I was born in Hikkaduwa. When I bring someone here, I’m not working from a guidebook — I’m showing you the town I grew up in, which is a different thing entirely.
Hikkaduwa is on the south coast, about 100km from Colombo. Most visitors come for the beach, and the beach is good. But if you stay on the main strip, you’ll miss most of what makes Hikkaduwa actually worth coming to.
What sets Hikkaduwa apart from every other south coast beach
The coral reef. Hikkaduwa is home to Sri Lanka’s first marine national park, and it sits 200 metres offshore — close enough to swim to directly from the beach, no boat needed. The reef is 5 metres deep at most, which makes it accessible to anyone. There are 60 species of coral here — brain coral, staghorn, table coral, finger coral — and over 170 species of reef fish. Green turtles are resident year-round. Hawksbill turtles appear less often but we do see them.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation gave the reef sanctuary status in 1979 and upgraded it to a full national park in September 2002 — the protections aren’t symbolic, they’re a large part of why this reef is still here while a lot of Sri Lanka’s coastal reefs are not.
The surf break at Hikkaduwa is a beach break that suits beginners to intermediate surfers. It works well between November and April when the southwest swell is running.
What I actually show people here
The reef and the turtles — but where on the reef matters, and when. I know which section has the turtle activity each morning, which parts of the coral are healthy right now, and which to avoid.
Three kilometres up the coast from town is Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya — a Buddhist temple built on a small rocky island. Fishermen from this coastline have prayed here to Devol, the deity of the sea, for centuries before heading out on the water. When the 2004 tsunami hit, it destroyed most of what stood along this stretch of coast. The temple, sitting on its island, came through intact. Most visitors drive straight past it on the way to the beach. It’s worth stopping.
The Maduganda River runs behind the town into mangrove forest. We see crocodiles, monitor lizards, fish eagles, and bat colonies. It’s twenty minutes from the beach strip and most tourists never know it’s there.
For cultural travellers: Ambalangoda
If you want more than the coast, I often combine Hikkaduwa with a stop in Ambalangoda — about 20 minutes north on the same road. Ariyapala and Sons have been making traditional Sri Lankan masks there for five generations: devil masks, kolam ritual pieces, ceremonial work that is still used in practice rather than made for the tourist trade. It’s one of the most distinctive craft traditions on the south coast, and most people who visit remember it longer than the beach.
When to come
October to April is when the south coast works best. The sea is calm, the reef is clear, and the surf is running. From May to September the southwest monsoon brings rough seas — too rough for reef snorkelling, too big for beginner surfers, and a number of beach businesses close down.
Getting here
Hikkaduwa is about two hours from Colombo by train — and that train ride along the coast is one of the best in the country. By road it’s similar. It sits 20km north of Galle on the same coastal stretch, so it fits naturally into any south coast route.
FAQ
Can you snorkel at Hikkaduwa without a guide? Yes — equipment rental is easy to find on the beach. But knowing where the turtles are that morning, which stretch of reef is healthy, and which part of the water to avoid is local knowledge. I grew up snorkelling these waters.
Are the sea turtles reliable? Nothing in wildlife is certain, but green turtles are resident in Hikkaduwa year-round, and morning sessions in calm conditions have a very high hit rate. Hawksbill turtles are rarer but we do see them.
Is Hikkaduwa very crowded with tourists? The main beach road is. Walk two streets back and you’re in a normal Sri Lankan coastal town. I can take you to both versions — the reef is the reef wherever you swim, but how you experience the town around it depends entirely on where you choose to go.
Can I visit Hikkaduwa on a day trip from Galle? Yes, easily. It’s 20km, roughly 30 minutes. I live in Galle and regularly combine the two in a single day depending on what someone wants to see.