Hikkaduwa rose to fame in the 1970s as one of Sri Lanka's original surf and backpacker hubs, and today draws visitors chiefly for its protected coral reef national park just offshore, easily explored by glass-bottom boat or snorkel. Sea turtles frequently nest and feed along its shoreline, visible from the beach on a calm morning.
100 kmDistance from Colombo
~2 hrsTypical drive time
The town's beach road still carries a loose, high-energy backpacker character — surf schools, beachfront bars and reggae bars sit side by side — making it a livelier alternative to the quieter beaches further south.