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. The beach stretches on spanning over kilometers and hosts many fun activities to keep the tourists engaged. These activities include snorkeling and scuba diving for the adventure seekers. The clear waters beckon the nature lovers who wish to take a dip inside the waters to witness the vibrant, colorful aquatic life. The coral sanctuary hosts gorgeous coral formations, which house a variety of fishes and large turtles. The islets along the beach breed pockets of wildlife and are a wonderful way to interact with it. Its beautiful beaches and large array of restaurants and hotels, make it a top choice for holidaymakers – both local and international. 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. The Tsunami Museum is one of the best free things to do in Hikkaduwa. It is located just outside of the town, about a 10-minute drive from the town center. Renowned for its beach and coral reefs, Hikkaduwa is home to some of the best coral gardens in Asia. 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 colours. The corals are best viewed by bright sunlight to spot corals in the likeness of cabbage leaves or a lady’s fan.