5 Best Beginner Surf Spots in Hiriketiya
Learn How to Surf in Hiri
Along Sri Lanka’s southern coastline there is a peaceful palm-lined bay, with beautiful rolling waves. This is Hiriketiya. Hiriketiya is special as it has a variety of waves cruising into a small coastline. You can find gentle beginner-friendly waves, alongside playful peaks for intermediate surfers.
The bay works through the entire year, but most consistently in the maha season which runs between November to April. Kima Surf Camps has a camp minutes away from Hiriketiya’s vast waves, here are Hiriketiya’s most beginner-friendly spots.
#1 Hiriketiya Bay
This is the most popular spot for anyone taking surf lessons in Hiriketiya. It’s a beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay with fun, consistent waves for beginner surfers, intermediates and advanced. The primary break is a gentle right-hander.
Beginners will love the soft, forgiving inside part with long whitewater waves and a sandy bottom. Giving you plenty of time to remember your pop-up and find your balance and no worries about where you land when you wipe out. Intermediates and longboarders will enjoy a longer ride on the point. Plus, the walk from the ocean back to a beachfront cafe for a post-surf drink and snack is about thirty seconds.
Intermediates and longboarders will enjoy a longer ride on the point. The wave gets faster and offers a more technical take-off on bigger swells giving advanced surfers something to work with. Plus, the walk from the ocean back to a beachfront cafe for a post-surf drink and snack is about thrifty seconds.
#2 Easy Right
Just a short distance from the main hustle and our surf camp in Hiriketiya is a spot that truly lives up to its name: Easy Right. This is a mellow point break ideal for beginners who are just starting out and longboarders looking to improve their cross stepping.
What makes this spot a beginner’s favorite? The speed. Or rather, the lack of it! It’s a lazy, yet powerful wave that gives you all the time in the world to think about your stance and your turning. It breaks over a mix of sand and deep, flat reef, so it feels very safe while giving you that real point break experience. Keep an eye out for turtles, they love this spot as much as we do!
#3 A Frames
This is a playful alternative to the fun right hander and is also situated in Hiriketiya Bay, true to the name this wave delivers both left and right handers with a quick take off. This peak is lesser known and working best on small to medium swells.
The inside section stays forgiving, so beginners can still find a few mellow waves here on smaller swells.
#4 SK Town
Just outside the main bay lies SK Town, a surf spot that offers a slightly different feel compared to the waves inside Hiriketiya. On smaller days, SK Town can be a great option for beginners and improving surfers. The wave tends to be fairly mellow, giving you space to practice your take-offs and get comfortable riding green waves away from the busier parts of the bay.
This is the spot for beginners wanting to progress their surfing once they are ready to step away from the inside waves.
When the swell picks up SK Town becomes faster and more powerful. The take-off can get steeper and the wave moves quicker down the line, which is when intermediate surfers really start to enjoy it.
#5 Corners
Corners surf break is an A frame wave, producing both rights and lefts. It is a beach break, so the sand provides a more giving bottom for beginners. You will find this wave on the far side of the bay. This surf spot is much less crowded and works best on a small to medium swell. On smaller days it’s perfect for beginners looking to progress from whitewater to green waves. The take-off is relatively forgiving and the wave tends to peel nicely down the line, allowing surfers to work on turns and positioning. On bigger swells it can get punchy and provide faster and more challenging sections ideal for advanced surfers. The inside remains mellow, so beginners and intermediates can still have a good time without too much risk.
Why Learn How to Surf With Kima?
So, why choose Kima Surf to kickstart your surf journey? Because at Kima Surf Sri Lanka, we don’t just hand you a board and point at the ocean, we live and breathe the lifestyle with you. Whether you’re staying at our lush camp in Weligama or our tropical hideaway in Hiriketiya, you’re getting the ultimate eat-sleep-surf experience.
Our professional surf guides are the heart of the experience. They know the breaks, the secret rhythms of the tide and where to find the best beginner waves on any given day. To help you level up fast, we’ve designed our 5-day Learn-To-Surf Program (LTS), where you’ll learn all the basics of surfing from the best. We also combine daily video analysis sessions, theory classes, and pool sessions to improve your paddling and pop-up before getting in the water.
But the Kima experience doesn’t end when you wash off the salty water and sand. We’re all about the recovery and the community:
- The recovery: jump into our ice baths, join our daily yoga sessions or enjoy that after surf massage to soothe those sore surf muscles and get ready for the next session.
- Our fuel: enjoy our 3-course breakfast and 5x delicious dinners per week, where the whole camp sits together to swap stories of the day’s best wipeouts and longest rides.
- The vibe: our camps are designed for connection and relaxation. From poolside hangs and chill-out spots, to social activities and sunset coconuts, you’ll find an amazing community of travelers and ocean lovers.
Each of our camps has its own unique flavor. Weligama is the buzzing heart of the surf scene, perfect for solo travelers. While Hiriketiya offers secluded, calmer and more intimate magic.
Not sure which one to pick? Or wondering how the Sri Lankan surf adventure compares to our roots in Bali? Check out our guide on the differences between Bali and Sri Lanka to find your perfect fit.
Ready to find your new favorite beginner surf spot? Why wait? Pack your bags, book that first flight to paradise and join us for your surf journey. See you in the lineup!