Last Updated on July 5, 2023 by Natalia
Known for being one of the best places to go snorkelling with turtles in Sri Lanka, Polhena Beach near Mirissa is a lovely spot to visit. As well as being a great place to see turtles in their natural habitat, it’s also one of the nicest beaches in the area, which is why it’s included on our ultimate south Sri Lanka itinerary! A visit to Polhena Beach is one of the best day trips from Mirissa, and fortunately it’s cheap and easy to get there. At less than 10 kilometres away from Mirissa Beach it’s close enough for a short visit or an entire day trip if you want. Find out all you need to know about snorkelling with turtles at Polhena Beach near Mirissa below!
Looking for things to do in Mirissa? Check out our Mirissa travel guide!
How to get to Polhena Beach
The cheapest way to get from Mirissa to Polhena Beach is by bus, which costs around 50 rupees per person. Simply catch any bus heading in the direction of Tangalle or Matara and ask to get off at Polhena Beach.
Buses to Tangalle and Matara run regularly along the main road in Mirissa. Find out where the nearest bus stop to your accommodation is and wait there for a bus.
You don’t need to buy a ticket in advance, so just get on the bus and take a seat, or you may need to stand if there are no seats left. Once you’re on the bus someone will come and ask where you’re going and charge you for your ticket.
The ticket should only cost around 50 rupees per person, so if they try and charge you much more then they’re probably trying to rip you off. Fortunately this didn’t happen to us, so you should have no problems. In our experience they will make sure the bus stops at the right spot for you, so they should just drop you at the nearest stop to Polhena Beach.
The beach is around a 20-minute walk from where you get dropped off. If you don’t have a local SIM card with data then we recommend downloading an offline map to use on your phone like Google Maps offline or Maps.me for directions to Polhena Beach.
When you’ve finished at the beach just catch a bus in the direction of Galle or Colombo to get back to Mirissa. For a bit more information we recommend reading our guide to public transport in Sri Lanka!
Alternatively you can take a taxi or tuk-tuk from Mirissa to Polhena Beach, which should cost around 1,000 rupees one-way.
Whichever way you choose to get there, Polhena Beach has some of the best snorkelling in the Mirissa area thanks to the sea turtles found just off the shore.
If seeing wildlife interests you then you should check our our guide to Udawalawe or Yala National Park and Bundala National Park.
Best time to visit Polhena Beach
The best time to visit Polhena Beach to see turtles is in the mornings. Turtles tend to be more active earlier in the day, and you’ll also find fewer tourists about if you arrive relatively early.
It’s best to avoid visiting on weekends as the beach is normally busier as it’s a popular spot with the locals. Snorkelling is one of the most popular activities on Polhena Beach, which means on busier days it can be a bit too crowded when you’re trying to see the turtles.
The best time of year to visit Polhena Beach in terms of weather is between December and March. Sri Lanka’s southern province is driest at this time of year, which is perfect for visiting the beach!
If you visit between December and March then it’s also peak whale watching season so make sure to check out our guide to ethical whale watching in Mirissa.
Tips for snorkelling with turtles at Polhena Beach
Respect the turtles – The most important thing to do when visiting Polhena Beach is to make sure you respect the turtles. Don’t overcrowd them or get to close, and definitely don’t touch them.
Some people do try to feed and touch the turtles at Polhena Beach, but this disrupts the animals in their natural habitat. Instead just keep a reasonable distance and enjoy these amazing creatures whilst giving them their own space!
Snorkels – Snorkels are one of the best things to pack for Sri Lanka and having your own means you won’t need to rent one at the beach. If you don’t have your own then it costs around 400 rupees to rent a snorkel and mask at Polhena Beach.
We personally recommend having your own as it’s more hygienic and it gives you the chance to snorkel elsewhere on your trip without having to pay rental fees every time!
Low tide – During low tide the sea is very shallow if you swim beyond the red buoys. There’s a lot of coral in that area, but with it being so shallow it’s best to avoid during low tide or you risk damaging the reef and injuring yourself.
Thankfully the turtles are easy to see without going beyond the buoys, so visiting Polhena Beach during low tide shouldn’t affect whether you see them.
See more than just turtles – If you want to see more than just turtles then it’s better to visit at high tide so you can explore more of the reef. There’s plenty of marine life in the area, from stingrays to colourful tropical fish.
Restaurants – There are no restaurants on Polhena Beach itself but there are a few within walking distance if you want to grab lunch or dinner. We personally recommend eating at the Bob SL Restaurant as they serve up delicious food with very generous portions!
Hotels at Polhena Beach
If you want to spend more than one day here then we recommend booking a hotel near Polhena Beach.
We recommend looking on Booking.com for the best hotels and resorts at Polhena Beach, so you can spend a few days snorkelling with the turtles. There aren’t many other things to do in Polhena, but it’s still a lovely spot to spend a few days relaxing!
Click here to find the best hotels in the area on Booking.com!
If not staying in nearby Mirissa is a great base to stay when snorkelling with the turtles in Polhena beach.
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