Hiriketiya Beach
Hiriketiya Beach
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Hiriketiya Beach
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
109 within 3 miles
Attractions
9 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
150 reviews
Excellent
84
Very good
32
Average
14
Poor
13
Terrible
7
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
James D
Dublin, Ireland4 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
If you’re reading this then you are about 2 years too late to visit what used to be Sri Lankas most beautiful beach.
What was once a postcard is now covered with foam board rental shops and bob marley playing tiki bars, with rubbish strewn everywhere, plastic bottles and straws lapping in the water, and beginner surfers dropping in on anybody catching a wave.
Go at sunrise to catch a glimpse at what once was, get your instagram shot, and be gone elsewhere after 5 minutes before it’s descended on by the mob.
What was once a postcard is now covered with foam board rental shops and bob marley playing tiki bars, with rubbish strewn everywhere, plastic bottles and straws lapping in the water, and beginner surfers dropping in on anybody catching a wave.
Go at sunrise to catch a glimpse at what once was, get your instagram shot, and be gone elsewhere after 5 minutes before it’s descended on by the mob.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chamath Fernando
Colombo, Sri Lanka227 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
This beach is known to be a recently developed destination in Sri Lanka. The tourist area is concentrated around lovely beach of a small bay that is surrounded by a green thicket. The area is full of budget accommodation, restaurants facing the beach and a range of water sports. The water sports equipment are available to hire at reasonable costs. Local community is extremely hospitable towards the tourists. I must visit if you love serene beaches.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan S
New York City, NY7 contributions
Jan 2020
Hiriketiya really is a lovely little beach and my friends and I had a nice 3 days of relaxation here at the end of our 3 week trip, but I did not love it. It is quite a small beach and most of it is taken up by surf board rentals, restaurant/cafe tables and sun loungers for rent, leaving almost no sand free. You really do need to rent sun loungers as there is little space to spread out your towels on the sand and if you have children there isn't much room for them to play. It may be a good spot to learn to surf, but if that is not your aim there may be better options.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard j
Markham, Canada420 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
We had stopped en route from Yala to Matara for what we hoped would be a quick swim in a quiet cove...
Instead, the area around the beach was disappointingly chaotic, clogged with traffic, and virtually inaccessible.
The rapidly developing area adjacent is too cramped to accommodate all the surfers and Instagram tourists.
The beach is small, over-crowded, and consequently uninviting. Even our overheated kids were discouraged and didn’t want to stay.
A far cry from the “most beautiful beach in the world” we’d read about.
Instead, the area around the beach was disappointingly chaotic, clogged with traffic, and virtually inaccessible.
The rapidly developing area adjacent is too cramped to accommodate all the surfers and Instagram tourists.
The beach is small, over-crowded, and consequently uninviting. Even our overheated kids were discouraged and didn’t want to stay.
A far cry from the “most beautiful beach in the world” we’d read about.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yeoubi Hiriketiya
Nilwella, Sri Lanka5 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
Hiriketiya Beach is one of the places we had heard least about when we were planning our 3 week trip around Sri Lanka. I wouldn’t quite call it the hidden gem of the south coast, as it is growing in popularity, but it’s not too far off it.
The neighboring town, Dikwella (known locally as Dickwella), has become a huge draw to people visiting Sri Lanka’s south coast. The laid-back lifestyle and surf vibes at Hiriketiya Beach and Dikwella have created those amazing coastal towns we absolutely love. The result is this magnetic draw similar to other trendy surf towns worldwide, whether it is Siargao in the Philippines, Tofino in Canada or Margaret River in Australia – people love the environment it creates. The fun atmosphere and dreamy setting make it an incredible place to spend a few days. There are loads of awesome things to do, cheap places to eat and endless waves to surf.
The neighboring town, Dikwella (known locally as Dickwella), has become a huge draw to people visiting Sri Lanka’s south coast. The laid-back lifestyle and surf vibes at Hiriketiya Beach and Dikwella have created those amazing coastal towns we absolutely love. The result is this magnetic draw similar to other trendy surf towns worldwide, whether it is Siargao in the Philippines, Tofino in Canada or Margaret River in Australia – people love the environment it creates. The fun atmosphere and dreamy setting make it an incredible place to spend a few days. There are loads of awesome things to do, cheap places to eat and endless waves to surf.
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John M
Chichester, England, United Kingdom8 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
You're five years too late. This place used to be great: the surf is phenomenal for beginners/ intermediates and the beach is stunning. My family was here in 2019 and it was wonderful. It's now awful; full of private stone & glass villas called things like 'M@NG' and 'Sponge' that are full of people with daddy's Centurion card pretending they're roughing it. Don't go in the sea if the lagoon has burst, either, or you'll get sick.
Written April 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven S
Pattaya, Thailand782 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
One of the more popular beaches for tourists along the SL coastline. The beach is not all that long and is lined all along wirh beach vendors selling food, drink & sunbeds (free if you buy something). With all the sunbeds it doesn't leave much open sand to enjoy.
Very safe for swimming though you do have to keep an eye on the beginner surfers taking advantage of the smaller waves in the centre of the beach. Experienced surfers head out to the eastern pount where the waves are bigger.
Food & drinks are not cheap but that's the trade off for a slice of paradise.
Very safe for swimming though you do have to keep an eye on the beginner surfers taking advantage of the smaller waves in the centre of the beach. Experienced surfers head out to the eastern pount where the waves are bigger.
Food & drinks are not cheap but that's the trade off for a slice of paradise.
Written March 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SwissTraveller77
Mauritius12 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Totally overrated.
We had booked a week at the Palm House Hiriketiya.
2 weeks before check-in we were asked to cancel our booking via Booking.com. It was not possible due to renovations. When we got there we saw that another guest was staying there. He had probably paid the better price over New Year. That was just the first rip-off. We booked another hotel. When we arrived there was no water. The whole place was affected, which of course was not true. Later in a seafood restaurant we ordered red snapper. But it wasn't red snapper and was totally inedible. We still had to pay $30 for fish with 2 beers. And so it went on. The only good thing was smoke and bitters. The beach was crowded and there was a children's playground.
We had booked a week at the Palm House Hiriketiya.
2 weeks before check-in we were asked to cancel our booking via Booking.com. It was not possible due to renovations. When we got there we saw that another guest was staying there. He had probably paid the better price over New Year. That was just the first rip-off. We booked another hotel. When we arrived there was no water. The whole place was affected, which of course was not true. Later in a seafood restaurant we ordered red snapper. But it wasn't red snapper and was totally inedible. We still had to pay $30 for fish with 2 beers. And so it went on. The only good thing was smoke and bitters. The beach was crowded and there was a children's playground.
Written January 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BathRover
Bath, UK27 contributions
Feb 2022
This is the most beautiful beach I have been to. Paradise sandy cove, swimming, surfing, lovely relaxed but high quality local cafes and restaurants with lush gardens, monkeys and colourful birds. Unspoilt by commercialisation, no big hotels or busy roads nearby.
Written February 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sriyani T
15 contributions
Dec 2022
Great beach to o with your family. The ocean is safe, and you can get some simple eats, drinks and beach chairs on the beach under the shade of a palm umbrella. Truly an amazing beach. My granddaughter, 4 years old, just loved it.
Written December 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Any recommendation to rent a surf board and get surf lessons for a bigginer in Hirikitiya beach
Written January 13, 2019
There are litterally rentals all over the beach and they all seemed ok to us - good gear and nice staff. The water is although crammed with people since the bay is so small. So for surfing in general I would head to Weligama instead - beginner friendly waves most of the time and more space, better wave formation and less current.
Written January 16, 2019
Hi, I just stayed there for one week. It rains from time to time but surfing in rain to me is actually very sensational and enjoyable. Waves are small and clean around full moon. When I left, it started to get bumpy, though still very nice.
Written October 1, 2018
I just booked a hotel from 7th-12th May, but now am worried about the weather. For sun and swimming should I go to a different beach at this time of year? Or is it generally okay at this time of year?
Written March 20, 2018
No need to book another whether will be ok đź‘Ś
Written March 21, 2018
i would like to know if july it s a good season for the waves ? We went there in february it was Perfect !but i check that in july it s the raining season and there isn t wave
Written January 11, 2018
What is the best/cheapest way to get to hiriketiya from matara?
Written January 9, 2018
Hi, If I were you I’d get the bus from Matara to Dikwella bus station and from there jump into a tuk tuk down to Hiriketiya.
Written March 17, 2018
Hello, where would you recommend we stay in Hiriketiya Beach (with air-conditioning). I have a young child.
Written October 12, 2017
Another place that I wished I’d checked out is Salt House or Pepper House. They both looked like awesome places to stay.
Written March 17, 2018
Showing results 1-6 of 6
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing