligama in Sri Lanka

With so many cool beach towns in the vicinity with just a 15 -30 min scootie ride, you can reach amazing spots and try new adventures, food, beaches, and activities.

Whale Watching in Mirissa

This has to be the number one booked activity in South Coast of Sri Lanka and is a big crowd puller. I tried it on my maiden trip to the country few years ago. Here’s my full review. 

Ice Bath at Ember and Ice in Ahangama

This was my first ice bath and it couldn’t have been in a better spot. I went for a DJ day with cacao and sauna plus ice bath – what a fun healthy activity. I was fully refreshed and rejuvenated after this, and it set me back just USD 10. They also host breathwork and running club. You can check their website for the latest updates.

Shake a leg and Grab a Drink at Mono, Ahangama

Mono was a short 10 min ride from me (I was staying in Midigama – between Weligama and Ahangama) and it was my favorite speakeasy to grab a drink. It’s a cute little secret spot tucked away in plain sight.

As a DJ, I got a chance to spin at Mono a few times (along with other places), but this was surely the icing on the cake for me. The people, the owners, fellow DJs – everyone was like a tight little community.

Grab an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet at Chill Moon Midigama

There are plenty of all you can eat spots which serve delicious flavourful unlimited buffets full of veggies, carbs and proteins like soya/ chicken etc. It is a perfect meal for anyone and costs barely over $2.5 (LKR 800). 

Another great spot in Weligama itself is Sithmal Restaurant where you get all you can eat buffet for just LKR 700 and additional meat pieces for LKR 300 each.

Go for a Wellness Class at Senses

Senses is one of the most popular wellness studio/ accomodation camp in the area. Even the location is stunning in the middle of paddy fields, away from the bustle of main road. Loved the jungle setting there and tried a 3 hour long breathwork session in this gorgeous spot.

Grab a bite and Chill by the Ocean at Hakuna Matata, Ahangama

As you can see Ahangama is actually a great spot to chill/ hang out. However, it was too busy for me to live in and I choose well by staying in Midigama – away from the madness – And yet just a ten min drive away.

Hakuna Matata was one of my fave spots to grab a perfect Sri Lankan Thai or a full meal, cocktails, beers and even to party some nights at. I would just sit there and watch the cormorants catch fish or talk to locals – just the perfect spot to gawk at the blue green waters and just relax.

Visit the Secret Beach Mirissa

Another great find was the secret beach in Mirissa. A small cove like spot with pumping beats, good food and friendly faces all around. Albeit not the best for swimming but an excellent chill spot and an adventurous bike ride.

Enjoy Wild Party Nights in Madiha

Looking for the best parties on the south coast of Sri Lanka? Well then, head to Madiha (Around 40 mins bike ride from Midigama), every Wednesday and Saturday night. First grab a few drinks and pizza at ‘The Doctor’s House‘ (you can even get a piercing or ink here) and then for the after-party next door at Shima Guni Beach Bar.

Take a Weekend trip to Hiriketiya

Hiriketiya is a must-visit if you happen to be on the south coast of Sri Lanka. You can either base yourself in Weligama, or just leave for a weekend in Hiriketiya and enjoy a multitude of new activities – sun rises, awesome beachscapes, great parties, friendly locals and a totally different vibe.

Just a 1.5 hour drive away, it can even be a day trip, though I would recommend at least 2 days in this pretty town.

Take Instagrammable Photos at Lava Cafe, Mirissa

Lava Cafe in Mirissa with its magical hanging lanterns and gorgeous ocean view, is a must stop on the south coast of Sri Lanka. You will surely get hooked to it and keep coming back daily. The food is average but the wine, sunsets and the whole aura is worth a visit (And a click).

Where to Stay in Weligama Beach?

There are so many amazing Weligama hotels to choose from, you can be spoilt for options. However, fret not because I have spent endless hours searching online and offline for the perfect Weligama stay.

Personally, I have tried these 3 hotels which were absolutely mindblowing. However, I am also listing few other popular options here for you to choose from.

Ocean Bliss by Sugar Coliving Weligama – Hands down the PERFECT choice for backpackers or luxury travelers. How? They have fancy boutique dorms from just $10 onwards AND luxurious oceanfront rooms with bathtubs for $65 (off season). The hotel overlooks the cozy Jungle beach and is my pick for the best hotel in Weligama.

Cinnamon House, Weligama by The Serendipity Collection – Another knock out place for the luxury tourist with stunning ocean views from your bed. Lavish interiors and breathtaking views make Cinnamon a class apart in the category.

Uwon Resort – Super comfortable budget stay in Weligama, walking distance from Jungle beach. The rooms are fully equipped and you can wake up to the sound of birds chirping. Quietly tucked away in the jungles of Weligama, I even saw monkeys and peacocks from my balcony. Surely one of my top budget stays in Weligama, priced at 10,000 LKR ($30), this is ideal for a few nights in town.

Other amazing hotels I heard of and are highly rated (Worth a mention) –

Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa – One of the top rated and most sought after luxury hotel in Weligama is surely Weligama Bay by Marriott. With sprawling ocean vista rooms and thousands of 5 star rooms, you cannot go wrong with this option.

 Cape Weligama – Relais and Chateaux – This cliff top resort is another popular accomodation option for those traveling to Weligama and seeking comfort and luxury.

Weligama Bay Resort – This 4 star hotel in Weligama is a highly rated property and is sought after by couples looking for a central stay.

Parangi Weligama Bay – This beachfront resort in Weligama is a favorite for families, couples and solo travelers alike.

KOMOREBI Weligama – Pocket-friendly boutique beachfront rooms in Weligama.

The Blue Haze Weligama – Highly reviewed hotel in Weligama.

Lime & Co Hostel – Popular option among backpackers looking for a budget stay in Weligama.

W15 Weligama – Lovely pool, DJ nights and sunbed-kissed beachfront property.

Basecamp Weligama – For Yoga and gorgeous double-bed boutique dorms at $20 (Including 2 x yoga and breakfast). This off-season deal beats every other option in town.

Hangtime Hostel Weligama – For Stay, Surf, Yoga, Parties and Chill – plus best budget hostel in Weligama.

So this is a brief travel guide to Weligama, Sri Lanka. Have you visited this slice of paradise on the South Coast of Sri Lanka? Share your views in the comments below.

Jo has been putting pen to paper from an early age when she started her “Dear Diary” and letters to her pen friends across the globe.
This alongside regular visits to Indian jungles in search of the Royal Bengal Tiger, fueled her zest for adventure, nature and wildlife.
Now she is a renowned travel blogger, outreach expert and has worked with over 500 travel brands in the last 15 years.