Honestly, the moment I arrived at Dickwella I was a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful beach, palm trees, blue ocean, everything. But it didn’t get to me. There was literally no one on the beach (no footsteps either, just two dogs), no surfers at all and it almost felt like some sort of ghost beach. So my first day there, I really thought… Where is all the fuss about?
The Hidden Gem called Hiriketiya Bay
On day two I figured I should take a walk around and immediately found where I was looking for. Through the coconut plantations and the little village up the hill, I ended up at Hiriketiya Bay a.k.a. a hidden gem (map). Same picture-perfect beach with the whole shebang that comes with paradise, including some people and surfer waves! This horseshoe bay has waves for both beginners and the more advanced, has cute little beach huts with amazing juices and banana pancakes and it definitely has a tropical vibe. Jackpot!
Paradise found
After catching some waves while sea turtles were swimming beneath me in the crystal clear ocean I suddenly knew where all the fuss was about. This place is. A hotel move was undeniable. The moment you drop your bags in your room I bet you don’t want to touch them for at least a week. Bikini’s, surfboards, palm trees, and Lion Beer, what more can you ask for? Offering a mellow beach break for beginners and a fast lefthander point break over shallow reef to challenge the more advance among us, Hiriketiya caters to all.
Hiriketiya's Dream
Even though I had quite a tight schedule traveling along the South coast of Sri Lanka, I messed it up the moment I set foot at Hiriketiya beach. The vibe, the food, the surf, the view. This is it! Maybe, just maybe, I’ll just stay here. I’ll send you a postcard. Will you come to visit me?
Marthe
Photos by: M. Barends ©
Wat gaaf, jouw zelfontdekte, paradijselijke stukje Sri Lanka. Wij zijn niet in Dickwella geweest, maar ziet er ook niet verkeerd uit. Ben je ook in Weligama geweest? Wij hadden daar een heerlijke tijd en je kon er volop surfen. 🙂
wow its so beautiful place
when you visited this place ?? can you tell me when to visit for this like views??
Hi Mayuri,
Thanks for your message! It’s a dream of a place indeed! I think you will be treated to these views all year through… but if you’d like to avoid the rainy season go here from approximately November till April. Would love to hear about your experiences in Hiriketiya! Have fun!
Hi,
Can you recommend any beach hets to stay at the paradise?
Thanks for the post….would have gone past this if didn’t read!
Hi Beckie,
Glad to hear you found our article! Hiriketiya might be my favorite place in the whole of Sri Lanka! When I was there I stayed at Dots Bay House, which I absolutely loved. Really beautiful bungalows, only footsteps from the beach and absolutely delicious food. Can highly recommend them!
Enjoy your trip through Sri Lanka!
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I was a bit confused. It was mentioned that Hiriketiya beach is not good for surfing. But Since you tried yourself so I may consider it.
Hi Shedi,
I actually really enjoyed surfing in Hiriketiya. It has a good beach break for beginners and a beautiful (empty) point break for the more advanced. Guess that must be people who don’t like to share their waves… 😉
not so empty anymore…
Ahh.. we are sorry to hear that! It’s been a few years since we visited Hiriketiya, and it really was my favourite place in Sri Lanka back then. Unfortunately escaping the crowds isn’t always easy, when places like Hiriketiya are so beautiful and relaxed… sooner or later everybody finds out! 😉
Has someone visit this place in August? Is it still nice besides the rainy season? So shops open for surf boards and good waves?
Hi Mari,
We haven’t visited Hiriketiya in August, unfortunately, but we have visited other countries with similar seasons in this month. In general, you would have rainy moments (often at night or in the afternoon), but it never lasts forever. Surf should still be good in the mornings and I wouldn’t expect everything to shut down. But maybe it’s best to get in touch with the guys of Dots Bay House for example, as they are on the spot and can probably advise you best. Good luck! Regards, Marthe
Thanks! I will!:)
Thank you for sharing your Sri Lanka guide with us. I really enjoyed it. It is still worthwhile to visit Sri Lanka, despite rising prices in recent months.