- Region
- West Coast
- Best months
- November, December, January, February…
- Good for
- Snorkelling with turtles, Learner surf, Beach nightlife, Short transfers from Colombo
About Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa was Sri Lanka's original beach town, and it still does what made it famous: a coral sanctuary right off the sand, sea turtles grazing in the shallows, surf breaks for every level and a long golden beach that ends each day in a blaze of sunset.
An hour and a half south of Colombo, Hikkaduwa strings out along a couple of kilometres of gold sand with a protected coral sanctuary at its northern end. It found fame in the 1970s as the island's first surf-traveller hangout, and the DNA is intact - board racks, beach cafés and reggae-tinged bars - now backed by smarter hotels and a proper dive scene.
The marine sanctuary is the headline. Green sea turtles graze the seagrass metres from shore and glide calmly past snorkellers; on a clear morning you'll drift over coral heads, parrotfish and shoals of sergeant-majors without ever needing a boat. Dive schools run deeper trips to reefs and wrecks along the coast.
Surf is the other draw: a handful of reef and beach breaks that suit improvers, with mellow peaks for lessons and punchier walls off the main reef when a swell arrives. Off the sand, the sobering Tsunami Community Museum, the lakeside Seenigama temple and river-mangrove boat trips fill the afternoons before the sunset show begins.
What to do
Things to do in Hikkaduwa
Our local shortlist - every one of these can be arranged as part of your tailor-made route.
01
Snorkel the coral sanctuary
Drift over the protected reef straight off the beach - turtles, corals and clouds of reef fish in a few metres of water.
02
Meet the sea turtles
Green turtles graze the shallows at the sanctuary end of the beach most mornings - one of the island's most reliable wild encounters.
03
Take a surf lesson
Gentle beach-break peaks and patient local schools make Hikkaduwa a fine place to stand up for the first time.
04
Dive reefs and wrecks
PADI centres run morning boats to coral gardens and a handful of wrecks - conditions are best December to March.
05
Visit the Tsunami Museum
A moving, community-run memorial to 2004 - humbling context for the coast you're enjoying, and donations go local.
06
Boat the Madu River mangroves
Twenty minutes south, glide through mangrove tunnels and island temples on the Madu Ganga wetlands.
07
Sunset along the strip
Grab a king coconut or a cocktail - Hikkaduwa's west-facing beach throws some of the coast's best sunsets.
Want the full picture? Our directory lists 98 well-reviewed sights and activity operators around Hikkaduwa - including small local outfits with no website of their own.
Browse every thing to do in HikkaduwaWhere to stay in Hikkaduwa
Boutique surf hotels and lively beachfront places fill the strip itself, while 5-star calm sits just outside town - colonial-era villas and resort hotels toward Galle and Bentota. We'll match the vibe you want: in the action, or ten minutes from it.
Good to know
Hikkaduwa questions
Can you really swim with turtles at Hikkaduwa?
Yes - wild green turtles feed on the seagrass inside the sanctuary and are used to calm snorkellers. Go early for the clearest water, keep your distance and skip any operator offering to touch or feed them.
Is Hikkaduwa good for beginner surfers?
Very. The beach breaks are forgiving, boards are everywhere and lessons are cheap. Improvers get more from the main reef peak; experts will find heavier waves further south around Midigama.
Plan with a local
Plan a trip around Hikkaduwa
Tell us your dates and we'll build Hikkaduwa into a smooth, tailor-made route - around the right season.
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- No pressure, no obligation - just honest advice
- 5-star stays and a private driver, tailored to you
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