About Sri Lanka
What the south of the island is like, season by season.
The season
The south coast is at its best between roughly November and April: dry days, clean surf and calm water for swimming. May to September brings the southwest monsoon — greener, quieter and cheaper, with rain that usually passes.
Wildlife
Blue whales pass Mirissa through the dry season, leopards and elephants are an early morning drive away at Yala and Udawalawe, and Sinharaja holds the last big stand of primary rainforest on the island.
Getting around
Galle is twenty minutes west, the expressway puts Colombo about three hours north, and the coastal train between Galle and Colombo is worth doing once for the view alone.
Eating
Rice and curry is the daily meal and it is different in every kitchen. Hoppers for breakfast, kottu after dark, king coconut all day.