Experiences in Hikkaduwa
- 01
Hikkaduwa National Park (Coral Sanctuary)
A small protected fringing reef just off the Hikkaduwa beach, Sri Lanka's first marine sanctuary, where snorkellers swim over coral, reef fish and sometimes turtles.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 3 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Calm mornings, December to March
- Tickets
- No separate gate was verified for the beach snorkelling area. Boat operators and snorkel hire set their own prices, so agree the price and what it includes before you go. Rules on boats and roped areas have changed in recent years, so ask locally.
- 02
Turtle Beach and Sea Turtle Hatchery
A stretch of beach where sea turtles come to feed, plus a turtle hatchery and rescue centre that incubates eggs and releases hatchlings.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning; April to July for nesting activity
- Tickets
- Travel guides report an entry charge at the hatchery, so confirm the current price and hours locally. Feeding turtles is banned, with heavy fines reported.
Neighbourhoods in Hikkaduwa
- 03
Hikkaduwa Beach
The long beach strip of cafes, surf huts and guesthouses that gave the town its name. It is the place to watch sunsets, swim in calm conditions and eat by the sea.
- Time needed
- 2 to 4 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon for sunset; December to March for weather
- Tickets
- The beach is free. Sunbeds and cafes charge for their own services, and surf huts and boat operators set their own prices, so ask first.
Places of worship in Hikkaduwa
- 04
Seenigama Devale
A coastal devale dedicated to Devol, a deity in Sinhala Buddhist tradition, in the village of Seenigama between Hikkaduwa and Ambalangoda.
- Time needed
- 30 to 60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning
- Tickets
- No ticket was verified. Dress modestly, remove shoes and headwear where asked, and treat donations as optional. Ask permission before photographing worshippers.
Temples in Hikkaduwa
- 05
Tsunami Honganji Viharaya (Big Buddha)
A 30 metre standing Buddha at Peraliya, built as a memorial to the victims of the 2004 tsunami, including those on the train swept away nearby.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- Free to visit according to travel guides. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, remove shoes where asked and ask before photographing worshippers.
Museums in Hikkaduwa
- 06
Tsunami Photo Museum, Peraliya
A small museum at Peraliya with photographs of the 2004 tsunami's aftermath, opposite the Big Buddha. It is sobering, free according to guides and not for everyone.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, before the heat
- Tickets
- Described as free in travel guides, but check locally for current opening times and any donation box. Photography rules are not verified, so ask staff.
