A three star property on North Cliff in Varkala, on the coast by the sea, in Thiruvananthapuram district, South Kerala. It lists a restaurant and a spa, and holds a guest score of 3.4 out of 5 from 426 reviews. The score is the deciding factor: solid enough for some travellers, and short of the mark for others. The cliff path, the sea below and the two listed facilities set the terms of a stay here.
The property and its facilities
The Haiwa Beach Residency is a three star property on North Cliff in Varkala, on the coast, by the sea. It lists two facilities: a restaurant and a spa. For a cliff stay, those two cover the essentials of eating and unwinding without leaving the property, which matters on a stretch where the path itself is the main draw and the walk into town takes time.
The guest score is 3.4 out of 5 from 426 reviews. That is a middling figure: enough reviews to be meaningful, and a score that suggests the property meets basic expectations without exceeding them. Guests who weigh a restaurant and a spa heavily will find those needs met. Those who expect a higher standard of finish should read the score as the honest signal it is, and decide accordingly.
Where it sits
The property stands on North Cliff in Varkala, a town in Thiruvananthapuram district, a tourism hub, in South Kerala. It is 2.1 km from the centre of Varkala, about 25 minutes on foot. The destination is Varkala itself, a coast of red laterite cliff standing straight out of the Arabian Sea, with a temple town and a pilgrimage tank at the bottom of it. The cliff is the only one on this coast and, geologically, the reason the beach exists.
The setting decides much of the stay. The cliff path is a walk with the sea two hundred metres below you the whole way. Papanasam beach below the cliff is a pilgrimage site as well as a swimming beach, so dress accordingly. Trains from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam stop in town, so no car is needed to reach the property or to leave it.
Who it suits
The Haiwa Beach Residency suits travellers who want a cliff position on North Cliff, two on-site facilities in the form of a restaurant and a spa, and a walk of about 25 minutes into the centre of Varkala rather than a short stroll. It does not suit guests who need a high guest score to feel confident in a booking, or who expect the polish of a higher star rating. The 3.4 out of 5 from 426 reviews is the decisive point, and it is fair to weigh it before choosing.
Planning a stay
The season for Varkala runs from November to March. Outside those months, cliff erosion work closes stretches of the path in the wet months, which affects the main reason many visitors come. Plan around the dry window if the cliff path matters to you. The property's cliff position and its restaurant and spa remain through the year, but the walk along the edge is the part that changes with the weather.
What the property lists
Where it is
About 2.1 km from the centre of varkala, roughly 26 minutes on foot at 4.8 km/h, in Thiruvananthapuram district. The listed address is North Cliff.
Questions people ask
What facilities does The Haiwa Beach Residency list?
It lists a restaurant and a spa. Those are the only facilities given. For a cliff stay, they cover eating and unwinding on site, which is useful when the walk to the centre of Varkala takes about 25 minutes. No other facilities are stated.
How far is the property from the centre of Varkala?
It is 2.1 km from the centre of Varkala, about 25 minutes on foot. That puts the restaurants and shops of the town at a walkable distance rather than on the doorstep. Guests who prefer to be in the middle of town should note the separation.
What is the guest score for The Haiwa Beach Residency?
The guest score is 3.4 out of 5 from 426 reviews. That is a middling figure from a substantial number of reviews. It suggests the property meets basic expectations without exceeding them, so weigh it against your own standards before booking.
When is the best time to stay in Varkala?
The season runs from November to March. In the wet months, cliff erosion work closes stretches of the path, which affects the cliff walk with the sea two hundred metres below. Plan for the dry window if the path is central to your visit.
The name, category, guest score, review count, photographs and listed facilities come from the IMPT hotel inventory. Live rates, room types and cancellation terms are shown on IMPT for the dates chosen; this page quotes none of them.