Surf the Waves:

Hikkaduwa’s beaches are a paradise for surf enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, the consistent waves and warm waters make it an ideal destination to catch some waves. Head to the main beach or nearby spots like Narigama Beach to rent surfboards or take lessons from local instructors. Surfing in Hikkaduwa provides an exhilarating experience, leaving you with a deep connection to the ocean and a sense of accomplishment.

Snorkel or Dive in the Coral Reefs:

Dive into the crystal-clear waters of Hikkaduwa to witness its vibrant underwater world. Grab your snorkeling gear or join a diving tour to explore the coral reefs just off the coast. Encounter an array of marine life, including colorful tropical fish, turtles, rays, and even reef sharks. The Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary is a must-visit spot, where you can snorkel over shallow coral gardens teeming with biodiversity. Remember to practice responsible tourism and respect the fragile marine ecosystem.

Stroll along the Vibrant Hikkaduwa Beach:

Take leisurely strolls along the golden shores of Hikkaduwa Beach, dotted with lively cafes, bars, and restaurants. The beach offers a vibrant atmosphere, especially during the evening when locals and tourists gather to enjoy the breathtaking sunset. Relax on the sand, soak up the tropical ambiance, and treat yourself to delicious seafood delicacies at the beachfront eaterie and stay at Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon.
Unwind with Ayurvedic Treatments:

Hikkaduwa offers a range of Ayurvedic spas and wellness centers where you can indulge in rejuvenating treatments and massages. Embrace the healing power of Ayurveda, an ancient holistic system of medicine, and let expert therapists ease your mind, body, and soul. The tranquil surroundings and therapeutic treatments will leave you feeling revitalized and ready to embrace the rest of your journey.

Hikkaduwa is a captivating destination that beckons travelers with its natural beauty, rich marine life, and diverse cultural experiences. From surfing the waves to immersing yourself in underwater wonders and unwinding with Ayurvedic treatments, this tropical paradise promises an unforgettable vacation. So, pack your bags and set out on a remarkable journey to discover the top five things to do in Hikkaduwa!

The perfect beach awaits you in Sri Lanka. Whether you like broad strands of sand to jog along at the sea’s edge, soaring waves to surf as they splash on the shore, intimate coves for private sunbathing, or beaches lined with seafood cafés and bars, you’ll find the beach of your desires here.

Negombo (30km from Colombo) has the closest beach to the airport, a mere 5km distance. It is lined by the first hotels to open in Sri Lanka and is a cross between two popular beaches further south, being livelier than Bentota but not as laidback as Hikkaduwa. Tourists share the beach with fishermen where they park boats that later sail off with red sails into the sunset. The after-beach life is sophisticated with vibrant cocktail bars and sleek restaurants.

The closest dedicated beach strip to Colombo is at Mount Lavinia, 12km from the city centre. North of the headland, with its view of Colombo, the beach is the preserve of residents who flock there at weekends and on holidays. There are cabanas for picnics and beachside meals as well as some lively bars. The beach south of the headland is for the more genteel.

The best beaches begin at Beruwala and Bentota, roughly halfway between Colombo and the southern tip of Galle. Beruwala (58km from Colombo) was known to ancient mariners as Barberyn and it has a lighthouse on an island off the shore and a flourishing dawn fish market. The beach stretch is long with shallow waves washing it in the West Coast holiday season months of October to April.

The beach at Bentota (64km from Colombo) is vast; it can take an hour to walk along it from one headland to another. This is pure beach with gloriously golden sand and welcoming seas. There’s not much to do, even in the season from October to April, and that’s how regular visitors like it.

There are palm-fringed coves with sandy strips all the way down the West Coast, one with a natural swimming pool embraced by rock is at Induruwa (68km from Colombo). For convivial beach action, head for Hikkaduwa, 97km from Colombo, with hotels and guesthouses to suit every pocket. The beach, naturally structured in coves, is popular with the young and young at heart and the action often continues into the late evening.

Acclaimed as one of the best beaches in the world many years ago, Unawatuna (125km from Colombo) has changed because of tidal flows reducing the once broad beach to a slim version of its former self. However, it is still the best beach in Sri Lanka for day and night time action where people from around the world congregate in the sun. It’s just a 10 minute ride from Galle, the closest town.

The beach at Mirissa (150km from Colombo)attracts surfers at one end, and tourists eager to head out to sea and watch for whales. There are quieter beaches further along the southern coast, close to Tangalle. Nicknamed Turtle Bay, the beach at Kalametiya, by the 214km post on the Colombo to Hambantota coastal road, awaits discovery with its long rollers, windswept dunes…and turtles.

The best time to visit the beaches on the East Coast is from April to October when the sea is calmer and the beaches broader. But with their swimming pools and gardens for relaxing, and beachside seafood restaurants, the hotels on the East Coast are enjoyable year round.

From Trincomalee (257 km northeast of Colombo) the beach stretches northwards for miles but it’s best at Uppuveli, about 5km further north. On this golden shore, fishermen toil at one end while tourists laze at the other in perfect harmony. The sea, in season, invigorates and the area has preserved its sense of isolation, creating a peaceful ambience for beachcombing.

 Some 80km down the East Coast from Trinco on the way to Batticaloa (303km from Colombo) are the newly developed beaches of Passikudah Bay and its neighbour Kalkudah Bay. They were renowned as potential beach playgrounds before a cyclone in 1978 blew the dreams away and then came 25 years of civil war, keeping the area off limits to tourists. That’s changed now with smart new hotels with glittering facilities opening up along the coast. The sea there, in season, is shallow far off-shore, so it’s delightful for swimming.

The bold and carefree flock to Arugam Bay (325 from Colombo) for laidback after-beach action following days spent in the sun surfing some tremendous waves. The sand there is not for building castles but suits the do-it-yourself community of surfers, adding to the diversity of Sri Lanka’s incredible beaches.

Idyllic Breakfast Stop: Cinnamon Bentota Beach

Combining local culture and renowned architecture, Cinnamon Bentota Beach makes an inspiring breakfast stop. Designed by one of Asia’s most influential architects of his generation – Geoffrey Bawa – the resort is nestled between the Bentara River and Bentota Beach. Experience breakfast while watching either the waves or the river birds over gourmet waffles or Sri Lankan egg hoppers.

Sri Lankan Mask Workshop: Ambalangoda

In Ambalangoda, make a small detour to the Traditional Mask Workshop & Museum for an immersive experience of local art. Explore ancient collections related to rituals and dances, participate in workshops, or take home unpainted masks as souvenirs. Cinnamon Bey Beruwala can help arrange this experience for your convenience.

Exploring Galle Fort: Galle

The magnificent Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site built by the Portuguese in 1588, is en-route to Mirissa. Take a leisurely stroll along the grassy ramparts or cobbled streets, and don’t miss visiting the charming shops and cafes that serve everything from coconut ice cream to king coconut. Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon can arrange a guided walking tour with prior notice.

Galle Fort is about an hour’s drive away from Mirissa Beach, so you can spend a little longer exploring the Fort or ask around to book an experience at Mirissa itself – ideally whale watching in Mirissa during season. While Mirissa is renowned as a beautiful destination, the journey there adds an extra dimension to your trip.

The perfect getaway consists of the following: uninterrupted views of the beach, a cocktail in hand and excellent company, everything that makes you feel alive. The Tropic Bar at Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon is the embodiment of this concept. From the lively plants decorating the interior, the upbeat music and to the friendly bartenders, all elements of the bar celebrate life and all its moments, good and otherwise.

The Tropic Bar is a place your worries will be left at the threshold. Amongst the crashing waves and the eccentric interiors and the cocktails that come in all flavours sweet, spicy, and sour, you will soon find yourself swaying to the music and feel lighter as your worldly troubles slip away. Here, everything is a new experience yet delivered with the familiar luxury of Cinnamon making you fall in love with the thrill of being alive.

The Tropic Bar has two infamous cocktails: the Chili Martini and the Gin Pincha. The drinks are of colour with unique flavours you will only find in Hikka Tranz. The Chili Martini is made by muddling a few secret ingredients and shaken and poured into a martini glass. On the other hand, the recipe for Gin Pincha is too kept undisclosed. It is served on the rocks and is the perfect combination of sweet and spice. While these are just two of the plethora of cocktails prepared here, they have the punch to bring you alive and have you dancing the night away, making your stay in the party central of Sri Lanka a most memorable one.

An element that catches the eye of all those who step in the bar is the custom painting of the tropical birds. This adds colour to the set up and brings the theme of tropics to the bar, offering the customers a wholesome tropical experience. Hikkaduwa is crowded with eager partygoers making it the party central of the island. The city is waiting for the next big party and the Tropic Bar makes it happen every night.

Among the tropical plants, birds and the exotic cocktails is the sound of laughter of friends turned family. The setting is casual, and the crowd is clad in beach shirts and shorts. The weekend away at Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon soothing enough to rejuvenate you for the week that awaits but the Tropics Bar is a must visit to complete your getaway. Spend your day at the golden beach, dip in the pool in the evening and head over to Tropic Bar to watch the sun go down while you live it up, the perfect recipe for the picture-perfect getaway.

Life can be challenging, rough and even weary but at the Tropic Bar, it is nothing but good. We have concocted the elixir of life to remind you of the good times and the lasting memories that will have you coming back for more. Book your next visit at Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon for a truly transcending getaway with your friends and family and visit the Tropic Bar to embrace the spirit of life and let us take you to a different state of mind where life happens at its best. Let the week end, and the party begin.

‘Kirala’ is an endemic fruit of Sri Lanka. A flair bartender of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts decided to make a bourbon punch using Kirala juice!

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts presents ‘Zests of Cinnamon’ with a contemporary Sri Lankan twist to a few authentic ‘Avurudu Sweets’. Chef Julinda Pushpakumara of Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa takes you through a few fantastic recipes to suit the season.

Chocolate Kokis is probably the most famous Contemporary Sri Lankan Avurudu Sweet! Well here’s how you could learn to make it at home!

Everyone loves Chocolate Chips! Here’s Chef Julinda Pushpakumara preparing a ‘Wandu Aappa’ with a new mouth watering ingredient.

PIzza? Halapa? Well here’s a fantastic combination that you wouldn’t want to miss!

 Ever heard of Blueberries mixed with Kavum? You can make it yourself! Check out this cool recipe!

Here’s Chef Julinda preparing a fantastic version of ‘Panipol’ in the last recipe of the latest ‘Avurudu Treats’ segment.

Hope you enjoyed another wonderful segment on authentic culinary experiences on Cinnamon U. If you have tried any of the above recipes or if you have any questions, please let us know. Inbox us on www.facebook.com/cinnamonhotels or send us in a mail on socialmedia@cinnamonhotels.com

Have a wonderful Sinhala and Tamil New Year from all of us at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts!