Hikkaduwa town is a hustle bustle of everyday Sri Lankan life, food markets displaying the most exotic fruits, vegetables, fish and fragrant spices, an array of colourful shops selling unusual artefacts and wears. The town can get a little hectic at times, but enjoyable after a day lazing on the beach, its always entertaining to spend a few hours perusing the shops and haggling over prices, the more you do it the better you will get!
Meander along the Galle Road; to the immediate South of the Town you will enjoy the small villages of Wewala, Nirigama and Thiranagama, each of the villages has a number of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. If you are searching for clothes, arts, food, and nightspots you will find what you are looking for. Or, you could just take some time to sit back in one of the roadside cafes and watch the world go by.
The glass bottomed boat tours should be avoided as they cause damage to the coral, which is sensitive even to the touch of a human hand and can take hundreds of years to regenerate after damage has been caused. Do not buy coral from vendors, as this will encourage the farming of the coral, which will have adverse effects on the sea life and the reef.
The beautiful beach is hidden from view of the road by palms, guesthouses and restaurants. The view over the Indian Ocean and sunsets from the beach are a must see. The beach is unspoiled and most of the buildings are small, pretty and do not ruin the natural beauty of the shoreline, making sun shelters with natural material, such as woven palm leaves and bamboo. The larger hotels are all situated close to Hikkaduwa town. The golden beach lined with droopy palms is the perfect place to spend the day catching rays, swimming and relaxing with a cold drink.
One of the best surfing beaches in Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa has a beach break and reef breaks, it’s a great place to learn to surf and an amazing place for experienced surfers. Hikkaduwa is blessed with a beautiful reef full of the most exotic ocean life, this makes for a great day out with a snorkle. You should seek advice of the best places to go as the rips and tides are strong so you should be cautious in the water, scuba tours can be arranged for a good price.
The Northern end of
Hikkaduwa is the original birthplace of tourism in the town, futher south
Wewala, Narigama and Thiranagama, are more laid back with traditional
buildings hidden beneath tall palms, it oozes the feeling of complete
paradise. Watch out for falling coconuts!
The Galle Road through Hikkaduwa allows easy access to many other towns and
beaches along the coast and as the Island is about the same size as Ireland
you are never too far from where you want to be.