Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is a beach town on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, between the villages Thotagamuwa and Thiranagama. 20 km south you find the city of Galle. A small part of the beach is a Marine National Park, Hikkaduwa National Park.

Get in

By car

Hikkaduwa is on the A2 highway, connecting Colombo to Wellawaya, which runs mostly parallel to the shore, through the town.

By plane

The nearest airport is north of Colombo. A taxi or driver from Colombo can cost Rs 7,000-12,000, and can be arranged through your accommodation or various other tour companies.

By bus

Buses run frequently to Galle and further south east along the coast. It is possible to embark the bus at the bus station in Hikkaduwa but also along the road, at bus stops. Buses to/from Galle cost roughly Rs 50 and takes 40-50 minutes, whereas a tuk-tuk will cost you around Rs 2,000 and take 30-40 minutes. The buses might be very crowded, and you could have to stand up for the entire journey, however a bus ride gives you plenty of opportunities to mingle with the locals.

By rail

Hikkaduwa is on the Coastal or Southern Rail Line (connecting Colombo through to Matara).

• 1 Hikkaduwa Railway Station, Colombo-Galle Rd, ☏ +94 91-2277271. From Colombo Rs 190 2nd class, Rs 105 3rd class. (updated Oct 2021)

Get around

The beach side main road is flat but gets a bit hilly going inland so a bicycle is a good way to get around if you can find one. Otherwise just walk or there are plenty of tuk tuks around.

See

• 1 Tsunami Photo museums, Peraliya (near the site of the so called Tsunami Train). Very graphic photos of the aftermath of the devastating tsunami waves. Free to enter but accepts donations. (updated Dec 2019)

• Sunsets. The beach looks out west so sunsets can be enjoyed here.
• 2 Hikkaduwa National Park (just off beach). Marine park. Lots of colorful fish and odd turtle, small reef shark and moray eel. Coral reef badly damaged but kind of recovering. Beach in front of Beer Garden is excellent access point. (updated Dec 2019)

Do

• 1 Turtle Feeding. Feed turtles seaweed with local supervision. (updated Jan 2020)
• 2 Madu River boat safari. (updated Jan 2020)
• 3 Snorkeling (opposite Beer Garden). See lots of fish, small reef sharks just of the beach in marine park. (updated Jan 2020)
• Surfing. Very popular place to surf. A good place for beginners to find lessons or to rent a board, see several small surfers beach huts just in front of Sea Salt Society. 1hr board rental $3 plus $12 for 1hr lesson. 
• 4 Sea Turtle Hatchery & Rescue Center, ☏ +94 077 293 8338. 9AM-6PM daily (Apr-Jul for nesting season). Five turtle species are hatched here: Olive Ridley Turtle, Leatherback Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, and Green Turtle. Rs 1000. (updated Nov 2023)

Eat

• 1 Chami's Place, inland just over the railway line, ☏ +94 77 314 1478. 8AM-11PM. A great place to meet other travellers over meals, drinks and card games. The staff are really friendly and helpful. They also run a hostel with private rooms and dorms and rent bicycles. Free drinking water refills. (updated Jan 2020)
• Salty Swamis (on the main street, opposite of Club Vibration). 8AM-3PM food, 8AM-4PM drinks. Surfing themed and very popular among tourists and rightly so, on the main strip, but away from the noise of traffic. Quieter towards closing time. Try the "Prawn Taco", and a "Peanut Butter Nutella Milkshake" for dessert. Staff is a mix of locals and foreigners. They also serve great coffee. Their various breakfasts are excellent. (updated Feb 2020)

Sleep

There are plenty of accommodation options along the beach.

Go next

South east, nearby to Hikkaduwa:

• Thiranagama
• Dodanduwa

South east, farther :

• Galle is 20 km south, following the coast, and connected by train and bus.
• Unawatuna (25 km)
• Mirissa
• Tangalle

North:

• Ambalagoda, 15 km north, following the coast , is famous for masks manufacturing.
• Bentota 38 km north, following the coast, is a beach town halfway to Colombo.