The beaches in Hikkaduwa have been attracting tourists since the 1960s when it was first discovered. Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka is a town located only 100 kilometers south of Colombo on Sri Lanka’s southern coast. Its beautiful beaches and large array of restaurants and hotels make it a top choice for holidaymakers - both local and international. The beach stretches on spanning over kilometers and hosts many fun activities to keep the tourists engaged. Renowned for its beach and coral reefs, Hikkaduwa is home to some of the best coral gardens in Asia. Hikkaduwa Coral Reef Sanctuary is the first Marine National Park in Sri Lanka. The coral sanctuary hosts gorgeous coral formations, which house a variety of fishes and large turtles. Here lies a reef of limestone running parallel to the coast, with corals blooming in between this line of lime and the coast. The sea is shallow up to about 200m from the coast, whilst the reef protects the corals from high tide. The most commonly found coral type here is Gampara, which are found in various forms, shapes and colors. The corals are best viewed by bright sunlight to spot corals in the likeness of cabbage leaves.The clear waters beckon the nature lovers who wish to take a dip inside the waters to witness the vibrant, colorful aquatic life. if you’ve ever wanted to swim in the ocean with massive sea turtles, then Hikkaduwa is the place to do it. Right from the shore in town, you can easily spot many sea turtles just hanging out in the water. They aren’t scared of people and often swim right up to you. Right from the shore in town, There is one particular spot that always seems to have turtles in Hikkaduwa. Hikkaduwa Famous for its long sandy beach, west-coast Hikkaduwa also boasts good waves for surfers, reefs for snorkelers and divers, plus sand-side hotels, restaurants, and bars. Plunge into nature`s spellbinding creativity at the Snorkel amidst vibrant corals, swim with turtles, luminescent fish, and reef sharks or simply observe the beauty through glass-bottomed boats. Add an island temple, tsunami museum, and turtle sanctuary, and you have one of Sri Lanka’s best beach-holiday. Tsunami Museum is one of the best free things to do in Hikkaduwa. It is located just outside of town, about a 10-minute drive from the town center.
