Marti Gardner
Hikkaduwa has grown in leaps and bounds becoming an iconic party resort. The place is loved for coral beds, huge surf, annual parties and vivacious nightlife. There's never a dull moment in 'Hikka'!
The warm Indian Ocean is a treasure trove of fascinating marine life. In Hikkaduwa you are treated to beautiful coral beds amongst which a myriad of colourful fish thrive. Scuba diving into the depths of the ocean will leave you enthralled at the many sights. All enthusiastic divers must hold a PADI diving certificate as many Hikkaduwa hotels offer scuba diving tours to the best locations.
The Rathgama Lagoon located just 5kms from Bentota is where your adventure begins. The Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon offers canoe rides along this mangrove forest infused lagoon to one of the Cinnamon plantations located on a lagoon island. Hop aboard a traditional wooden canoe and drift along the lazy lagoon admiring the wildlife and huge variety of birds that flock to the lagoon and its shores. You will stop to explore the vintage marvels of an ancient temple before arriving at the Cinnamon plantations. There you will see how the bark is stripped, rolled and dried to form the sweet smelling Ceylon Cinnamon popular across the world.
Head over to the nearby resort of Mirissa and take off on a whale and dolphin watching adventure. Hop on board a discovery boat and head out from the Mirissa Harbour; the 3 hour tour will scour the mammal's favourite playgrounds for sights of sleepy whales and playful dolphins. Sri Lankan waters are frequented by over 20 varieties of whales and many species of dolphins. The latter are quite daring and love swimming along the sides of the boat to show off their playful antics.
Adams Peak located in the Central hills of Sri Lanka is home to Lord Buddha's footprint; you get a similar one in Bentota. While on a tour of the verdant Bentota River you can stop at the base of Pavuru Kanda hill and trek to the summit; there you will come across an ancient temple built around what is believed to be a similar footprint of Lord Buddha, to that which is found at the summit of Adam's Peak. The trek through the valley below is quite a treat as you make your way around poor fisher villages and cross lush mangrove forests.
Hikkaduwa is such as vibrant resort partly due to its sandy beaches. Look forward to enjoying long lazy days chilling on the sun kissed beaches located right off your luxury Hikkaduwa resort. You will discover that swimming in the warm Indian Ocean and snoozing on the sandy shores are activities that one can settle into with much enthusiasm.
Hikkaduwa is the party central of Sri Lanka's southern belt. There are lots of vivacious bars and cafes that come alive at sunset. Quality live bands and even foreign DJ's offer fabulous entertainment as sunset cocktails and fresh seafood make the rounds.
