Joanna James
A small town in the famous beach stretch in Sri Lanka's southern coastline, Hikkaduwa is affectionately known as Hikka by the locals and has been a beach party destination since the 1970s and has managed to maintain that crowd even today. Here are some exciting things to do by day in Hikkaduwa.
The best thing to do when you are in Hikkaduwa is to take part in as many water sports as possible. Hikka is the water sport capital of Sri Lanka, though unofficially. You can take part in many activities including and not limited to diving, snorkelling, surfing, sailing and swimming. There are plenty of scuba diving schools where you can get your PADI qualifications and surf schools and rentals where you can hire a board or take lessons. There are some shipwrecks off the coast that you can explore as well as organised night diving tours.
Hikkaduwa has some beautiful coral formations and the best way to view them without getting your feet wet is through a glass-bottom boat ride. The decks of these boats are covered in a strong plexiglass casing which will enable the riders to observe the ocean pass below them as they sail by. There are so many varieties of corals and reef fish you can see this way and it is especially great for those who are unable to go snorkelling or diving. You can easily gain access to these boats from a Hikkaduwa resort.
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami had a devastating effect on the southern coastline, including Hikkaduwa which was ravaged. There is a local centre which has preserved memorabilia from that time including rare photographs and though the museum is small and locally managed, it is worth a visit, especially if you have young children and you want them to learn about the duality of nature and the ocean in particular.
As mentioned above, the best thing to do in Hikkaduwa is to go diving in one of Sri Lanka's marine national parks. There is an abundance of marine life and corals that you will be able to witness. You can rent or purchase snorkelling gear at local shops but be sure to know the prices beforehand, so you don't get fleeced. November to April is the best time to go snorkelling as the water is clear enough.
You might be used to associating tea with Sri Lanka's highlands, but the south is another well-known tea plantation area. Resorts the likes of Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon will arrange a tour of these lowland tea plantations for you if you'd like to visit. The tea that is harvested here has a distinct difference in taste when compared to highland teas. There are also flavoured tea ranges that will tickle your taste buds and make for an enjoyable experience. Make sure you buy some of your favourites to take home with you.
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