Dikwella (officially Dickwella) is a small town in the southern part of Sri Lanka, popular for its great surf spots! The best is Hiriketiya Beach, where you can also find blissful yoga retreats and trendy cafes. We visited on our Sri Lanka Route, and found it a great size to explore, with all the best spots walkable from the beach. Plan to spend a day exploring Hiriketiya Beach and all the other great things to do in Dikwella with this complete guide (including our favorite hotels and restaurants).
Surf & Chill at Hiriketiya Beach
Hiriketiya Beach (also called Hiri) is a beautiful small bay located close to Dikwella. It’s one of our favorite places in Sri Lanka to chill out or surf! The water is beautifully clear, and there are a few good bars located near the beach.
Tip: Try the smoothies at Verse Collective. Delicious!
Waves at Hiriketiya Beach are getting famous, so more and more surfers find Hiri as a place to hang out for a while. We rented a board and got a lesson directly from the guys on the beach, which was such a fantastic experience!
Tip: Dots is the most popular place at Hiri Beach; I loved their parties in the evening with live music. We also saw that you can stay here, and it looked beautiful (book your room here).
Visit the Most Southern Tip of Sri Lanka
Dondra Lighthouse is a small 15-minute drive from Hiriketiya (Dikwella) and is known as the most southern tip of Sri Lanka. The massive lighthouse is a beautiful white and yellow-colored building surrounded by palms. Definitely worth a visit! (Here is the exact location)
After Dikwella, go explore one of the things to do in Mirissa or stay in Yala National Park.
Yoga in Hiriketiya (Dikwella)
Hiriketiya is one of the best places in Sri Lanka for Yoga Retreats. I’d never tried yoga before this visit, but I loved the classes at Salt House! All classes are hosted in the open jungle in a beautiful location. You don’t have to be a guest there; you can drop in. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious brunch at their restaurant, too.
Visit the Worldโs 2nd Biggest Blowhole
Just outside of Dikwella is a well-known attraction, the Hummanaya blowhole. This was one of the most remarkable things we saw in the area; the water power builds up and forces itself into the narrow opening of a rock. Once the water hits, you will almost hear a thunderstorm sound followed by a spray of water that can reach up to 36 meters in the air!
Take a swing on the beach
For me, there’s nothing better than swinging at the beach as the sun goes down. There are so many excellent tree swings at various beaches around Sri Lanka, and the ones in Dikwella don’t disappoint! When we visited Sri Lanka, there was one swing located on the beach next to Dickwella Beach Resort and another one at Mahi Mahi Restaurant in the next bay.
Note: We took the photo below at Dickwella Beach Resort, but have since been informed that the tree swing, sadly, doesn’t exist anymore.
Work, Eat, Skate & Chill at Verse Collective
Yes, work! Verse Collective is one of the first co-working spaces in Sri Lanka. They opened up in November 2017 and created a very good name for themselves. As Hiriketiya Beach is getting more popular, Verse Collective chose to start at the next quiet bay. They serve great food, have hostel rooms, and are the go-to place for every Digital Nomad.
The food here is absolutely delicious, and it was such a nice chill place for us to work for a few hours. Next time, we’d love to stay here! Book your room at Verse Collective here.
Where to Stay in Hiriketiya
There are plenty of beautiful accommodation options located around Hiriketiya Beach, from upscale resorts to more budget coastal cabins.
Restaurants in Hiriketiya
Restaurants in Dikwella are all super tasty and very trendy. We had some of the best meals of our trip here! We will say that the food here is a little more expensive than other places in Sri Lanka, but we think it’s worth it. We’ve rated them by yummy (โฅ๏ธ) rating.
- Malu Poke – โฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธ
- Verse Collective – โฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธ
- Dots Beach House – โฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธ
- Salt House – โฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธ
How to Visit Hiriketiya
From Colombo, it’s relatively easy to get to Hiriketiya. You have a couple of options for public transport.
- Option 1: Take a train from Colombo to Wewrukannala Station, which is about a 4-hour journey. From Wewrukannala, it’s only 10 minutes by taxi or tuk-tuk. Check the train schedule here.
- Option 2: Take a train to Matara, which takes about 3 hours (book your train tickets here). From here, take the public bus to Dikwella or a tuk-tuk. It’s best to ask locals for recommendations on the right bus, as it’s not always obvious.
Otherwise, you can rent a car (becoming a more popular option) or hire a private driver, which is really reasonably priced in Sri Lanka!
Best Time to Visit Hiriketiya
Sri Lankaย has two separate rainy seasons, which happen on alternate sides of the island. In the south, the dry season runs from November to March.
However, you can also get lucky and have great weather months in Hiriketiya in the shoulder months of October and April. During these times, accommodation can be cheaper and fewer people on the beach, making your holiday extra tranquil.
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Hi,
Myself and my wife (to be very soon) will be going to Sri Lanka on our honeymoon next Febuary. I have a pretty good route done so far (with great help from you guys). I wonder if you could help me just a little bit more. I’m torn between two spots: Arugam Bay and Dickwella. If you had to choose a few days in one which would you choose. I know it may be difficult. Going the Dickwella route cuts out a little bit of extra travel (coming from Ella via Cinamon Yala) but at the moment I might be slightly leaning towards Arugam Bay which is giving my Bali vibes.
Any help would be wondeful and takes also for all the help you have been so far.
Kind regards,
Shane
Hi Shane, both locations are amazing, and you won’t be disappointed either way. But if youโre planning to visit Yala, Arugam Bay is worth stopping by for a few days, especially if you’re after Bali vibes. Congrats & have an incredible honeymoon!