Hiriketiya Beach in Sri Lanka - Why it should make your must-visit list

Being an island, Sri Lanka offers many places for the surfer to explore and have fun. While Hiriketiya beach is not strongly recommended for the beginner, you can start here if you wish to. However, if you had already tried the baby waves at Weligama, and have graduated from there, Hiriketiya should ideally be the next spot on your surfing spots list. It has great waves for the most part of the year. You can find places where boards are for rent for less than LKR 500 right by the beach. It's a fun and stretch of beach with very few people, so you can have the waves almost all to yourself.

While there would be people who are looking for adventure, and would dive headfirst into the sea, most people visit the beach to chill and relax. If this is an activity that is on the top of your agenda, Hiriketiya beach makes allowances for that too. There are many trees fringing the beach line, and not all of them are palm trees. You can easily find a cool spot under the shade of a short and wide tree, where you can sit back and enjoy. Remember to bring a blanket, a book, and whatever else you think you want for some rest and relaxation.

Once you are settled down on your blanket, you need something refreshing to keep yourself hydrated and up. Nothing can beat the local heat like a fresh king coconut. There are many places along the beach where you can buy one from and sit back to enjoy. One of the best things about the Hiriketiya beach is its diverse range of snack shacks. You won't find the well-established high-end restaurants along the beach. But the haphazard set up of wooden huts and little shops serve some of the best snacks to be had on the southern coast. From banana pancakes to locally sourced fried fish to burgers and wraps, you can definitely find something here that you will love. Even the most "international" sounding food item is sure to have a local twist to it, which makes it all the better.

With Hiriketiya gaining steady popularity, many a Dickwella resort is now being built. While you have the old-school homestays and the basic inn to stay the night, there are some trendy places coming up such as Soul Resorts Sri Lanka. If you are looking for a hip and quaint place that is only a walk away from one of the best beaches on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, these are the places to look out for. Although most of these places are new and learning ropes, it allows you greater freedom and a chance at seeing the genuine hospitality of the locals.