Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka: travel guide
A long-running south-coast surf and beach town with a shallow coral sanctuary for snorkelling, laid-back beach bars and a lively backpacker scene.
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Currency
- LKR
- Time zone
- Asia/Colombo
Top places to visit in Hikkaduwa
Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya
Temple · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h
A small island temple just offshore near Hikkaduwa, reachable by a short boat ride, associated with the Sri Lanka Sumithrayo tsunami memorial.
Hikkaduwa Beach
Beach · 4.5 rating · about 2 h
The town's central beach strip, backed by surf schools, dive shops and beach bars.
Tsunami Photo Museum, Hikkaduwa
Museum · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h
A small private museum documenting the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami's impact on Hikkaduwa, run by a survivor.
Narigama Beach
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
Quieter beach south of the main strip with a well-regarded reef break for intermediate surfers.
Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary (National Park)
Wildlife · 3.8 rating · about 1.5 h
Shallow protected coral reef right off the main beach, home to parrotfish, moray eels and green sea turtles, snorkelled by glass-bottom boat or on foot from shore.
Things to do
- Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary Glass-Bottom Boat Tour Wildlife · 1 h · from LKR 3,000 per person
- Hikkaduwa Beginner Surf Lesson Activity · 2 h · from LKR 5,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary & Surf Day 6 h · from LKR 9,000
Where to stay in Hikkaduwa
- Hikkaduwa Beach Road
The main strip facing the coral sanctuary, restaurants, dive shops and nightlife.
- Narigama
Quieter surf beach just south, popular with longer-stay backpackers.
Hotels
- Coral Gardens Hotel
- Coral Sands Hotel
- Mermaid Hotel & Club
Where to eat
- Natura italian · about LKR 2,375 per person
- Amaroo sri_lankan, international · about LKR 2,375 per person
- SaltyBeer international, sri_lankan · about LKR 760 per person
Getting around
- Scooter Rental main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Tuktuk main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Unofficial "reef guide" touts
Self-styled guides on Hikkaduwa beach offer unsolicited snorkelling/boat trips at inflated prices, sometimes pressuring tourists on the sand.
How to avoid it: Book glass-bottom boat or snorkelling trips through your hotel or a listed operator rather than beach touts.
Best time to visit Hikkaduwa
- May rough · Hikkaduwa: SW monsoon, Yala. Reef snorkelling and surf both unsafe.
- Jun rough · Hikkaduwa: SW monsoon, Yala. Reef snorkelling and surf both unsafe.
- Jul rough · Hikkaduwa: SW monsoon, Yala. Reef snorkelling and surf both unsafe.
- Aug rough · Hikkaduwa: SW monsoon, Yala. Reef snorkelling and surf both unsafe.
- Sep rough · Hikkaduwa: SW monsoon, Yala. Reef snorkelling and surf both unsafe.