If there is one spot you cannot miss in Sri Lanka, it would be the incredible horseshoe bay nestled on the south coast – Hiriketiya. As we was visiting the country anti-clockwise, Khaled and I were very much looking forward to a quieter seaside escape where we can just chill and relax. Hiriketiya beach did not disappoint as it was the perfect place to learn how to surf, meet awesome travellers and eat delicious local food with its many incredible cafes and restaurant.

Funnily enough, Hiriketiya wasn’t a stop we were planning to make on our original Sri Lanka itinerary, but with a need for just a little more ocean therapy before heading north – we are glad we did! Even better, we were incredibly excited to be staying at the newly opened, La Playa Beach Club! I fell head over heels in love with the boutique hotel and didn’t want to leave. Here you’ll get my honest review on what it’s like to stay at the newest (and coolest) hotel in town!

La Playa Hotel

We were so excited to be staying at Hiriketiya’s most luxurious boutique hotels. As soon as our tuk-tuk pulled up in front of the hotel, we were in love. The hotel’s design is very artistic and contemporary with a boho-vibe to it. It actually reminds me a little of Bali’s trendy beach clubs!

What we loved most about the architecture is that it blends with the surroundings beautifully. The beach is fringed with palm trees and the hotel is quietly nestled between them.  Its truly a postcard-perfect scene.

As soon we stepped in, the staff at reception were so welcoming. They took our suitcases to the rooms and told us everything we need to know about the stay – including information about the breakfast, check-out time and then showed us our room!

The room

The property has 3 extremely spacious and beautifully designed rooms. The breezy rooms has an effortless rustic charm with its rattan furniture and tranquil ambience. Now before I move on, I have to mention the mattress. Both Khaled and I found that we slept incredibly at La Playa hotel on probably the comfiest bed I’ve ever slept on.

This definitely isn’t your ordinary, bland hotel room. You’ll find personal little touches such as a fruit bowl as soon as you come into the room and a fridge. Each room has a terrace overlooking the stunning Hiriketiya Bay. My favourite memory of this place is waking up to the sound of the waves in the morning and then relaxing on the balcony.

La Playa Beach Bar

One of the (many) reasons to stay at this hotel, is that right below you is one of the coolest bars in town!

We spent the entire day on the comfortable bean loungers at the beach area in front of the hotel where we were able to just relaaaaax. It was just pure relaxation where we just read our book, chilled, listened to the cool music they had in the background, swim in the sea and pool to cool down and then repeat!

In the afternoon, Khaled and I went surfing for a few hours and it was so much fun! You can take surf lessons or rent a surf board at Dinesh – his stall is located directly in front of La Playa restaurant.

Later in the afternoon, Khaled played footy with some of the friendly locals. We still can’t get over how friendly everyone was – both travellers and locals alike!

I highly recommend ordering the margherita sourdough pizza from the bar – it was scrumptious! Considering we came during peak time, the service was very efficient and friendly.

Breakfast at Bahia

As breakfast is included with your room booking, the next morning we were directed to a spacious open-air cafe just opposite the hotel called Bahia. Like La Playa, Bahia has a beautiful, green setting and brings the best in design and minimalism to Hiri. The food… my goodness, this was hands down the best brunch we’ve had since leaving the UK. It consisted of pouched eggs on a slice of sourdough toast with avocado – the ingredients were so fresh and tasty. Not that I’m all of a sudden a coffee connoisseur but I can vouch for the cappuccino here – it was exceptional, something that is not so common on the palm-fringed shores of Sri Lanka.

How to get there

Hiriketiya is located on the south coast of Sri Lanka, situated between Tangalle and Matara. It is 2km away from Dikwella and 180km away from Colombo. If you plan a trip along Sri Lanka’s south coast, Hiriketiya is getting more and more accessible due to their increasingly popularity. There are several ways to reach the town:

Taxi – The easiest way to get to Hiriketiya is by taking a taxi. Depending on where you are travelling from, you can use the local taxi app, PickMe.

Private transfer – The easiest way to get from the airport to Hiriketiya or Colombo to Hiriketiya is by private car and should cost you approximately US$95-110 or 100 Euros one way (most transportation companies prefer being paid in foreign currencies these days since the LKR has been massively devalued). 

Bus – The most affordable option would be to take a bus. Buses are super easy to take from anywhere in the south coast and they would run frequently (every 10mins or so). Note that that buses are really crazy in Sri Lanka and you would need to prepare yourself for a fast and bumpy ride (probably standing!). It only costs around 80p per journey. When I went, there were no direct buses from Mirissa so we had to change in Matara bus station. From there, you can take a taxi or tuk-tuk to the beach.

Train – You can also take a train from Colombo or Galle to Matara and then take a taxi/bus/tuk-tuk to Hiriketiya. The train ride offers really beautiful views of the coastline and the journey take a couple of hours depending on the starting location.  Train tickets are really cheap in Sri Lanka and you can just get a ticket at the station.

The good news is, once you are in Hiriketiya Bay it is very easy to get around on foot or by tuk tuk. The beach is in walking distance from most accommodation, and you’ll find local supermarkets (Food City) and everything else you need in Dikwella town.

Conclusion

After a lovely one-night stay at La Playa Beach Club, I can safely say that this is one of my favourite hotels ever and was one of our highlights of the entire trip! La Playa is THE place to stay if you are looking for a beachy paradise getaway that is just a stone’s throw from the shores of Hiriketiya Beach. It truly is the epitome of tropical elegance with its effortless contemporary design. It’s also a great place for couples to have quality time together or to celebrate their honeymoon.

See you soon La Playa!

If you want to book your stay in this incredible hotel, you can make a reservation here.