Hikkaduwa beach is one of the famous beaches in Sri Lanka. It was discovered in the year 1960, and since then it has been attracting travelers from all around the world.
The vibrant nightlife, engaging water sports and the hippy attitude of this beach are what makes it the favorite spot for tourists.
The beach is known for its food delicacies, cultural significance, and entertainment. Hikkaduwa is one of the hot spots for backpackers and tourists. The magnificence of the place attracts people who come in search of adventure and recreation.
How To Reach Hikkaduwa beach
The city of Hikkaduwa is situated 100 km from the south of Colombo. You can take a train from Colombo to Matara which goes via Hikkaduwa. If you choose to travel in bus, you can board a bus from Colombo to Matara. It takes almost 3 hours of travelling.
They pass through Hikkaduwa. You can get down at Hikkaduwa bus stop or else you can get off at Narigama beach. From Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, you can either hire a taxi, or you can find mini busses. The road trip may be expensive, but it makes travelling more enjoyable.
Things to Do
Let us take you through the most enticing things you can do once you are in the Hikkaduwa Beach.
1. Enjoy Water Sports
Like any other beaches in Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa is also a famous spot for water sports. You can find different activities like surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, cruising, and sailing. Also, Hikkaduwa is a perfect spot for scuba diving.
You get to explore exciting night-diving trips and shipwrecks which takes your vacation to a whole another level. The availability of PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses is a blessing for beginner divers.
You can access these courses which are genuine and useful to enjoy the waters all within your first visit here.
2. Explore Coral Reefs
A beach vacation is incomplete without underwater exploration. Spend the best of your time in Hikkaduwa by taking a dip into the deep blue waters. You will be astonished by the things you discover.
The best time to visit the waters is from November to April since during those times the water seems to clear and calm. The magnificent coral reefs are going to mind boggle you. The reefs here are comprised of a gracious five meters of the marine national park.
Out of the two marine national parks, this one lies to the north of the shoreline and one of Sri Lanka’s pride. You can also rent snorkelling gadgets from nearby shops.
Also Read: Kalpitiya Beach in SriLanka
3. Watching The Turtles
This is one of the unique attractions of Hikkaduwa. Hikkaduwa turtle hatchery never fails to impress you. Only a couple of minutes away from the town lies the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery which is a hot spot for the tourists.
A sad storyline behind the incubator is that it belongs to a man who lost his family in the tragic Tsunami incident. Spending some of your precious time will mean a lot.
4. Go Surfing
Hikkaduwa is an ideal place for surfers. The beach welcomes such people who have a passion for the waters. The crowd at the bay is found to be cheering these surfers often.
The environment and the ambiance of the beach will give you the adrenaline rush, which makes you enjoy the sport with all the fun.
5. Go For a Glass Bottom Boat Ride
This is so far one of the most thrilling experiences you will ever have in Hikkaduwa. A glass boat ride through the crystal clear waters of this place is fabulous.
The boats are specially built in a way that the deck and the bottom are of transparent glass. The rides give tourists the excitement of exploring the sea differently.
The sea of Hikkaduwa is rich with the twelve different types of butterflyfish and five types of angelfish. Meet them on your way without getting wet.
6. Visit the Tsunami Education Centre and Museum
The deadly Tsunami strike in 2004 is not an unknown fact. Sri Lanka was brutally attacked by the seas resulting in massive destruction and many people losing their lives.
In remembrance of the incident and to educate people more about the natural disaster, Hikkaduwa hosts the tsunami education center and museum.
Pay a visit to this center to know how horrific was the after effect of the Tsunami along with the photographs of the catastrophe.
Also Read: Bentota Beach in Sri Lanka
7. Madhu River Safari
When you are in Hikkaduwa, never miss the fantastic Madhu river safari. Get to know the elegance of the Madu Ganga, which flows through the coastal village of Balapitiya.
The ride gives you the unique experience of watching variety of aquatic birds and fish. The safari along the mangrove forest is a chilling experience.
8. Enjoy the Nightlife
Hikkaduwa nightlife is quite active and fabulous. The place attracts a lot of travelers, and they do agree with the fact that Hikkaduwa is more attractive during the night time.
The beach has the best restaurants known for their service and hospitality. The beach hosts brilliant night parties and offers the best of seafood delicacies.
9. Try the SPA Treatments
Hikkaduwa is no strange to spa facilities. Here you can find top class spa centers offering ayurvedic treatments and massages.
When a long day of exploring starts to kick the tiredness in you, give yourself the luxury of a relaxing massage that rejuvenates you for the next day’s big adventures.
The spas here have experts in this field, and the service they provide will make you comfortable and satisfied.
10. Rent a Bicycle
A bicycle ride is the most spectacular way to get to know a place. The feels and experience you get from these rides are exceptional.
You can rent a bike from the streets where they offer old bicycles for a cheap rate, or you may get to know more details from your stay in Hikkaduwa.
The city has many exciting places that need to be explored. You can find yourself communicating with the locals, trying street foods, and enjoying the real beauty of this place.
Roam around and get to know how exciting Hikkaduwa is.
Places to Visit in Hikkaduwa
1. Gangaramaya Temple
Gangarama Maha Vihara Temple is among the most famous places for religious doings and activities. The temple is going to take away your breath by its elegance and beauty. The monks of this temple are always welcoming and happy to show you around.
You will find exciting and splendid traditional educational paintings which will blow your mind with the fact that the whole art is the work of a single man.
Also Read: Arugam Beach in Sri Lanka
2. Seenigama Vihara
Seenigama Vihara is that one place in Hikkaduwa you should never miss out. The temple is located on an island that is 100 meters offshore.
There you can find boat services to the island. The island is of absolute natural beauty and fascinating. The temple is of high significance among the locals here.
The belief is that when a robbery is done, and the victim comes to the temple for grieving, the one responsible for the theft will be punished with immense hardship. The view from the island is mesmerizing.
3. Moonstone Mines
One of Srilanka’s honor is the minerals, and precious stone found here. Srilanka is highly prosperous with the abundance of these treasures. Among the stone, Moonstone is the most famous one.
It is mined from the sultry forests. The town is filled with mines. The mine of the place is opened for visitors now. The entire tour is engaging, and you will get to know more about the mining process.
You can also shop semi-precious stone or jewellery from this place as a souvenir.
4. Nirgama Beach
Narigama Beach is another famous beach in Hikkaduwa. Tourists visiting Hikkaduwa will also enjoy Narigama beach. The beach stretches over 4 kilometres and is an ideal surfing spot.
The best time to visit the place is from April to October. The sea is calmer during the winter season. Watching the sunset from the Narigama is a blissful experience.
The ambience of this beach is pretty intriguing.
Also Read: The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
5. Hikkaduwa Coral Gardens and Laguna
The coral gardens are one of the main attractions of Hikkaduwa.
Explore the Laguna and get captivated by the underwater miracle. Laguna is the pool of shallow water with coral reefs on both sides. The waves are diminished by the reefs hence making the spot safe for kids.
It is that part of the sea which is ideal for kids. You get a chance to find exotic species of fish and many other marine lives, which makes the whole experience thrilling.
You can even book a catamaran that helps you to ferry around the waters.
6. Hikkaduwa Lake
Hikkaduwa Lake flows through the veins of the town with all the grace. You will find yourself hypnotized by the captivating charm of the lake.
Situated almost 2km from the Baddegama Road, you have to get a turn to the north to reach the lake. There are boat voyages conducted for those who want to know the lake more. It gets you to the heart of the lake where you find many fascinating things along the way.
And that was all about the beach. Hope you find a safe, cozy place to reside in whenever you visit this jaw-dropping beach. Liked the article? share with your fellow travellers and leave a comment.
