The guide · Dikwella, Hiriketiya, Turtle Beach
Everything we would tell a friend.
92 notes on this corner of the south coast, written by the people who live on it: where to eat, where the sea is calm, how to meet the turtles, what to do when it rains.
10 notes
Seafood and where to eat
The catch of this coast, how to eat it, and where. Seafood restaurant near Hiriketiya.
Seafood and where to eat · 5 min
Eating with allergies in Sri Lanka, an honest guide
Where fish, nuts, wheat and other allergens hide in Sri Lankan cooking, how to ask, what to carry, and what our own menu can and cannot promise you.
ReadSeafood and where to eat · 5 min
The fish of Sri Lanka's south coast, and how to eat it
Tuna, mahi mahi, snapper, prawns and calamari on the south coast of Sri Lanka. How to tell a fresh fish, how each is eaten, and our dishes with them.
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Seafood and where to eat · 5 min
Not spicy food in Sri Lanka, what to order and how to ask
For children, older travellers and anyone careful with chilli. How to ask for less heat in Sri Lanka, dishes that are mild by nature, and how we mark it.
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Seafood and where to eat · 5 min
Ceviche, tartare and tiradito, raw fish explained
What ceviche, tartare and tiradito are, how the three differ, how raw fish should be handled and who should avoid it, with our three and their prices.
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Seafood and where to eat · 5 min
Restaurants near Dickwella Resort, for an evening out
Staying on the Dikwella headland or along the bay? Six places for a lunch or an evening out within a short ride, and how to get to each and back.
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Seafood and where to eat · 5 min
A seafood restaurant near Hiriketiya, on Turtle Beach
Fresh seafood by the water, less than five minutes from Hiriketiya. What is on the menu at Ohana with prices, how to order a whole fish, and when to book.
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Seafood and where to eat · 5 min
Sri Lankan curry explained, for a first visit
What a Sri Lankan rice and curry is, the kinds of curry, how hot they are and why coconut is in everything, with two gentle curries from our own menu.
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Seafood and where to eat · 5 min
Vegan and healthy food in Dikwella, near Hiriketiya
Vegan and healthy food at Ohana in Dikwella, with eleven dishes that have a vegan way and their prices, smoothie bowls, Ayurvedic elixirs and mocktails.
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Seafood and where to eat · 5 min
Where to eat in Dikwella, a short honest list
Six places to eat in Dikwella, from seafood on Turtle Beach to coffee at Pehembiya, with what each is good for, who it suits and how to get between them.
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Seafood and where to eat · 5 min
Where to eat in Hiriketiya, from breakfast to dinner
Nine places to eat in and around Hiriketiya, from brunch cafes and curry kitchens to pizza and seafood by a calm bay, with who each one suits.
Read8 notes
Breakfast, brunch and coffee
Mornings by the sea: eggs, fruit, bread and a proper cup. Breakfast and brunch near Hiriketiya.
Breakfast, brunch and coffee · 5 min
Breakfast platters to share at Ohana, what each holds
The six Ohana Morning breakfast platters, plate by plate, with who each one is for and what it costs, from After the Swim to the Ohana Family Breakfast.
ReadBreakfast, brunch and coffee · 4 min
Breakfast and brunch near Hiriketiya, by the sea
What a slow breakfast at Ohana on Turtle Beach looks like, with the dishes and prices, the platters to share, coffee and matcha, and a swim after.
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Breakfast, brunch and coffee · 5 min
Where to have brunch in Hiriketiya and Dikwella
Eight brunch spots around Hiriketiya and Dikwella, each with what it is good for and who it suits, and how to choose between the bay and a quieter beach.
ReadBreakfast, brunch and coffee · 5 min
Where to drink good coffee in Hiriketiya and Dikwella
Seven places for a good coffee around Hiriketiya and Dikwella, what specialty coffee really means, and what a cup costs at Ohana on Turtle Beach.
ReadBreakfast, brunch and coffee · 5 min
Matcha and oat milk by the sea, how we make it
What matcha is, how it is grown and whisked, what oat milk brings to every matcha at Ohana, and what our matcha drinks cost on Turtle Beach, Dikwella.
ReadBreakfast, brunch and coffee · 5 min
Shakshuka and breakfasts from the world, the stories
Where shakshuka, schug, huevos verdes, labneh with eggs and the Sri Lankan omelette come from, and what each of these world breakfasts costs at Ohana.
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Breakfast, brunch and coffee · 5 min
Smoothie bowls and the fruit of Sri Lanka, by season
When mango, papaya, pineapple, passion fruit, wood apple and king coconut are ripe in Sri Lanka, and the smoothie bowls and juices we make at Ohana.
ReadBreakfast, brunch and coffee · 5 min
Sri Lankan breakfast explained, from hoppers to curd
What hoppers, string hoppers, milk rice, pol sambol, roti and curd with treacle are, how each is eaten, and which Sri Lankan breakfasts we serve at Ohana.
Read8 notes
Beaches and slow days
Where the sea is calm, where the shade is, and how to spend a whole day. Beach club and sunbeds in Dikwella.
Beaches and slow days · 5 min
A slow day in Dikwella, hour by hour
A slow day in Dikwella from sunrise to an early night, hour by hour, for people who want to do very little and to do it well, at Turtle Beach.
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Beaches and slow days · 5 min
Beach clubs on Sri Lanka's south coast, calm to lively
Eight beach clubs between Galle and Tangalle on Sri Lanka's south coast, said plainly: which have pools, DJs and a bar, and which are calm places.
ReadBeaches and slow days · 5 min
Beaches near Hiriketiya, a fair guide to nine
Nine beaches near Hiriketiya and Dikwella described fairly, with the waves, the crowd, the shade and who each one suits, from Talalla to Tangalle.
ReadBeaches and slow days · 5 min
Dikwella beach and Turtle Beach, the bays explained
The four bays of Dikwella explained from west to east, Turtle Beach at Batheegama, Dikwella beach, Pehebiya and Hiriketiya, with what each one is.
ReadBeaches and slow days · 4 min
A quiet beach near Hiriketiya for a slow day
Where to find a quiet beach near Hiriketiya, what quiet honestly means at Turtle Beach in Dikwella, a slow day there, and how to come from your hotel.
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Beaches and slow days · 5 min
Sri Lanka's south coast for older travellers
An honest guide to Sri Lanka's south coast for older travellers, with the heat, the steps and the sand, quiet places, an easy pace and gentle food.
ReadBeaches and slow days · 5 min
Sunbeds and day passes in Sri Lanka, how they work
How sunbeds and day passes work on Sri Lanka's south coast, from minimum spend to hourly fees and hotel passes, what to ask first, and our own rule.
ReadBeaches and slow days · 4 min
What to pack for a beach day in Sri Lanka
A short, useful list of what to pack for a beach day in Sri Lanka, with reef-kind sunscreen, what to wear, and what we lend or give at Ohana.
Read5 notes
Sunsets and evenings
The golden hour, and what to do with it. Sunset dinner on the beach in Dikwella.
Sunsets and evenings · 5 min
An alcohol-free evening in Hiriketiya and Dikwella
For people who do not drink. Where an evening without alcohol is a pleasure near Hiriketiya, what to order in its place, and our mocktails with prices.
ReadSunsets and evenings · 5 min
An anniversary or proposal dinner on the south coast
How to plan a special dinner on the beach on Sri Lanka's south coast. What to ask the restaurant, how to time it with the sunset, and what we set up.
ReadSunsets and evenings · 5 min
Romantic things to do in Dikwella, for two
Eight unhurried things for a couple to do around Dikwella and Hiriketiya, from a sunset dinner on the sand to a rock temple, for every age and pace.
ReadSunsets and evenings · 5 min
Sunset dinner on the beach in Dikwella, near Hiriketiya
When the sun sets on the south coast of Sri Lanka, and how an evening goes at Ohana from 16:00, with a whole grilled snapper and mocktails on the sand.
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Sunsets and evenings · 5 min
Sunset spots near Hiriketiya and Dikwella
Seven places to watch the sunset around Hiriketiya and Dikwella, with which way each one faces, when to arrive and what kind of evening it suits.
Read10 notes
Turtles and the bay
The animals of this bay, and how to be their guest. Swim with turtles on Turtle Beach.
Turtles and the bay · 5 min
How to snorkel with turtles respectfully, a short guide
A practical guide to snorkeling near wild sea turtles, with the distance to keep, how to approach, what never to do, and how to explain it to children.
ReadTurtles and the bay · 5 min
Reef friendly sunscreen explained, what the evidence says
What scientists know and do not know about sunscreen and coral reefs, which ingredients to look for, and why shade and clothing are the first choice.
ReadTurtles and the bay · 5 min
Sea turtles of Sri Lanka, the five species and the law
The five sea turtles nesting in Sri Lanka, how to tell them apart in the water, which ones you may meet on the south coast, and how the law protects them.
ReadTurtles and the bay · 5 min
Sea urchins in Sri Lanka, how to avoid them and what to do
Where sea urchins live on Sri Lanka's south coast, how to keep your feet away from them, and what medical sources say to do if you step on one.
ReadTurtles and the bay · 5 min
Snorkeling near Hiriketiya and Dikwella, seven places
Seven places to snorkel near Hiriketiya and Dikwella, the months when the sea is calm and clear, what you may see under water, and what to bring with you.
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Turtles and the bay · 4 min
Where to swim with turtles near Hiriketiya and Dikwella
Where wild sea turtles are seen near Hiriketiya and Dikwella, when to look, how to behave around them in the water, and what to bring for the swim.
ReadTurtles and the bay · 5 min
The five dogs of Turtle Beach and Sri Lanka's street dogs
Street dogs in Sri Lanka explained for visitors, with how to behave near them, what health bodies say about rabies, and the five dogs who live at Ohana.
ReadTurtles and the bay · 5 min
Turtle Beach Dikwella, also called Turtle Point, a guide
Where Turtle Beach in Dikwella is, why wild sea turtles feed and nest there, what a visit is like, when to come and how to behave near the turtles.
ReadTurtles and the bay · 5 min
Turtle hatchlings in Dikwella and what a good release is
How sea turtles nest around Dikwella, why eggs are protected, what a careful hatchling release looks like, and how to behave if you are lucky to see one.
ReadTurtles and the bay · 5 min
Turtle nesting season in Sri Lanka, when and where
When sea turtles nest in Sri Lanka, where on the south coast they come ashore, what happens on a nesting night, and how a quiet, dark beach helps them.
Read12 notes
Yoga and wellness
Moving, breathing, resting: what each practice is, without the mystery. Yoga in Dikwella, at our oceanfront shala.
Yoga and wellness · 5 min
A wellness day by the sea in Dikwella
A wellness day by the sea in Dikwella, hour by hour, with a yoga class, a swim, good food, rest and the sunset, and what our Move and Brunch pass holds.
ReadYoga and wellness · 5 min
Ayurveda for travellers in Sri Lanka, a plain guide
Ayurveda for travellers in Sri Lanka, with what it is, the doshas in two paragraphs, what a visitor meets, how to choose a reputable place, and our drinks.
ReadYoga and wellness · 5 min
Ayurvedic drinks in Sri Lanka, explained simply
What gotukola, karapincha, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and ashwagandha are, how they are traditionally used in Sri Lanka, and the drinks that hold them.
ReadYoga and wellness · 5 min
Breathwork for beginners, a simple, careful start
Breathwork for beginners, with three gentle ways to start, what research says, why the fast styles need care, and who should ask a doctor first.
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Yoga and wellness · 5 min
Cacao ceremony and women's circle explained
What a cacao ceremony and a women's circle are, where they come from, what to expect, who should take care, and our Women's Circle and Cacao.
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Yoga and wellness · 5 min
Cold plunge and ice baths explained, with care
What a cold plunge is, what the evidence says and does not say, how to do an ice bath carefully, who should not, and the new cold plunge at Ohana.
ReadYoga and wellness · 5 min
Digital detox on Sri Lanka's south coast
Why people come to Sri Lanka's south coast to switch off, what research says about putting the phone down, small steps that work, and places that help.
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Yoga and wellness · 5 min
Mindful painting and making things with your hands
Why painting and making things with your hands calms the mind, what research modestly shows, and our Mindful Painting and Ocean Treasures workshops.
ReadYoga and wellness · 5 min
Sound healing explained, what a sound bath is
What a sound bath is, what happens in a session, what research shows and does not show, who should ask a doctor first, and our Yin and Sound classes.
ReadYoga and wellness · 5 min
Yoga and wellness places near Hiriketiya
Nine yoga shalas, studios, retreats and wellness places around Hiriketiya and Dikwella, described fairly, with what each offers and who each one suits.
ReadYoga and wellness · 4 min
Yoga in Dikwella, classes at our oceanfront shala
Yoga in Dikwella near Hiriketiya, with our oceanfront shala, each kind of class explained for beginners, the prices, and what else happens in the week.
ReadYoga and wellness · 5 min
Vinyasa, hatha or yin, yoga styles explained
Vinyasa, hatha and yin yoga explained for a first class, with how each one feels in the body, who it suits, and our classes and prices in Dikwella.
Read7 notes
Working by the sea
Internet, power, quiet and coffee: the honest version. Coworking by the sea in Dikwella.
Working by the sea · 5 min
A working week by the sea in Dikwella
A sample week of remote work at Ohana in Dikwella, with a class in the shala, a swim, the Sunday fire, and an honest word on heat, glare, sand and calls.
ReadWorking by the sea · 5 min
Coworking and cafes with Wi-Fi, Hiriketiya and Dikwella
Seven places to work from a laptop around Hiriketiya and Dikwella, from colivings with a work room to cafes and our own work table by the sea at Ohana.
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Working by the sea · 5 min
A digital nomad guide to Hiriketiya and Dikwella
An honest guide to working remotely from Hiriketiya and Dikwella, with internet and SIM cards, power cuts, where to work and stay, costs and visas.
ReadWorking by the sea · 5 min
Internet and SIM cards in Sri Lanka, a working guide
Which operator to choose in Sri Lanka, tourist SIM and eSIM, what speeds to expect on the south coast, and the backups that keep a working day going.
ReadWorking by the sea · 5 min
A long stay in Dikwella, a month or more by the sea
For people staying a month or more around Dikwella, where to live, how to get around, where to shop, and the resident's price for classes at our shala.
ReadWorking by the sea · 5 min
Video calls from the beach, what works in practice
How to take a video call from the beach without wind, glare or a dead battery, with headphone manners, a backup connection, and what our work table gives.
ReadWorking by the sea · 4 min
Working remotely from Dikwella, a day by the sea
What to expect when you work from a laptop at Ohana in Dikwella, from Wi-Fi, sockets, shade and coffee to the limits of a beach club and a sample day.
Read5 notes
Families, three generations
Children, parents and grandparents on the same coast. A family day on a calm beach in Dikwella.
Families, three generations · 5 min
Dikwella with kids, a calm family day at Turtle Beach
How a family day works at Turtle Beach in Dikwella, with the calm bay, shade and swings, the Little Ones menu with prices, the dogs and the sunbeds.
ReadFamilies, three generations · 5 min
Kid-friendly restaurants in Hiriketiya and Dikwella
Nine places to eat with children in Hiriketiya and Dikwella, described fairly, with what each one is good for, and our Little Ones menu with prices.
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Families, three generations · 5 min
Sri Lanka's south coast with kids, Galle to Tangalle
A family guide to Sri Lanka's south coast with kids, from Galle to Tangalle, with the calm beaches, what children like, heat and naps, and travel times.
ReadFamilies, three generations · 5 min
Travelling Sri Lanka with grandparents, three generations
Travelling Sri Lanka with grandparents and children together, with the pace, the shade, the steps, the food, and a long lunch as the main event of the day.
ReadFamilies, three generations · 5 min
What children eat in Sri Lanka, mild dishes and fruit
What children eat in Sri Lanka, with the mild dishes, the hot ones to watch, how to ask for no chilli, what to carry, and our kids' dishes with prices.
Read12 notes
The island's pantry
Kithul, gotukola, king coconut, curry leaf: what is on your plate and in your glass. Our restaurant on Turtle Beach, Dikwella.
The island's pantry · 5 min
Buffalo curd and treacle, Sri Lanka's clay pot dessert
Buffalo curd is thick yoghurt set in clay pots along Sri Lanka's southern road and eaten with kithul treacle. How it is made, and our Papaya Curd Bowl.
ReadThe island's pantry · 5 min
Ceylon cinnamon, true cinnamon and how to tell it
Ceylon cinnamon is the inner bark of a tree native to Sri Lanka. How it differs from cassia, how the bark is peeled by hand, and where it is on our menu.
ReadThe island's pantry · 5 min
Ceylon tea explained, the regions and how to brew it
Ceylon tea is tea grown in Sri Lanka. Its seven regions, black and green, how to brew a pot, and how our house iced teas are made from syrups we cook here.
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The island's pantry · 5 min
Curry leaf, or karapincha, what it is and is not
Curry leaf, karapincha in Sinhala, is a fresh leaf of the citrus family, not curry powder. How Sri Lanka cooks with it, and our Karapincha Mojito mocktail.
ReadThe island's pantry · 5 min
Gotukola explained, the leaf Sri Lanka eats every day
Gotukola is the small round leaf Sri Lanka eats as a coconut sambol and drinks as kola kenda. What it is, how it tastes, and where it is on our menu.
ReadThe island's pantry · 5 min
King coconut explained, Sri Lanka's orange thambili
King coconut, or thambili, is the orange drinking coconut native to Sri Lanka. How it differs from a green one, how to drink it, and our drinks with it.
ReadThe island's pantry · 5 min
Papadam explained, the crisp beside every curry
A papadam is a thin wafer of black gram flour, dried and then fried or roasted in seconds. What is in it, how it is cooked, and our Papadam Nachos.
ReadThe island's pantry · 5 min
Sourdough by the sea, how bread works in the tropics
How sourdough works, why heat and sea air change the dough, and what bread means on our menu: the toasts on our own sourdough at Turtle Beach, with prices.
ReadThe island's pantry · 5 min
Sri Lankan spices, a short guide to seven of them
Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, pepper, turmeric, pandan leaf and goraka: what each Sri Lankan spice does in the pot, and where each one appears on our menu.
ReadThe island's pantry · 5 min
Tempeh and plant protein, the vegan way at Ohana
Tempeh is a firm cake of fermented whole soybeans from Java. How it differs from tofu, how we cook it, and the eleven vegan ways on our menu, with prices.
ReadThe island's pantry · 5 min
What is kithul treacle, Sri Lanka's palm syrup
Kithul treacle is the boiled sap of Sri Lanka's fishtail palm. How it is tapped, how it differs from maple syrup and jaggery, and where it is on our menu.
ReadThe island's pantry · 5 min
Why Ohana serves no alcohol, and what we pour
Ohana on Turtle Beach, Dikwella serves no alcohol. Who the place is for, what sunset feels like without it, and the mocktails, teas and elixirs we pour.
Read15 notes
Getting here and around
How to come, when to come, what to see nearby.
Getting here and around · 5 min
When to visit Dikwella, month by month
When to visit Dikwella and Hiriketiya, month by month, with the south coast's seasons, the rain, the state of the sea and how busy it gets there.
ReadGetting here and around · 5 min
A day trip to Dikwella from Mirissa, Weligama, Tangalle
How to make a day trip to Dikwella from Mirissa, Weligama or Tangalle, with travel times, what to see on the way and a slow day at Turtle Beach.
ReadGetting here and around · 6 min
Dikwella and Hiriketiya travel guide, the whole picture
A Dikwella and Hiriketiya travel guide in one page, with where it is, who it suits, when to come, how long to stay, what to do and where to eat.
ReadGetting here and around · 5 min
Getting around Hiriketiya and Dikwella
Getting around Hiriketiya and Dikwella by tuk-tuk, on foot, by bus or on a scooter, with how fares work, the licence you need and the distances.
ReadGetting here and around · 4 min
Hiriketiya or Dikwella, where to spend the day
A fair comparison of Hiriketiya and Turtle Beach in Dikwella, with who each one suits, what a day looks like there, and how to move between the two.
ReadGetting here and around · 5 min
How to get to Dikwella, from the airport and the coast
How to get to Dikwella from Colombo airport, Colombo, Galle, Mirissa and Ella by car, train, expressway bus and local bus, with honest travel times.
ReadGetting here and around · 4 min
Hummanaya blowhole, a guide from Dikwella
What the Hummanaya blowhole at Kudawella is, when it blows hardest, how to get there from Dikwella or Hiriketiya, and what visitors report about entry.
ReadGetting here and around · 5 min
Kalametiya lagoon and its birdlife, a visitor's guide
What the Kalametiya bird sanctuary east of Dikwella is, how a boat visit on the lagoon works, the best hours and months, and the birds that sources report.
ReadGetting here and around · 5 min
Places to see near Dikwella, ten within an hour
Ten places to see within about an hour of Dikwella and Hiriketiya, from the Hummanaya blowhole and Mulkirigala rock temple to Matara and Dondra lighthouse.
ReadGetting here and around · 5 min
A rainy day in Hiriketiya and Dikwella, what to do
What to do on a rainy day in Hiriketiya and Dikwella, with covered places, cooking classes, yoga, workshops, temples and a long lunch by the sea.
ReadGetting here and around · 5 min
Things to do in Dikwella, an honest list of twelve
Twelve things to do in and around Dikwella, from Hiriketiya and the Hummanaya blowhole to turtles and a temple, with ideas for a day of rain.
ReadGetting here and around · 5 min
Three days in Dikwella, a calm itinerary
A calm three-day itinerary for Dikwella and Hiriketiya, with one bigger outing each morning, long lunches by the sea and room for doing nothing.
ReadGetting here and around · 4 min
Wewurukannala temple, a guide to Dikwella's giant Buddha
What to see at Wewurukannala temple in Dikwella, from the great seated Buddha to the painted halls, with how to dress, how to behave and how to get there.
ReadGetting here and around · 5 min
Whale watching from Dikwella, a day trip to Mirissa
How to go whale watching from Dikwella or Hiriketiya, with where the boats leave, the season, how to choose a responsible boat and how to plan the day.
ReadGetting here and around · 5 min
Where to stay near Dikwella, area by area
Where to stay near Dikwella, area by area, with Hiriketiya, Dikwella bay, Batheegama and Nilwella compared, and who each one suits for a holiday.
ReadThe magic word
Say “Bookworm”
You found us here, so here is a little secret. Say it at the till when you order and a Ceylon Cinnamon Iced Tea is on us.
One for the table, with anything you order, on your first visit after reading this.
Better than reading about it