One of Sri Lanka’s most consistently popular beach destinations – energetic, colourful, and backed by a genuinely impressive coral reef sanctuary just offshore. The Hikkaduwa National Park reef is home to large marine turtles, tropical reef fish, and coral formations accessible by snorkel or glass-bottomed boat. The town itself has a lively, slightly throwback beach atmosphere – surf schools, beachside restaurants, a social scene that goes late – and it remains one of the best value and most enjoyable destinations on the southwest coast.