Hikkaduwa
Green turtles that graze the shallows a few metres off the sand, a coral sanctuary you can snorkel from the beach, and the south coast's oldest surf scene.
Why Hikkaduwa is worth your time
Hikkaduwa was the first place on this coast that backpackers found, back in the 1970s, and it has been reinventing itself ever since. The reef in front of the town is a designated marine sanctuary, shallow enough to snorkel straight off the beach, and the resident green turtles come into water barely a metre deep to feed on the seagrass.
The coral itself has had a hard time — bleaching events and the 2004 tsunami took a heavy toll, and the glass-bottom boat operators will show you a good deal of dead structure alongside the living. That said, the turtles are genuine, numerous and entirely wild, and swimming beside one in waist-deep water is a better first snorkel than most people ever get.
The town runs along the main road with the beach behind it, which is not elegant but is convenient. There are surf breaks at both ends, a long strip of restaurants and bars, and prices that sit well below Unawatuna or Mirissa. Twenty minutes further south is Galle Fort, which most people visit from here.
The things worth stopping for
Turtles in the shallows
Green turtles graze the seagrass a few metres off the main beach, most reliably in the early morning. Free, wild, and the single best thing here. Do not touch or feed them.
The coral sanctuary
A protected reef close enough to swim to, with glass-bottom boats for non-swimmers. Damaged but not dead, and still full of reef fish.
Surf breaks
Beach and reef breaks at both ends of town, working from November to April. Benny's and the North Jetty are the known ones; boards and lessons are everywhere.
Tsunami Honganji Viharaya
A 30-metre Buddha north of town, donated by Japan, marking where a train was struck by the 2004 tsunami with over 1,000 lives lost. Sobering and worth stopping for.
Hikkaduwa Lake
Inland from the town, quiet and good for a mangrove boat trip without the crowds of Madu River.
Galle Fort
Twenty minutes south, and the standard afternoon out from Hikkaduwa.
Planning your visit
What we tell our own guests before they go — including the parts other operators leave out.
Do this
- Snorkel in the early morning — better light, calmer water, more turtles
- Keep your distance from the turtles; touching them is harmful and illegal
- Stay at the southern end for quieter sand
- Bring your own mask; rental gear here is variable
- Use it as a cheaper base for visiting Galle Fort
Know this first
- The main road runs right behind the beach and is noisy
- Coral damage is significant — do not expect a pristine reef
- Some boat operators let people stand on coral; refuse and say why
- May to September is monsoon season with rough water and closures
How to reach Hikkaduwa
Under two hours from the terminal on the Southern Expressway, leaving it near Galle for the last stretch. One of the quickest routes to a proper beach on the island.
Galle is twenty minutes south, Unawatuna half an hour, and Mirissa about an hour. Everything on this coast is close together, which is why a single base often works better than moving every night.
Colombo Airport → Hikkaduwa — fixed pricesDrive times from Hikkaduwa
Prices are per vehicle for a sedan carrying up to three passengers. Vans for families and groups are quoted on request.
Routes that stop here
Every itinerary is a starting point — nights, hotels and pace are all adjustable before anything is booked.
Grand Island Tour — 10 Days
The south-west coast on the way to Galle and the deep south.
Classic Ceylon — 7 Days
A coastal night after Yala, with Galle Fort twenty minutes away.
Sri Lanka Honeymoon — 8 Days
Quieter coastal stays can be substituted — ask and we will suggest.
Hikkaduwa — frequently asked
Can you really snorkel with turtles at Hikkaduwa?
Yes. Green turtles feed on the seagrass a few metres off the main beach and are there most mornings. They are wild animals in a protected area — keep your distance, do not touch them, and do not let anyone feed them for a photograph.
Is the coral at Hikkaduwa still alive?
Partly. Bleaching and the 2004 tsunami caused heavy damage, and you will see a lot of dead structure. There is still living coral and plenty of reef fish, but if pristine reef is what you want, Pigeon Island on the east coast is the better bet.
Is Hikkaduwa good for beginner surfers?
There are gentle beach breaks suitable for learning, though Weligama an hour south is the friendlier option. Hikkaduwa suits improvers better, and it has the longest-established surf scene on the coast.
Is Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna better?
Unawatuna has the prettier bay and calmer swimming; Hikkaduwa has the turtles, the reef and lower prices. Hikkaduwa's drawback is the main road running behind the beach. They are thirty minutes apart.
More of the South Coast
Most routes link three or four places in one region before moving on. These are the neighbours.
Build Hikkaduwa into your route
Send your travel dates and group size. We will come back with a day-by-day plan, honest driving times and a fixed per-vehicle price.
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