Hikkaduwa Tourism And Travel Guide

Located on the south coast of Sri Lanka is a resort town called Hikkaduwa, which lies nearly 17 km north-west of the district of Galle and is approximately 61 miles away from Colombo. Renowned for its strong surfs and beaches, Hikkaduwa has a line of premium and mid-range accommodations offerings, eateries, bars and water sport activities, with a National Park that houses the exotic and beautiful coral reefs and different varieties of fish. With a selective offering of transportation options, things to do and places to visit, eat or shop at, here is a travel guide about Hikkaduwa, to make tourism there fulfilled for you and your family.

By Air:

India has nearly 21 direct flights that operate on the India-Sri Lanka route every day, costing anything between 10,300 to 13,500 rupees. All flights arrive at the International Airport; and from Colombo to Hikkaduwa it is about 115 km by road. Even though, the nearest airport to Hikkaduwa is Koggala Airport, 29 km away from the place, other means of travel are more advisable in comparison to taking a flight, given the airfare and subsequent road travel cost.

By Train:

There are at least 4 trains that operate on the Colombo-Matara rail route, every four hours, leaving from the Colombo Fort Station and arriving at the Hikkaduwa Station. Costing about 35-130 rupees, the train journey, operated by Srilankan Railways is approx. 2 hours long and considered one of the cheapest and fastest ways of reaching Hikkaduwa.

By Road:

Should you choose to drive yourself to Hikkaduwa, renting a car is the best option with varying rentals for different car models and fuel cost ranging from Rs. 600 to 1000. Alternatively, you can rent a cab which will take about an hour and 30 minutes or so in the cost range of Rs. 4,200-5,500.

Getting Around:

Hikkaduwa is connected well by a strong network of public transportation, and the railway station here shares close proximity to most of the popular and high-end hotel roads and can be reached in just 10 minutes. You can get around in Hikkaduwa in buses, jeeps or tuk-tuks.

The humidity and temperature levels in Hikkaduwa rarely vary, the town is less temperate when compared to other tourist destinations around the world. May-April, followed by March are the warmest months with an average temperature of 31.8°C in the day and 26.1°C in the night. Humidity is at its peak in July and the least in March. December, October and August are the busiest months from a tourism standpoint, with minimal traffic in June.

Spring (March-May):

Spring is typically hot in Hikkaduwa, given the humidity and temperature levels varying 29.8°C-31.8°C. With the level of precipitation anticipated between 6 to 12 days in a month, March through May is the slowest time of the year for tourism and hence opportune for travelers looking for travel deals.

Summer (June-August):

With a temperate rainfall of 11 to 14 days every month, June through August experiences warm weather which is comfortably livable. This also slows down the incoming tourist traffic, making way for low prices of accommodation and travel.

Fall (September-November):

Rainfall in the months from September to November is about 12-15 days every month with a varying temperature of 29.2°C-30.3°C, and hence this period is the second best part of the year to visit Hikkaduwa.

Winter (December-February):

For warm weather enthusiasts, December to February is the best time to visit Hikkaduwa, with an average temperature of 31.2°C, which rarely goes below 29.4°C and rainfall of 4-10 days in a month.

Surfing:

Surfing is the most renowned sport in Hikkaduwa with a selection of rich reef breaks and energetic waves, with seldom a dull tide. The best time to surf here is during October end through early November, till about April; with the winds blowing offshore and intermittent rains.

Coral Sanctuary & Boat Ride:

Witness the amazing underwater world at Hikkaduwa’s Coral Sanctuary with a rich reef with colorful coral growths, best explored by a boat ride, snorkelling or swimming. With a beautiful assortment of stunning and blooming coral forms, marine turtles that you can see all year round, enjoy the coral sanctuary with a sport of your choice to experience it in all its glory!

Snorkeling & Scuba Dive:

Hikkaduwa is a popular spot for snorkelling and scuba diving, given its splendid varieties of hard coral and tropical reef fish at the Hikkaduwa National Park, giving you an opportunity to not only experience the marvelous natural creations but also witness different shipwrecks lying deep inside the ocean, some of them in a well-preserved state.

Hikkaduwa’s menus are popular for their fresh and delectable seafood like fish, prawns and crab and some of the best places here serve the most authentic and delicious flavors in town. A renowned spot frequented by tourists is the Surfer’s Rest, Galle Main Road 462 which serves both Srilankan and European cuisine and after a nice surf workout, you can savor the delicacies here to appease your taste buds.

Amaya Reef is (400 Galle Rd) another place that has something for every kind of foodie and caters to all kinds of taste buds. With a variety of fish and other seafood-based dishes, it’s a not to be missed place to relish the food with a gorgeous sea view and some warm hospitality! Then there’s Coral Gardens, No 340, Hikkaduwa 80250 with a poolside bar, and exquisite local delicacies.

Asian Jewel Boutique Hotel, Baddegama Road, Field View Road is another joint with a wonderful rice and curry meal, one of the best in Hikkaduwa, a variety of veg and non-veg meals and host of beverages.

The JLH Beach Restaurant (No: 382/1 Located on the Colombo - A2, A2) has been around in Hikkaduwa since 1979 and is recognized as one of the ‘A’ listers by the Srilankan Tourism Development Board for its wide range of Asian, Sri Lankan and Italian dishes.

If you enjoy home cooked meals then the best is on offer by Bookworm, A2, Hikkaduwa, run by a family with a book café for company! A concept eatery of sorts, this form is now most popular in Sri Lanka. Other notable eateries in Hikkaduwa include the Isira Coffee Shop for its milkshakes, juices and a friendly host, and the No.1 Roti restaurant, a roadside joint popular for its lip-smacking variety of bread.

A few 100 km from Colombo, Hikkaduwa is also known to be a shopping destination and a hub for parties for nightlife enthusiasts. A haven for those interested in water sports, surfing fans to soulful foodies, Hikkaduwa has a lot to offer to all kinds of tourists. While shopping is a crowd puller anywhere, Hikkaduwa is known for some of the choicest items and hence a must shop at, destination!

Resplendent in a variety of gorgeous woodcraft items crafted out of rosewood, oak and walnut wood, you can expect some wondrous elephant motifs, jewelry boxes and traditional masks. With a popular spiritual discipline in Buddhism, that’s widely prevalent in Sri Lanka, Canvas Art paintings are quite famous here and available at pocket-friendly prices.

Hikkaduwa also has a beautiful collection of trinket jewellery, which is an excellent buy not only for yourself but as gifts too. Another popular shopper’s delight in Hikkaduwa is cane and wickerwork items with a lovely display of baskets and tableware. Authentic Ceylon Tea is a must buy with its varying infusions at incredible prices at Hikkaduwa.

In terms of visiting selected places for your shopping needs, you can explore The Saffron Robes Gallery and Studio which is the hub for some of the most talented artists in the country with a reasonable range of art collectibles spread across the four-story building and some gorgeous souvenirs. Then there’s the Genuine Batik Store also called the jungle batik, run by an artist family with live art demos, an outdoor studio with batik art that travellers can witness through different stages of creation.

The Tea Zone and The Golden Lanka Tea Shop are a tea enthusiast’s shopping paradise with some of the choicest range of tea flavors at reasonable rates. The Galle Gem exchange has a nice collection of jewelry with some unique custom offerings as well.