Погода: Велигама, январь

January is the start of the good half of Mirissa's whale season: the south coast runs November to May, and regulars say sightings improve into January and February, which is the window they name for blue whales. Two practical points come with it. The boats leave early - reporting around half past six for a seven o'clock start, three and a half to four hours out - which is the reason to stay in Mirissa rather than Galle or Colombo. And the weather is not settled at the turn of the year: rain can hang on into mid-January, with the first half of the day the reliable part on this coast. Our row's 133.8mm across 16.3 days is that. The record: 30C days that feel like 36C, 23.8C nights, humidity 82 percent and a 27.6C sea.

Sri Lanka's forum notes the southwest monsoon runs May through September, and while some posters described August days as sunny with just the odd late-afternoon shower, the bigger practical issue for Weligama and the rest of the south coast is the sea itself - monsoon swell makes the water genuinely unsafe for swimming outside a handful of reef-protected spots like Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna. Weligama specifically also gets a mention for having murkier water than neighboring beaches due to a nearby river mouth, regardless of season. Despite the rough seas, posters said the town stays lively as a secondary August high season.

Forum posters name November through April as the dry season on this stretch of Sri Lanka's south coast, with February squarely inside it - sunny conditions and calm, clear seas are the norm, good for the area's famous beginner-friendly surf breaks. Posters describe Weligama itself as more of a surf town, while nearby Mirissa offers a reef-protected, calmer swimming option for anyone less interested in the waves - both Weligama and neighboring Ahangama and Midigama stay in surf season through April. Posters consistently recommend the area for beginner surf lessons specifically, with plenty of surf schools and instructors offering both group and one-on-one sessions.