Hikkaduwa & Around Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Local transport

Taxi

Most of the taxis in Hikkaduwa are minibuses able to hold about eight passengers, so they can be quite cheap if there’s a group of you. Most gather in front of the top-end hotels. Some sample fares are Galle Rs 1000, Unawatuna Rs 1200, Tangalla Rs 2000 to 2400, Colombo Rs 2000 to 2400, and Bandaranaike International Airport Rs 2800.

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Land

Bus

There are frequent buses from Colombo (regular/air-con Rs 54/110, two to three hours). Buses also operate frequently to Ambalangoda (Rs 13, 15 minutes) and Galle (Rs 13, 30 minutes). Buses to Galle or beyond will drop you south of the bus station along the guesthouse strip. When leaving Hikkaduwa you stand more chance of a seat if you start at the bus station.

Motorcycle

Motorcycles are readily available for rent in Hikkaduwa. Depending on the size of the machine and your negotiating skills expect to pay roughly Rs 600 to 1500 per day; ask at your hotel or guesthouse.

Train

The trains can get very crowded; avoid the really slow ones that stop everywhere. Check at the station for express departure times. Service on the coast line is fairly frequent; some destinations include Colombo (2nd/3rd class Rs 91/43, two to three hours), Galle (2nd/3rd class Rs 19/10, 30 minutes) and beyond to Matara.

There’s one direct express to Kandy each day (2nd/3rd class Rs 200/107, six hours).

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