The most famous Sri Lankan resorts are located south of Colombo. It is difficult to find virgin beaches and authentic villages, where you have not heard of tourists. But lovers of comfortable rest can be sure that they will be accommodated in a normal hotel with a swimming pool, fed in a decent restaurant and offered a whole range of entertainment.
The Hikkaduwa resort, which is located in the southwest of Ceylon, is one of the busiest places on the coast with good conditions for surfing, diving and snorkeling. Holidays in Hikkaduwa will appeal to young travelers who are not burdened with business and worries, who are ready to courageously conquer the sea element in the daytime, and in the evenings to disappear in the bars, of which there are a lot along the main street of Galle.
Past and present
In the 1970s, Hikkaduwa was discovered by hippies. Local budget guesthouses have proven to be an alternative to the more established hotels in Beruwela and Bentota. In subsequent years, Hikkaduwa became so popular that its coastline was spoiled by ugly concrete hotels, and the coral reef near the coast began to die due to the enormous attention and careless actions of vacationers.
In recent years, hordes of tourists have moved to the wilder south, giving Hikkaduwa a second chance at life. Since the recent tsunami, hotels that look like bomb shelters have been demolished or rebuilt, heavy traffic along Galle Road has diminished as the Expressway has been built nearby and the coral reef is gradually being restored.
Hikkaduwa has once again turned into a cute cozy village where you can comfortably spend your vacation, enjoying the endless ocean, bright sun and pleasant company.
Types of recreation in Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa is a resort that advertises several types of recreation:
- beach … Hikkaduwa's beaches are 10 km long. The wind always blows here, which raises high waves - every surfer's dream. There are also quiet sections of the beach. These include the Hikkaduwa Coral Reef beach, which has a natural protection from the waves of the ocean - a coral wall. The entire coastline of the resort is lined with hotels and restaurants. There are also dive and surf clubs where sports equipment is rented and classes are held for everyone, and massage parlors;
- active … Surfing and body surfing, which is riding on the waves while lying on a board, is why thousands of tourists come to Hikkaduwa every year. Fans of diving and snorkeling go on boats to the coral reef located near the coast - colorful, bright and inhabited by various marine life. The best time for scuba diving is from November to April. In Hikkaduwa, you can also swim with large sea turtles, which willingly meet people in the hope of a treat;
- wellness … There are several excellent Ayurveda centers in the city where you can get an hour-long body treatment for about Rs 3,000. However, in Hikkaduwa you don't even need to look for massage specialists - they walk along the beach and praise their services to all the tourists they meet. One massage will cost 1000 rupees;
- sightseeing … In addition to parties on the beach, the endless ocean and a carefree, cheerful atmosphere, Hikkaduwa also offers its guests a good excursion program: in the vicinity of the resort there are several interesting Buddhist sanctuaries that can be reached by tuk-tuk or bicycle. You can also go to the Kosgoda Turtle Farm, which is located between Bentota and Hikkaduwa. Here, baby turtles are bred, which are then released into the sea. In Hikkaduwa, tourists may be interested in the fish market, where trade begins at 5 am. Finally, many resort guests enjoy taking an ocean safari, during which captains hunt down whales;
- eventful … The population of Hikkaduwa increases several times during the three-day Hikkaduwa Beach Fest, which takes place annually in July-August on a local beach. World-renowned DJs flock to the festivities, and the beach fills with crowds of foreign tourists.
Tours to Hikkaduwa
Sri Lanka is dominated by monsoons all year round. This is bad news. And the good thing is that there is always a stretch of coastline where the ocean will be calm and calm, and the sky clear and clear.
Hikkaduwa is located in the southeast of the country, where the high monsoon-free season falls in the winter. The rains stop here by October, and at this time the first tourists return to Hikkaduwa. However, "come back" is not quite the right word. Tours to Hikkaduwa are sold all year round, but in summer they are much cheaper than in winter. Therefore, vacationers always come here, regardless of whether there are tropical showers on the street or the sun is shining brightly.
The only drawback of a summer vacation in Hikkaduwa is the fact that from May to September, due to the strong waves on the ocean, scuba diving is prohibited.
Hotel base
If you have never been to Sri Lanka, then, most likely, the tour operator, when choosing a voucher for you, will recommend to go exactly to Hikkaduwa. There is a large selection of accommodation for every taste and budget.
Hotels marked with 3, 4 and 5 stars are located on the first line - right on the beach of Hikkaduwa. The cost of the room in them will be at least 12 thousand rupees per day.
Cheaper guesthouses are located off the Galle Road. Accommodation in them will cost from 3 to 7 thousand rupees per night.
A separate category of housing is comfortable villas for 8-10 people. They are usually equipped with outdoor pools, BBQ areas and terraces overlooking the ocean.
