A charming coastal town famous for its stilt fishermen, beginner-friendly surf waves, and the nearby Taprobane Island. One of Sri Lanka's best spots to learn surfing.
Stilt fishermen can still be seen along the coast between Weligama and Koggala. Some now pose for tourist photos for a small fee ($2-5). Early morning is the best time to see authentic fishing.
Weligama is 150km (2.5 hours by highway) from Colombo and 25km (30 minutes) from Galle. It is also 15 minutes from Matara. The coastal train from Colombo takes about 3 hours and offers beautiful ocean views.
Photograph the iconic stilt fishermen at sunrise, rent a kayak on Weligama Bay, visit Taprobane Island (a private island, viewable from shore), or take a day trip to Mirissa for whale watching (November–April). Weligama's food scene has excellent seafood restaurants.
Yes, Weligama is ideally located between Galle (25km) and Matara (15km). From here you can easily visit Unawatuna beach, Galle Fort, Mirissa whale watching, and Tangalle within day trips. Accommodation is more affordable than Galle or Mirissa.