Best area to stay southwest Sri Lanka
 

Hi, This is my first post, sorry tittle is wrong it should be -South West Coast
We are planning a 3 week trip and looking for the best area to stay for a few days on the South West Coast. Our ideal is great snorkeling, not too busy, but still has eateries. Which area is better Unawatana - Mirrisa -Weligama-Matara- Polhena. Also if you have any suggestions for accommodation 7,000 -13,000 SLR per night that would be wonderful. We are in our late 50s on medium budget. Thanks Rhea

Unawatuna would be better for snorkelling and some eateries etc around too. Galle fort is also closer to visit from here and offers lot of eating options.

>>Hi, This is my first post, sorry tittle is wrong it should be -South West Coast.

Hello and welcome to Fodors. We edited your thread's title to southwest.

Alternatively you could stay in Galle [perhaps my favourite place in Sri Lanka] and get a taxi/tuk tuk to the beach to go snorkelling.

Thanks for input - I'll check it out

Mirissa is a lovely beach with great surf which is not usually conducive to good snorkelling. We stayed in Weligama for around a week on our last trip there and, after seeing the main sewer from the town disgorging into the sea yards off the beach there is no way we would set foot in that water.

As for accomodation, we just got taxis and tuk tuks along the coast and stayed at any place that looked good. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not. It all worked out in the end and we had a great time there.

Hi there

if you are expecting the beach and snorkeling and diving, the best to be is Unawatuna or Mirissa. Matara polhena area is not suitable for snorkeling. If your main purpose is snorkeling 🤿 I prefer to be at Unawatuna which is the best. East coast also one of the best but, these days off season there. Sea is not clear and huge waves. This is not the best time in there.
good luck and enjoy