Tourist Places To Visit In Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa has been popular since the 1970s for its natural appeal of the ocean with crystal clear waters, beaches, coral reef and hot sun. Currently, it’s a beach resort town with a 5 km stretch of mid-high end hotels, guesthouses and resorts on the beachfront. With the reef on the northern side, the town has evolved at a slow pace, with eateries, bars and sparkling nightlife in the middle of the town, while the southern side is meant for surfing and is less dense. Hikkaduwa is best for travelers looking for a laidback vacation in the company of coconut trees by the pristine Blue Ocean, and crashing waves in a rhythmic pattern and has a number of tourist places to visit.

Turtle Hatchery is located on the beach, roughly 2 km north of Hikkaduwa. A small and private research center that aims to protect the endangered marine turtles, the hatchery offers a selective display of turtle eggs and exhibits the progressive development of turtles. There are some spots where you can also get an opportunity to release baby turtles into the vast ocean for an additional fee. The best time to visit here and see the turtles is March through April.

Hikkaduwa Beach is beautiful, vast and quiet beachy, not to forget clean as well. Whether you’d like to just be and enjoy the view, lie down and chill with a book or take a stroll in the day or towards early evening, Hikkaduwa Beach is a lovely tourist spot, albeit with rough tides that are not ideal for a dip. The beach is known for its nightlife offerings and is a crowd puller with amazing water sports activities, lip-smacking fish curries at the beach shacks and the best place to relax and relish some quiet time.

Seenigama Vihara is a temple atop an island, which is unusually fascinating and one of the most famous tourist spots in Hikkaduwa. Located 100 m offshore which is best traveled to by boat, there’s a popular belief behind this temple, that if a victim who’s been robbed offers prayers here, then the robber’s destined to suffer hardships thereafter.

Moonstone Mine is a spot in the woodland of Meetiyagoda, which is popular for an abundance of precious gems and minerals. The mines here are particularly known for the mining of moonstone in the midst of the hot and humid forests and now offers travelers an opportunity to witness the mining & processing of stones, with a chance to shop for precious stones and jewelry as well.

Hikkaduwa Lake is home to various species of birds and monitor lizards in addition to being a common fun spot beside the Hikkaduwa Beach. 2 km from the Baddegama road, towards the north end, the lake is one of the most beautiful places to see in Hikkaduwa.

Madu River or Madu Ganga is a must see when in Hikkaduwa, as it adjoins the coastal village of Balaptiya and has a striking allure to its surroundings, marked with scores of mangroves, islets, some integral groups of aquatic birds and enchanting views.