Hikkaduwa Things to Do

Bottom line: if you want to sleep with one of the Sri Lanka surfers at Mambo's (eww), stay here. If you are just in Hikkaduwa to surf or make friends, stay far, far away. If you're a dude, these guys will hassle you, not matter how nice you are to them!

When I first read about territorial beach boys at Mambos, I figured it was just a few disgruntled guys that they didn't get to score with a girl. But all of these negative reviews about the beach boys at Mambo's are 100 percent true. These Mambo's boys are total tools, and they are extremely territorial about girls and waves (mostly girls!).

I booked a room at Mambo's because it was known as a party spot and as a girl traveling solo, I wanted to make friends when I arrived. I was NOT traveling so that I could hook up with anyone, and especially not locals. I was just there to surf and make friends. I never once gave a remote glance or interest at a Mambo's boy. But these guys decided that they would cock-block any other tourist guy I tried to befriend.

When I was hanging out at the Mambo's Saturday nite beach party, I had just arrived and was looking to meet other travelers and get to know Hikkaduwa. I met several interesting male tourists and was just enjoying casual conversation. One by one, they were ALL threatened by a Mambo's boy and told to leave! It was a pattern, I would talk to a tourist guy for 10 minutes and then he'd tell me he was sorry but the Mambo's guys were making trouble and he had to leave! This happened three times in an hour!

By chance, I actually met and was able to talk with another solo tourist, a guy from Australia, later in the night. Maybe the Mambo's boys had their eyes on other girls at that point so they left us alone. I made plans to hang out with the Aussie the next day, and he was going to meet me at Mambo's where I was staying so we could go to dinner. When he got to Mambo's he was told he was not allowed in to see me! We got around this glitch and hung out that day together with other tourists just staying away from Mambos. The next day the Mambo's boys paddled out to him in the line up and told him to stay away from all girls at Mambo's and to pretty much get out of the water and leave Hikkaduwa! These Mambo's boys are a gang and they have a reputation of even stabbing tourists who don't oblige!

Needless to say, I checked out of Mambo's that day stayed in a much dirtier hotel and was MUCH happier meeting decent locals. Had I never left Mambo's I would have sadly thought that all guys in Hikkaduwa are creeps (turns out, there some kind ones.) It's my right to talk to whoever I want on MY vacation and I'm not going to let these guys control me, especially when I am the customer and I and paying them!

THERE ARE WAY BETTER PLACES THAN MAMBO'S IN HIKKADUWA. Places with friendly locals.

As for the surf, Mambo's isn't even in front of the main reef break. And there are at least five other places you can rent boards.

As for the party scene in Hikkaduwa, there are WAY better parties and clubs than Mambo's on a Saturday nite. Try Blue Moon on Tuesdays or Funky de Bar on Thursdays. Way better and way less Machismo!

I was in Hikkaduwa on march 2011. this is my second time to Hikkaduwa, so I wanted to see what else it has to offer besides the beach. by a chance I met Ajith, the cutest tuktuk driver in sri lanka!!!

ajith is a simple, honest sri lankan (and the only one with purple tuktuk), he knows the area very good and took me for a good 1 day trip, in cheap comparing to a regular car and driver.

very very recommended if you arrive to hikkaduwa and want to see more :)

Ajith : phone - 0094 716482768
Email : ajithbandara@hotmail.com

I have just returned from a fantastic 10days being looked after by Mambo and the boys from A frame surf shop. They were well natured boys with a passion for surfing who are all creating a supportive environment for Sri Lankan Tourism.

Out of all the places i have surfed i found here to be the least territoral and the local boys were nothing but friendly. They understand well that tourism is important. One young budding surfer even said to me "you take this wave, i live here i have them all the time, its your holiday."

Mambo himself is doing wonders for local tourism. He has a entrepreneurial mindset and a deep set passion for his home turf; paving the way for Sri Lankan surf. Additionally, he lends support to a bunch of young local boys who want to surf, by helping them out with a place to stay and food in return for help around his place. He is like the father of one big A Frame Family.

You can custom plan a surf safari tour being taken to secret locations or over to Arugam Bay if it is the right season. Mambo can provide you with a surf coach and decent rental boards.

He has comfortable vans that can jump in with a bunch of mates and they'll drive you to surf spots further down south! Basically anything you want they'll be able to do for you.

www.mambo.nu

Cheers to Mambo and the boys and the future of Sri Lankan surf!

keep your hearts and minds open
take advice, but most of all seek for yourselves
xx

On the beach about 2 kms north of Hikkaduwa is a very small private Turtle Research Center, which works to protect this endangered species. Turtle eggs selected for hatching & progressive stages of the development of turtles can be seen here. Eggs are collected or bought from local villagers and buried in the sand hatchery. If there is a lot o sunshine they hatch after 48 days. If it is raining it can take up to 60 days before the turtles emerge from the eggs. They are then placed in the tanks and for first 3 days remain without food to cleanse them of material ingested form the eggshell. They are then given small pieces of fish for a further 7 days, to learn to dive down into the tank to take the food. Then they can be safely released into the sea.
There are various kinds of turtles to be seen, also the big Green Turtle.

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Hikkaduwa has a beautiful beach, it is sandy and very wide, when we were there it was pretty clean too.
It is a great beach for chilling on with a book, and strolling along during the day and early evening, but the sea here is very rough and not ideal for a gentle dip.

You will find a few of the hostels and a couple of the shops on the main road hire body boards and surf boards. This is ideal because the waters here are perfect for that - just not swimming.
c%*

The most tragic memorial proving the disastrous power of the tsunami that hit Sri Lanka is the train that was destroyed by the gigantic wave with a lot of casualties. The original train stands in Hikkaduwa train station as a tragic memorial to those lost. Concidering the weight and dimensions of such train one can realize the size of the distraction.

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Standing like ghosts some buildings are live proof of the disastrous power of the tsunami that hit Sri Lanka and in more dense the coastal town of Hikkaduwa.
Luckily a lot of reconstruction has been made by foreign aid so one year later when I was there very little reminded of this huge catastrophe.

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Hikkaduwa was my last stop before departing Sri Lanka. I had a short walk in this coastal town.
I was rather unimpressed seeing how nowadays the beach has been limited in a thin strip of sand overshadowed by buildings. And this strip of sand was filled with tourists (most commonly drinking beer) and all sorts of boats for water sports.
Not tranquil at all and certainly a worse choice with other coastal places.
I guess if some people have booked a package tour accommodated in Hikkaduwa the wisest idea is to hire a motorbike and drive to other places