18 Things to do in Hiriketiya besides surfing – A guide to Hiriketiya

Ok… so Hiriketiya beach is overrated, obviously. But not exaggerated. We actually returned to Hiriketiya, because we had fun, were never bored and there were the best conditions to work as digital nomads in Sri Lanka. Even if we aren’t the proper surfers. We just learned in Sri Lanka.

I still can’t believe we have done so much, staying in Hiriketiya for about 10 days on our third trip to Sri Lanka. The horseshoe bay is our favourite place on the south coast. There are so many things to do in Hiriketiya that I want to go back and do them all again.

We actually wish we had stayed longer in the surrounding areas rather than just focusing on the bay itself. While everyone is fighting for a wave, there’s a whole world of quiet coastal life, hidden shorelines, and the best coffee on the south coast just a ten-minute walk away.

Why We Think Hiriketiya Is More Than a Surf Spot

Personally, we weren’t in Hiriketiya for surfing. People try to compete this small village with Canggu, Bali (like they try to do with Ahangama or Mirissa), but it’s not comparable at all.

We learned how to surf in Weligama, and the bay is much wider, so I don’t suggest taking your lessons here, unless it’s your sole destination on the south coast. Anyway, I think there are better ways to spend your morning than getting hit by a beginner’s longboard.

We had an amazing time living there as “slowmads” — see our full guide to Hiriketiya as a digital nomad base for the full breakdown –  bouncing from one cafe to another hoping the wifi will hold still. We quickly realized that the magic isn’t in the bay itself; but, it’s in the jungle-fringed cafes and the slow pace of the nearby beaches.

From our experience, the best way to enjoy Hiriketiya is to treat it as a base for the deep south. We initially thought it was just a backpacker hub, but it’s evolved into something much more curated.

Best Things to Do in Hiriketiya

1. Snorkel with turtles at Turtle Point (Dickwella)

Turtle Point isn’t actually in Hiriketiya but in Dickwella, and it’s the best place to swim with turtles nearby. We spent two whole mornings there, and the water was so clear we could see turtles swimming without even putting the mask on. No waves, no surfers — just a secluded little bay. Coconuts only cost 300 LKR too, if you’re ordering a drink to go with your lounger. We wrote a full breakdown of the visit here → [Turtle Point Hiriketiya guide].

2. Surf the horseshoe bay yourself

We learned to surf in Weligama, which is a much more open bay, so coming back to Hiriketiya’s horseshoe as a low-level surfer, I suffered a lot in the tiny space left for non-school surfers. It’s not the best place to learn without an instructor — the lineup is genuinely cramped.

That said, prices are convenient: I negotiated for 1 and a half hours plus a shirt for the longboard, so it’s still worth it if you’re just starting out.

3. Walk to Blue Island at low tide

Driving about 20 minutes out of town toward the seaport, we found Blue Island. The experience was kind of disappointing on foot — it’s just a small, untreated beach — but the view from our drone was insane.

What makes it worth visiting is the two tides meeting in the centre: the shoreline is barely visible, so we walked to the island with our ankles in the water, one side freezing, the other warmer. Such a great phenomenon. Don’t expect loungers or calm swimming water, though; the sea is rough here. Full details in our Blue Island guide.

4. Watch sunset at Dickwella Beach, not the main bay

The sunset is gorgeous in Hiriketiya. However, we realised that the best sunset point isn’t on the bay. One day we just went for a walk to the nearby Dickwella Beach. The shore is wider and longer. We took about 40 minutes and just covered half of it before seeing the sign “Beer $1”, which made us stop to enjoy.

It’s one of our favourite activities in Hiriketiya as a couple. It’s romantic, tucked away, and you’ll see way fewer people than the main bay — maybe because it’s a bigger space. There are people playing beach volleyball, and you can spot cows roaming freely on the beach. It was funny.

5. Take a sunrise walk before the crowds arrive

If you are looking for what to do in Hiriketiya Bay that doesn’t involve a surfboard, go for a sunrise walk. We did this on a couple of occasions, and the small village rose earlier than you think.

The light hitting the palm trees before the crowds arrive is the only time the beach feels like the paradise it’s advertised to be.

6. Coffee-hop around the bay

The coffee scene in Hiriketiya is incredible. Every day we jumped from one place to another, morning and afternoon, and by week one we already had our favourite, having been there two or three times.

Our pick is Dots Bay, though that’s more restaurant/co-working/club/beach bar than a coffee shop. For a proper cup, Duni’s Hoppers was spotless, but for brunch our favourite is Bunch — you must try their tiramisu cake, made with coconut milk. We go deeper into the full cafe rundown here → Best Cafes in Hiriketiya.

7. Spot the monkeys while brunching

Monkeys are everywhere in Hiriketiya, and they’re cheeky, but it’s that free spectacle you get every now and then that makes the bay feel alive. While brunching at Avocado Toast, the monkeys put on a whole show on the loose cables, ropes and tree branches. It was fun and totally took us out of our phone screens — it lasted a surprisingly long time.

I had fun moments with them in the mornings too, during my breakfast routine at Harmony Park (our budget accommodation in Hiriketiya Bay). I had to be careful with bananas, since they were clearly on the lookout for my next distracted moment.

8. Drop into a yoga or Pilates class at Salt House

Hiriketiya is evolving toward what Ubud or other small towns look like — it’s the closest option you have to a Bali flow. We try yoga from time to time; Ale is more into Pilates, but only when we have friends around to share with. The best place to try, and we have to be honest, was Salt House.

They post the plan online on their Instagram, updated daily. Salt House is a hostel, guesthouse, coworking space and restaurant all at once. We used it a couple of times for a few hours with our laptop, and it’s always buzzing.

9. Train at the open-air Jungle Gym

We were at Duni’s Hoppers (note is currently closed for relocation!) when we noticed people sweating on the other side of the road. We got closer and found a fully working, huge open-view gym.

The equipment seems rudimentary, but it does the job, and many people staying longer in Hiriketiya join the classes every day.

10. Take a day trip to Udawalawe National Park

While everyone goes to Yala, the most popular national park in Sri Lanka, we actually prefer Udawalawa. We’ve been twice, and overall have already visited about 7 national parks in Sri Lanka. Udawalawa has never disappointed — we were always guaranteed elephants. Compared to Yala, there are fewer jeeps and no clock ticking for the next group to arrive, though it’s less likely you’ll spot leopards (we’ve never seen one in Sri Lanka, though).

We also love the Udawalawe area because there’s so much to do around it. We cycled around the village, watched elephants on the side of the road, visited a pottery studio and ate the best local meal there. If there’s one safari tour to take, it’s this one.

11. DIY scooter day trip toward Tangalle and Kudawella

What I will do on our next trip is spend even more time exploring the coastline toward Tangalle. We took a scooter out for a few days and found beaches that were completely empty. It’s the best way to see the “real” Sri Lanka.

I made the mistake of staying only in the “Hiri bubble” during our first week. Once we started exploring Nilwella, Turtle Point and Kudawella, our perspective changed. I thought it was just a tourist trap, but seeing the power of the ocean there was actually quite humbling.

12. Go for pizza — splurge or budget

We found two of our favourite places for weekly pizza in Hiriketiya. We tried Bacuzzi, the most hyped, and it is worth it. It’s very pricey and often requires a reservation, but it’s a romantic spot for couples.

We often eat pizza twice a week, so we had to find a cheaper alternative to compensate for our Sri Lanka budget. So we went to Pizza House. Amazing pizza — the dough is perfect, the ingredients are fresh, and it’s half the price. We had margherita and pepperoni, and both always hit the spot.

13. Book ahead for sunset drinks at Smoke & Bitters

We tried twice to get in without a reservation, and epically failed every time. I had to watch people enjoying it from outside and grumble about the organisation that didn’t have one free spot in ten days. Smoke & Bitters is the most hyped restaurant in town — everyone will talk about it on the beach — partly because it’s so difficult to score a table at sunset.

Our friends at the co-living confirmed it was great, but expensive. If we’re going back to Hiriketiya, I’ll reserve it weeks in advance.

14. Party at Dots Bay House

With our crew from Slow Life Co-living, we joined the 10th anniversary party at Dots. It was fun — the atmosphere was buzzing, and you can’t really tell from the main bay road. Dots changes completely from day to night and is definitely the best place to hang out, meet new friends and have some fun.

We paid too much for our ticket by buying online. The co-living actually had access to half-price tickets, so if you want to save money, ask your accommodation — they might sort you out.

15. Explore Tangalle Lagoon (a short trip away)

After a short spell — a week long — we moved to Tangalle. It was part of our pre-arranged itinerary, so I couldn’t really skip it, and eventually we returned to Hiriketiya anyway. Tangalle is nice, more local, definitely less touristy. We loved our cafe by the lagoon, quiet, with monitor lizards to spot.

We saw about 5 giant lizards swimming in the lagoon, some approaching the dock. If you head to Tangalle, visit Chill Cafe and Cafe Salt Breeze for a coffee recharge and sea view — we worked with our laptop from here a couple of times, and recommend it for digital nomads in Sri Lanka → [Digital Nomad Hiriketiya guide].

16. Watch a movie at Salt House

While we introduced Salt House as a great place to eat, do Pilates or get some work done, it’s also the only cinema in town. The place is open to everyone and shows new movies every week. Occasionally you’ll find special movie nights on Sundays too.

17. Surf at Kudawella Beach if you’re a beginner

We planned an incredible day trip from Hiriketiya, including Blue Island, a blow hole, and some cafe-hopping in the middle. But when we encountered Kudawella Beach, it was love. The sand stretches far, very long, like Dickwella.

Beginner surfers practice here, and there isn’t much around, and the beach is empty — the best alternative to the crowds of Hiriketiya Bay. We loved it, but didn’t spend as much time as we wished, since we only discovered it on the way back to Hiriketiya.

18. Sinharaja Rainforest

We did have fun in the Sinharaja rainforest, but it wasn’t easy. Thanks to us, we booked a guided tour for one of the most underrated and least visited places in Sri Lanka. There are no other places with so much biodiversity as we see here. We spent about 4 hours on the signed path, led by an expert local guide, with socks on and an extra pair on top.

Leeches were the real drama here, but the species we’ve seen are on another level. We chose the morning trail, and it was all into lush jungle, beautiful waterfalls and hidden streams. Sinharaja Rainforest is actually accessible from Hiriketiya, and very surprised just a few guides mention it. If you want an extraordinary day out from Hiriketiya, book your tour with a local guide. You can’t do it on your own!

Where This Fits in Your South Coast Itinerary

Most of these activities work best if you’re basing yourself in Hiriketiya for at least 3-4 days — see our full breakdown on how many days to spend in Hiriketiya and how to get to Hiriketiya if you’re still planning logistics.

Where to stay in Hiriketiya

Hiriketiya is compact enough that almost anywhere puts you within a ten-minute walk of the bay, so the real decision is less about location and more about vibe.

 If you’re chasing the coworking-and-community energy we mention throughout this guide, base yourself near Dots Bay House or Salt House. Both are the social vibes of Hiriketiya bay, with cafes, restaurants, co-working, yoga classes and even movies at night – paired as excellent places to sleep in Hiriketiya.

On our second time in Hiriketiya, we minded our budget, so we booked the Harmony Park. It felt like everything but a budget accommodation. Wifi was strong, AC worked perfectly in the heat, but we needed a scooter to get around. It was quiet, with breakfast on the second level and a sporadic monkey show in the morning.

Faq | Things to do in Hiriketiya

Final Thoughts on the Guide to Hiriketiya

Best I’ve been to? Maybe not for the beach itself, but for the community and the food, it’s hard to beat. This guide to Hiriketiya isn’t about the perfect wave; it’s about the morning coffee, the jungle sounds, and the slow walks between the bays.

We had an amazing time living there, but only because we looked beyond the surfboards. If you go with an open mind and a willingness to walk ten minutes away from the crowds, you’ll find the magic we did. Trust us — it’s worth the extra effort.