Dickwella beach
Dickwella is both a small locality and a beach in the south of Sri Lanka. Tangalle and Matara are located nearby, which is why Dickwella is attributed to both cities. The truth is that Dickwella is a self-sufficient resort with a beautiful beach where fishing and trading prosper.
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Beach description
The beauty of the coast attracts the majority of tourists here. Tourism isn't that well-developed in this place, and vacations tend to be calm and peaceful. This will be an excellent destination for a honeymoon, as well as just swimming, diving and exploring the locale. The calm waters will attract not only explorers of the underwater, but also families with children and tourists who aren't fond of shopping and noisy crowds.
The beach is isolated from civilization, wind and high waves. The coast is cut into parts by the capes and reefs, fishermen stumble onto sandbanks even far from the beach. All of this makes Dickwella safe for swimming.
Visitors can partake in building sand castles, calmly lay on the sand, explore the nearby rocks and reefs and try to find the local tropical flora and fauna.
The public area of the beach doesn't have any conveniences, besides the natural ones. But you can get a sunbed with a cocktail in one of the rare cafes or hotels nearby.
When is the best time to go?
The best time to travel to Sri Lanka is the period from November to April, when the weather is dry. In summer, the rainy season takes place in Sri Lanka, however, the prices this season are much lower. So if you are not afraid of rainfalls (which commonly take place at night, and by morning the ground dries up), a trip in the summer can be a great option for a budget holiday.
Video: Beach Dickwella
Infrastructure
Dickwella doesn't have many attractions besides tours. But it's not really a forgotten town as well. The local market (works only on Saturdays) and several supermarkets - with Cargills Food being the biggest one - offer service. You can buy alcohol here, which isn't possible in many other resorts. However, if you smoke, you'll need to bring cigarettes with you, as they're not sold here. And auto rickshaw drivers know where to buy some "underground" goods. Banks and ATMs are present. The liveliest part of the town is around Tangalle Road that connects the nearby Tangalle and Matara. It's quieter and calmer away from the road, and your vacation won't be disturbed.
Dickwella hotels aren't specifically grouped, they're scattered across the coast. Some of them are located beyond the Tangalle Road. Cheap guest houses are absolutely absent, and those that do operate offer averagely priced services. It's advised to look through and book a hotel suite before coming here.
Those who aren't looking for luxury can use the 4-star DICKWELLA VILLAGE HOTEL. It's a small, but well-kept green area, with spacious suites and comfortable beds. Plumbing and air conditioning are working. The suites are cleaned every day, same for towel changing. Tasty breakfasts and suppers are provided. A view of the ocean opens from the suites, and exiting the hotel will bring you right to the beach.
If you want to eat, you can visit one of the cafes on the beach. The prices are good and the food is well-made. Seafood and first courses are available in the menu. Many spices as well, especially curry. Those who don't like spicy food can order rice to get rid of spiciness. Meat meals are available, but the best choices are tuna, shrimps, crabs and lobsters. Rice noodles and flapjacks are frequently made here. They can come with a salty or sweet filling.
This is a heaven for those who like exotic fruit. The main "seller" is coconut. Locals prefer the orange ones (also called king coconut). There are many kinds of bananas, mangoes, papayas and sapodillas. Mangosteen, passion fruit and tamarind prices may be high, but you could and should haggle on the market. The quality of ice cream is highly regarded by the visitors.
The tea is served with milk and sugar, hotels usually have everything needed, including cream. There are no specific tea ceremonies.
Weather in Dickwella
Best hotels of Dickwella
All hotels of DickwellaUseful information
- You can get to Dickwella from the Colombo International Airport, it takes about 5 hours. Takes a bit less if you use the toll road. And that's the easiest way to get here. If you choose public transportation, you'll need to change a lot of buses, which may get tiring for a traveller from afar.
- Dickwella welcomes visitors all year long. The best time to visit is from November till April, when there's little rain and low waves. The period from May till October is quite rainy.
- Renting a bike or a car may be problematic. Only few hotels offer this service.
- You should take insect repellent with you, as the bugs can be quite annoying.
- The main sight near Dickwella is mother nature itself. Many foreign and Sri Lankan tourists come here to visit the Wewurukannala Temple. It's known for the 50 m tall statue of Buddha.
Other sights in the nearby towns and elsewhere include:
- The lighthouse and cape in the south of Dondra Island.
- Old Galle Fort.
- It's worth visiting the neighboring Matara and Tangalle.
- Turtle nursery near Unawatuna.
- Yala National Park.