Mirissa

Mirissa is a small crescent-shaped bay on the south coast, still connected to its roots as a fishing village even as it's grown into one of the island's most popular beach stops. Coconut Tree Hill, a headland at one end of the beach, has become one of the most recognisable viewpoints on this stretch of coast.

From November to April, Mirissa is also one of the best places in the world to see blue whales, along with sperm whales and pods of dolphins, on boat trips that leave early in the morning when the sea is calmest.

The beach itself is a good base for slow days — swimming, watching the fishing boats come in, and eating at the row of casual restaurants that line the sand.

Blue whales — the largest animal known to have ever existed — are among the species regularly seen offshore here, alongside sperm whales and spinner dolphins. The consistency of sightings from November to April has made this stretch of coast one of the more reliable places in the world for land-based whale-watching trips.