Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna in Sri Lanka: where to go?

The resorts of Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna are located in the south of Sri Lanka and are popular with many tourists. Each of these resorts has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, going on vacation, you need to prioritize and opt for the resort, the conditions of which are right for you.

Climate

It is worth noting that, based on the favorable climatic conditions of this area, you can relax in both resorts at any time of the year. However, despite this, there are also periods favorable for a significant influx of tourists and times of relative calm. In Unawatuna, relatively unfavorable climatic conditions are observed from July to November and are almost not felt by vacationers, while in Hikkaduwa, unfavorable conditions for recreation are observed from May to October. The winds constantly blowing at this time raise high waves, and during the low season at this resort, swimming can end quite badly.

Beaches

In these two resorts, the beaches are mostly quite suitable for recreation, but each of them has its own characteristics. It should be noted that the coast of Unawatuna is closely built up with restaurants and hotels, so the beach has a rather insignificant length of up to 1 km. Despite its small size, there are no problems with sunbeds on the beach. On a small area of ​​Uwanatuna beach, there are all kinds of water activities. The main advantage of this beach is the natural barrier of coral reefs that protects the beach from high waves. Because of this, the beach is considered the safest and most suitable for swimming. In its western part there is a specially designated place for bathing vacationers with children.

Jungle Beach is a 20-minute walk from Unawatuna. You can get to it on foot along a mountain path that runs through the jungle. The trail is constantly looked after and not allowed to overgrow, and a wire fence stretches along the trail so that tourists do not get lost in the forest on their way to the beach. Jungle Beach is quite small and picturesque. It is often visited by wild monkeys begging for food from tourists. However, this beach is located near the city of Galle, so the water is often polluted with household waste.

The Hikkaduwa beach differs from the Unawatuna beach in its huge size and stretches along the sea coast for several kilometers. The beaches of Hikkaduwa are well equipped. Here you can easily get a sunbed and enjoy various water activities. This beach is considered a great place for surfers, as high waves almost always rise here. However, inexperienced swimmers and vacationers with children should not swim here.

Infrastructure and attractions

If we compare the level of infrastructure development of these two resorts, then Hikkaduwa is much more comfortable in this regard. Here you can easily exchange currency and buy everything you need in local supermarkets. At the same time, it cannot be argued that there is no service in Uwanatuna. Simply, if you need anything, you need to spend more time searching or go for food and medicine in the neighboring city of Galle. In addition, Colombo International Airport is located closer to Hikkaduwa than to Unawatuna. Therefore, the road to Unawatuna will cost more and take longer. However, accommodation for tourists in Unawatuna is cheaper than in Hikkaduwa. Therefore, tourists who are less demanding on living conditions go to Unawatuna to rest, although inexpensive housing can be found in Hikkaduwa.

In addition to a beach holiday, most tourists tend to get acquainted with local attractions. It is worth noting that they are absent in Hikkaduwa, and in Unawatuna there are small religious buildings represented by Buddhist temples and pagodas. Interesting sights can be seen by going on an excursion along the coast or inland.

The local attractions of Hikkaduwa include the National Park, but at the present time it has fallen into disrepair. Not far from the city there are mines of precious stones. Some of them accept tourists. Here you can see how precious stones are mined and processed, and in a local shop you can buy jewelry for a reasonable price if you bargain.

Not far from Hikkaduwa on the island is the Seenigama Vihara temple, which can only be reached by boat. Among the many local places of worship, this temple is interesting in that you can ask for retribution for the robbers. The locals, who have become victims of thieves, go to the island to read spells in the temple, calling on the gods for a just punishment for the criminal.

In Hikkaduwa, the attention of tourists is attracted by the monument to the victims of the 2004 tsunami. A huge Buddha statue is located on a small island in the middle of a small artificial pond. Around the statue of Buddha are tablets with the names of those who died in that terrible catastrophe.

Not far from Hikkaduwa there is a sea turtle farm where guests are always welcome. Therefore, here you can hear a lot of interesting things about the life of these reptiles. For a fee, tourists can release small turtles into the sea.

In the mask museum in Ambalangoda, you can not only watch the process of making traditional wooden masks, but also buy one of them as a souvenir.

The nearest attractions of Unawatuna are located in the city of Galle. Among them, the most interesting for tourists is the ancient fort, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Not far from Unawatuna there is a place little known to tourists, but no less interesting. If it is not possible to visit a real national park, you can visit the Kottawa forest. This forest is a real tropical paradise in which a variety of exotic plants grow. Of course, it is difficult to see large representatives of the local fauna here, but you can admire tropical butterflies and birds. In this forest, a pool was equipped for tourists, which receives cool water from a stream.

If you go to the center of the island for new experiences, you can visit the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, as well as the rock of Sigiriya, on which an ancient city with the same name was built in the 5th century.

Recommended reading Sinharaja Rainforest, Sri Lanka.