Hikkaduwa beach, Sri Lanka

Introduction

Hikkaduwa is a popular beach town on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, stretching over 5 km. Winterers, surfers, families with children like to stop here.
Hikkaduwa is rightly sometimes called the “Russian village”, because. Russian-speaking tourists in the season here on the streets are perhaps more common than locals, and the percentage of Europeans, on the contrary, is lower than in other tourist places.
I know tourists who come back here for the winter again and again year after year and do not want to go somewhere else.
No wonder, because Hikkaduwa boasts beaches for every request:

Narigama Beach – a beach with waves for surfers and lovers to hang out on the waves
Hikkaduwa Beach – a beach without waves for children and lovers of snorkeling over corals with many colorful fish
Turtle Beach – a beach without waves for children with the opportunity to pet and feed huge turtles.
Hikkaduwa, if you do not take into account the relatively large cities of Galle and Matara, has the most developed infrastructure on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Several supermarkets, many small shops and stores, markets, confectionery, medical laboratories, branches of almost all major banks in Sri Lanka, pharmacies, souvenir shops, copy centers, massage parlors, hairdressers, fitness rooms make this city convenient for recreation and life. About a large number of cafes and restaurants, natural for such a tourist place, I think it’s not worth talking about.
The undoubted advantages of Hikkaduwa include the fact that among the popular tourist resorts in the south of Sri Lanka, it is closest to the airport Colombo. Accordingly, getting here is faster and easier.
At the same time, prices for housing in Hikkaduwa are on average slightly lower than, for example, in Unawatuna.

When is the best time to go to Hikkaduwa?

Hikkaduwa is located on the south coast of Sri Lanka, the tourist season here lasts from about the end of October to the end of April. At this time, there will be most sunny days here, and the rains, as a rule, do not last long. The waves during these months are smaller, and the water in the ocean is clearer and warmer than in the off-season. The highest season and peak of tourism in Hikkaduwa is the January holidays. You can read about the off-season here. In general, the temperature on the south coast all year round ranges from +25 to +31 degrees. Sri Lanka has summer all year round. Moreover, even on the warmest days of the season there is no sweltering heat

How to get to Hikkaduwa?

The resort is located 140 km from Bandarnaike Airport and 110 km from Colombo city.

Taxi. Most tourists choose the fastest and most convenient way to get from the Airport to Hikkaduwa –taxi/transfer. A trip by car will cost about $60-70 and will take 2 hours. If you have a large company and you need a minivan / minibus, then count on $ 75-100. You can also order a taxi at the airport desk or through the Uber or PickMe apps (requires a local SIM card). The main difference between a transfer and a taxi is that when ordering a transfer at the exit from the arrivals area, you will be met by a driver with a sign and you will immediately proceed to the car waiting for you and you will not have to walk around the airport with suitcases in search of a taxi or wonder why it is not coming for you PickMe or Uber (this happens in Sri Lanka), or the driver from them calls you and tries to explain something in Sri Lankan?. You can order a transfer in our Telegram chat bot @taxi_srilanka_bot or Wathsapp +94763081200

Train.

Those who want to save a little on the road, and at the same time immediately taste the local exotic, can choose the train. In this case, you will first need to take a 24-hour bus 187 (about 180 rupees per person), taxi or tuk-tuk to get to Colombo Fort Central Station directly to Hikkaduwa Station (travel time by bus will be 30-40 minutes). Travel time by rail will be 2 hours.
Speaking about the train, you should pay special attention to the class of cars for which tickets are sold:

Class 1 – a comfortable carriage with air conditioning and personal seats, similar to Lastochka. The ticket costs 1100 rupees. BUT! You need to buy a ticket in advance, a couple of days before the trip – in person at the box office or on the website http:// www.railway.gov.lk/ (with a mandatory visit to the office at the station to collect your ticket). On the day of departure, before departure, it is almost impossible to buy a first class ticket! At the same time, it should be taken into account that there are only 2 trains in which there are first class cars – with departure from Colombo at 14:40 and 15:44.
Class 2 is a ticket car without soft seats. In the daytime, as a rule, the carriage is overcrowded, it is quite difficult to get a seat. Instead of air conditioning – fans on the ceiling and open doors. Be careful not to fall out on the go, leaning out to look at the beautiful views of the ocean that will periodically open up to your gaze. The ticket price is 400 rupees.
3rd class – similar to the second, only with hard seats. The ticket price is 200 rupees.

Take into account that the train can easily be late for 30 minutes, or even an hour and a half. Before boarding, it is better to ask the locals if this is your train, so as not to go the wrong way.

Another budget option to get to Hikkaduwa is bus. First, from the airport, you need to get to the Colombo Fort bus station. There, transfer to a bus to Galle or Matara, which travels through Hikkaduwa. There are comfortable air-conditioned express trains that travel along the highway (travel time will be 2-2.5 hours), and there are Sri Lankan folk buses – “crazy basses” that travel along the main road “Galle Road” along the coast with a lot of stops and insane driving style (their name speaks for itself). On it the road will take you another 4-5 hours.

In no case do not agree if one of the locals offers to take you to Hikkaduwa “quickly” on a tuk-tuk. This, of course, will be a little cheaper than a taxi, but tuk-tuks cannot enter the freeway, they travel along the highway along the coast. 5 hours of jogging in this fun but very noisy vehicle will provide you with an unforgettable experience and guarantee you ringing in your ears and a headache upon arrival.

Where to stay in Hikkaduwa?

In general, when choosing an area, it is most reasonable, in my opinion, to proceed from which beach you prefer. If you have quiet beaches, central part of Hikkaduwa will suit you better. If you need a beach with waves, then the part to the south (Tiranagama area). It should be noted that most of the infrastructure is concentrated along the main road Galle Road in the central part of the village.
As for choosing a place to stay in terms of distance from the beach, the following should be noted here: in Hikkaduwa, the main road runs along the beach line, so the entire first coastline, consisting of hotels and a small number of villas, in this place is adjacent to noisy Galle Road. And if your windows do not overlook the ocean, then they overlook this very road … And a little further, 50-100 meters from Galle Road, there is a railway. Accordingly, if you have chosen accommodation closer to the beach (and most tourists are asked to choose exactly this for them), then you need to be prepared for the fact that it can be noisy from the car and/or railway road.
In addition, there is another periodic source of noise – this is a concert venue, which is collected for the holidays on the football field behind the railway station at the intersection of Galle Road and Baddegama Road. On average, once a month on holidays there are concerts with screaming local music, which can drag on until one in the morning and even more.

In general, if proximity to the beach and basic infrastructure is extremely important to you, then it is better to choose housing closer to the ocean. If peace and relaxation are important, then a little further away from it. In this case, of course, it must be taken into account that the closer to the ocean, the more expensive the accommodation. As a result, many people prefer to settle a little further, without overpaying for proximity to the coast, and getting to the beach on foot, on bikes or by tuk-tuks (considering that they constantly scurry along the main streets and, as a rule, it is not difficult to catch them, with the cost of the trip is very low).

Hikkaduwa beaches

There are three of them in Hikkaduwa. And everyone deserves their attention.

Central, aka Hikkaduwa Beach, aka “fish beach”. Protected by a reef, ideal for swimming with children. During the season, the water is usually very clear, therefore, suitable conditions are created for snorkeling, observing colorful fish, which are here, specifically, on a small area of this beach, where the bottom is dotted with corals, there are a great many, from tiny to very impressive. If you’re lucky, you can also see a moray eel or an octopus here. All you need is a mask and snorkel. They can be rented right there on the beach. Fish swim above the corals already at the very edge of the water, you don’t even have to swim far. This place is also called Hikkaduwa National Park.

The rest of the beach is sandy and very comfortable for swimming. There are palm trees that provide natural shade. The only negative of this beach is a large concentration of locals on weekends. But this is not a big problem, for a couple of days you can move to neighboring beaches.

Turtle Beach – the beach opposite the largest hotel in Hikkaduwa 4 * Hikka Trans. It is also convenient for swimming with children, gradual depth, small waves, shade from palm trees almost all day. There is a tower with lifeguards. Well, as the name implies, it is here (or rather, a few tens of meters to the left of the beach itself) that huge turtles swim. Even standing knee-deep in water, you can feed them, stroke them and, of course, take a photo as a keepsake.
The beach has a small fenced-off area with buried turtle eggs. On the plates you can see the dates when the eggs were laid and when the turtles hatch. These days at 18:00 you can see a touching event – tiny turtles are released and they rush into the ocean.
And the third beach is Narigama. The longest, and from that it is always spacious here. Beach with waves (large or very large if the weather is bad). The beach is well suited for surfing, including for beginners in this sport. Although families with children also meet here, the kids are happy to ride on the foam. Lots of cafes, sunbeds, surf clubs. The price of the lesson starts from 4000 rupees per hour.

An indisputable plus of Hikkaduwa is the sun setting in the ocean. Memorable and very photogenic sunsets are guaranteed.

Sights of Hikkaduwa.

The sights can be safely attributed to the place described above for snorkeling – Hikkaduwa National Park and turtle beach.
I also recommend visiting:
Seenigama Vihara Temple – located a couple of kilometers from Hikkaduwa to the north, towards Colombo. It consists of two parts, one of which is on the shore, and the second – on a small island 100 m from the shore, which can only be reached by boat. In addition to this unusual feature, the temple is famous for the fact that it was not damaged during the tsunami (as the locals say, during the tsunami the wave simply dispersed in front of it). In this temple, victims of robberies ask for retribution from higher powers.
Not far from this temple is the 2004 Tsunami Memorial, which is a large Buddha statue on an island in the middle of a small artificial pond. Buddha stands facing the ocean and calms it with a raised hand. The height of the statue corresponds to the height of the wave in this place – 15 m. At the foot of the statue there are commemorative plaques with the names of the dead.
200m from the statue further towards Colombo is the Tsunami Museum. The owner of the museum will tell you about this terrible event that happened on December 26, 2004 and will show you a lot of documentary photographs. Near the museum is one of the train cars that was hit by the tsunami that day.
A 10-minute drive from Hikkaduwa, in Maduwana Bay, there is a coral reserve – a place with a delightful underwater world. A visit to the reserve, created to protect coral reefs, will allow you to see a variety of inhabitants of the underwater world – from many different fish to shellfish and turtles. The entrance ticket includes the provision of a mask with a snorkel and a vest. Touching corals or other inhabitants of the reserve is strictly prohibited!
If you are relaxing in Hikkaduwa, I also definitely advise you to visit the neighboring city of Gallee and its main attraction – Galle Fort, built by the Dutch in the 16th century, which is included in the UNESCO heritage list. Walking around the fort, you will feel like you are in a quiet European town with a long history. Walking along the streets of the fort, you can visit many cafes, clothing stores, jewelry and souvenir shops, the famous Spa Ceylon store. I recommend visiting the Indian Hut cafe here, from the second floor of which you can enjoy a beautiful view of the ocean, and the variety of dishes on the menu and prices may pleasantly surprise you

Where to eat in Hikkaduwa?

Chami`s Place is a cozy establishment in an original style. Rotti with chicken and cheese – top.
Hungry bug – average prices, tasty, excellent burgers
Jengle & Mingle is a small family cafe with delicious food and low prices.
Red Lobster is a restaurant that everyone in Hikkaduwa knows. Very large portions, the price is right. Tasty.
Canal view is a small family restaurant in a quiet location. Kari is just top!
PCB (Pastry Chef`s Boutique) is a mini-cafe with an owner who studied cooking in the USA. The best brownies, cheesecakes and other pastries in Hikkaduwa (and maybe in all of Sri Lanka). The burgers are also great. Definitely a recommendation!
Sea Shells restaurant – large menu, good taste, below average price.
Your Choice is a pretentious restaurant. The first coastal, very tasty and expensive (by local standards).
Tigri Beach Restaurant is a restaurant right by the ocean. Beautiful view, good seafood, average prices.
Spaghetti & Co. Restaurant – Italian restaurant. Delicious pizza, pasta, salads.
JLH Beach Restaurant & bar – great ocean views with no extra charge for this view. The prices are adequate.
The King Restaurant – delicious pizza
No Name – Restaurant & Rotty Shop – a large assortment of rotties. Low prices.
Top Secret – delicious salads (avocado shrimp, avocado tuna)
Hikka tranz – buffet. Tasty
Refresh – eat oysters (and not only) at a reasonable price with a gorgeous view of the ocean.
Hello burger – great big juicy burgers.

Sports in Hikkaduwa

Surfing: There are several surf schools on Narigama Beach, where for a very affordable price (from 4000 rupees per hour) you can get on the board. One of the sections of the beach is great for beginners, and this is where surf schools are concentrated, for example, Eliya Surf School, with an average Google score of 5.0. Narigama is used by both beginners and experienced surfers. But on Hikkaduwa Beach there is a place only for advanced surfers who ride a little distance from the coast on days when the wave becomes suitable for this.
Football: in Hikkaduwa there is a football and cricket field where Russian-speaking guys regularly gather for games (the locals also play cricket there). Players of all skill levels will be welcome there. Games usually start at 4-5 pm. Informal communication of football players and information about meetings – in the telegram chat Football | Hikkaduwa.
Volleyball: There are several beach volleyball courts on Narigama Beach, in the area where surf schools are concentrated, where you can play this one of the best ball games.
Yoga: At least two yoga studios – Kailash yoga studio, Earthlinks Srilanka reviews on both – mostly enthusiastic.
Fitness: several gyms. Top Reviewed: Southern Fitness Revolution Gym and Muscle Hut Body Building & Fitness. With the best location, but not the best reviews: Fit 4 Life Gym. With air conditioning, sadness is everywhere.
Diving: There are six diving schools in Hikkaduwa, including those with Russian-speaking instructors. According to reviews in Google, you can choose for yourself any. Tourists’ favorite dive site is sunken ships.
The first ship was the sailing ship Earl of Shaftesbury, a British 4-masted ship that sank after a fire in 1894. The second – SS Conch – one of the first oil tankers in the world, sunk in 1903 on the way from Novorossiysk to Madras.

Useful addresses in Hikkaduwa

Supermarkets and grocery stores: Sandagiri supermarket is the largest supermarket in Hikkaduwa, on the second floor there are souvenirs, toys, household goods (prices on the second floor are above average). Cargills Food City Express is a couple of small branches of the most popular local supermarket chain. Ranreka is a medium sized supermarket. On the second floor – household goods with a small department with toys. On the first, in addition to products, you can find stationery.
Where to buy alcohol: in Hikkaduwa there are 4 liquor stores on the main road Galle Road – 2 near the bus station, one opposite the turtle beach near the Hikka Tranz hotel and one in the Sandagiri supermarket (adjacent entrance). The latter – with the largest assortment of wines and spirits on the second floor.
Fish Markets: Fischereihafen Hikkaduwa – Morning port market on the shore of the fishing harbour. You just need to come early, from 6 to 8 hours. You can buy the freshest, straight from the boat, shrimp, crabs, tuna, igloo fish, chicken fish and other marine life. Hikkaduwa Fish Market is a small market where you can buy fish and seafood from morning to evening, at any time.
Meat and Chicken Stores: Fresh Farm Shop – the largest range of chilled and frozen meats. There is always chicken and pork, almost always beef, sometimes lamb. Fresh Chicken Hikkaduwa – chilled and frozen chicken. Meat Shop – chilled pork in various types, kupaty. Prices are slightly higher than the previous two stores
Fruit markets: Hikkaduwa central fruit market is the largest fruit market in Hikkaduwa. Fruit can also be found in the many fruit stands both on Galle Road and in the back streets.
Sunday market: – next to the football field until lunch on Sundays there is a large bazaar – a market for locals with appropriate prices. What is there just not there – fruits, vegetables, fish, essentials, and all at very reasonable prices. Atmospheric and colorful place.
Clothing stores: among the many small shops and stalls, the two-story Pincha Collection can be distinguished.
Hardware and building materials: Laksavi Hardware, Oshada Hardware, a few shops next to the Ranreka supermarket
Tea shop: Tea & Spice market next to the Red Lobster restaurant. A large selection of teas with various fruit flavors at a price cheaper than in the supermarket. I recommend!
The Elefant Foot Drum Shop (opposite where the drone map shows) is a store with a great selection and a lovely, fun owner.
Souvenir shops: Unforgettable souvenirs, Sanjana Hadcraft,Tipical Sri Lankan Traditional Masks and many other shops and stalls will allow you to buy all sorts of Sri Lankan souvenirs for yourself and all those who you want to bring a piece of Sri Lanka home.
Banks, ATMs: BOC (Bank of Ceylon branch and 24-hour ATM), Commercial Bank ATM (2 24-hour ATMs in different parts of the resort) – ATMs that dispense cash without commission. In addition, branches of almost all other major Sri Lankan banks are represented in Hikkaduwa. Cash currency can be changed in jewelry shops and some cafes.
Pharmacy: Saranga Pharmacy, Tharindu Pharmacy. There is also an Ayurvedic pharmacy next door to them.
Medical laboratories: Derana Medical Laboratory, Osethka Bio Med Lab
Mail: Hikkaduwa Post Office
Popular places to hang out: Tuesday – Mambo’s (electronic music), Funky de Bar (karaoke), Wednesday – Chill Spase, Thursday – Funky de Bar, Friday – Vibration, Saturday – Mambo’s (electronic music), Sunday – Funky de Bar (karaoke).