Arugam Bay Beach: Guide To Sri Lanka’s Surf Haven 2025
- Kate Colliety
- May 21
- 8 min read
Updated: May 22
Tucked away on the south-east of Sri Lanka’s coast lies a small town home to some of the best surfing in the country, where wildlife, friendly locals and tourists from all over the world combine in a beautiful melting pot. The heart of that town is Arugam Bay Beach.
As you drive into the town you’ll go through the local area of Pottuvil, full of buses, honking traffic, locals shouting and chaos everywhere, until you cross the bridge. Separating paradise from chaos, the bridge goes over the lagoon, where elephants graze, buffalo relax and crocodiles cruise by, a self-guided safari right at your doorstep. As you keep driving, you’ll then arrive at the Arugam Bay Beach area, surfs up.
Lined with picturesque cafés serving up iced lattes and smoothie bowls, as well as surf shacks offering board rental for $3 a day, there’s no shortage of things to do and eat at Arugam Bay Beach. We spent just over two weeks in this laid-back town and could’ve spent longer, it's one of the few places on our travels where time just seemed to slow down, the days blend into each other, and the surfing rhythm takes over.
In this complete guide to Arugam Bay Beach Sri Lanka, we cover everything we wished we had known before visiting, from how to get there and where to surf, to the best food and hidden gems waiting for you to discover.
Contents
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Where Is Arugam Bay Beach?
Arugam Bay Beach is located on the south-eastern coast of Sri Lanka, hugging the Indian Ocean and backing onto thick jungle, home to some incredible wildlife. The town is just a short drive from Kumana National Park, a much quieter safari experience compared to its more famous big brother Yala.
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How To Get To Arugam Bay Beach?
Private Taxi
Convenient, fast and door-to-door which is ideal for families, a pre-booked private taxi is the most convenient way to get to Arugam Bay.
If you can drive, a rental car gives you the flexibility to stop off at Diyaluma Falls on the way from Ella to Arugam Bay or do a self guided safari.
Train or Bus
The buses are a budget backpackers best friend, but be prepared for absolute chaos and some dodgy looks from locals. The Trains aren’t loads better but quite a bit faster, although there’s no direct train to Arugam Bay or Pottuvil, you can get the train to Badulla, then a short taxi or Tuktuk.
Tourist Van
In peak season, loads of tourist shuttle vans run from the major tourist destinations such as Colombo, Kandy, Ella and Weligama to Arugam Bay. This is the best way to get around for travellers.
Tuktuk Rental
We chose to rent our own Tuktuk to travel across Sri Lanka and absolutely fell in love with the adventure, it made our trip. You can do the same and save 5% off when you use the code “KandM”.
Arugam Bay Beach Description
The thriving heart of the town is at Arugam Bay Beach, we found ourselves gravitating towards it every night for dinner and that’s where you’ll find the life and party in the town. Home to some of the best food we ate while in Sri Lanka, Arugam Bay’s best restaurants will leave you wanting more, unless you’re full from one of the famous $2 rice and curry buffets.
Being a surf town, the unwritten rule is that smoothie bowls must be served, and the cafés definitely deliver. For brunch or a midday bite you’ll find some of Arugam Bay’s best cafés down the local backstreets just next to the beach, like Shady Lane.
If you’re looking to do some surfing then you’re in for a treat, Arugam Bay Beach has two main spots, Baby Point for beginners and Main Point for intermediate/advanced surfers, both are explained in more detail below.
There are plenty of surf shops around Arugam Bay Beach, we used No Worries Surf Shop for our first lesson at Peanut Farm Beach which was great for learning the ropes. After that, we felt confident enough to explore some of Arugam Bay’s best surf spots for ourselves, so we rented a board from Krish’s Surf Shack and headed out.
Krish’s is right next to Arugam Bay Beach so ideal as you don’t have to walk too far with the board. It's also next door to a local spot, Thaththa’s Tea Shop, serving huge portions of chocolate pancakes, the perfect post-surf treat.
Arugam Bay Beach Surfing
Main Point Surf Spot
The focus of Arugam Bay Beach is here at main point surf spot. It’s where crowds gather to watch the surfers fly down long waves, giving it an extra crowd factor. This is the most powerful break in the area and what many surfers travel to Sri Lanka to catch. It’s a long right-hand point break that can deliver epic 100-500 meter rides, wrapping around the bay into baby point.
On a bigger swell day, the waves here can barrel and on a calm day it will most likely be the only spot working, so you can expect it to be busy. Definitely for intermediates and advanced surfers, with a steep take-off and 4-10ft waves.
Wave Type: Point Break
Waves: 4-10ft
Direction: Right
Distance: 100-500 meters
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Bottom: Reef/Rocks
Paddle Out: Easy
Crowds: Busy
Tides: Any
Risk: Medium
Arugam Bay is the best place to surf in Sri Lanka, we took some lessons there and found it a great spot to learn
Baby Point Surf Spot
As main point heads around the beach and loses its power, it becomes what the locals call Baby Point, Arugam Bay’s best surf spot for beginners. Over a sandy bottom, it’s much more suited for beginners to practice their popups without risking hurting themselves on a rocky bottom and no risk of closeouts. The wave has a gentle takeoff and rides for 25-50 meters, beginners can also walk their boards out so the paddling is nice and easy.
If you’re looking to learn to surf while in Arugam Bay, baby point and peanut farm beach are perfect spots. During peak season, these spots can be overwhelmingly busy, so if you prefer less crowds, it will be worth getting an instructor who will take you out of town.
Wave Type: Point Break
Waves: 2-4ft
Direction: Right
Distance: 25-50 meters
Level: Beginners
Bottom: Sandy
Paddle Out: Easy/Can walk
Crowds: Busy
Tides: Any
Risk: Low
Tip: The only thing to look out for when surfing at baby point is to avoid crashing into swimmers, when we surfed here the water was very busy and it felt as though we might crash into people, so watch out! There are also several other amazing Surf Spots around Arugam Bay.
Coffee, Smoothie Bowls and Pancakes
Post-surf we found out there’s a few necessary things that have to happen: coffee, pancakes and maybe even a massage. Arugam Bay Beach is home to some of the most aesthetic little cafes serving up fresh coffee, colourful smoothie bowls and generous portions of pancakes. If you’re a digital nomad in Arugam Bay, you’ll also find a few great spots with strong WiFi and good coffee to get some work done, Kaffi is one of our top picks.
The Best Restaurants at Arugam Bay Beach
The town is also home to some of the best food we ate during our trip to Sri Lanka, from $2 all you can eat curry & rice buffets, to pizza and fresh seafood. One of the highlights was the fresh BBQs around the town, pick your fish caught fresh that day, and they’ll cook it right on the open fire, served with garlic rice and salad.
Arugam Bay Beach FAQs
How Much Is Entrance to Arugam Bay Beach?
Free! Just park up or walk down to the front and enjoy the beach.
Is There Parking At Arugam Bay Beach?
Yes, we had a Tuktuk and parked just in-front of the beach, but there is also a bigger carpark here.
Can I Surf at Arugam Bay Beach?
Hell yeah! Arugam Bay Beach is one of the best places to surf in Sri Lanka. Baby Point is great for beginners, a sandy bottom and mellow take-off with 2-4ft waves provides the perfect learning environment. Main Point is great for intermediate and advanced surfers providing a 100-500 meter right hand wave, attracting huge crowds.
How Much Are Surf Lessons At Arugam Bay Beach?
A great place to learn the ropes, you can expect a surf lesson to typically cost $25-30 each. We did one while in Arugam Bay to learn the ropes and then rented a board to practise ourselves the next day.
How Much Is Board Rental At Arugam Bay Beach?
You can rent a board for the whole day from $3-5 depending on the shop you choose. It’s more than reasonable to rent a board in Sri Lanka.
What are the Best Restaurants at Arugam Bay Beach?
Where do we start! Emily’s Place is great for Mediterranean food, Mr Fisherman for fresh fish, Pizza Hub and there are multiple all you can eat $2 rice & curry buffets you have to try!
Read our full blog on the Best Restaurants in Arugam Bay here.
What Should I Bring To Arugam Bay Beach?
Keep it simple, a microfibre towel and a waterproof phone case is all you’ll need to have a great day at Arugam Bay Beach.
If you’re surfing, then a UV surf top & some zinc.
Arugam Bay Travel Tips
For cheaper local food, head over to the neighbouring town of Pottuvil.
To get to Arugam Bay & Pottuvil’s Best Surf Spots, rent a Tuktuk (use code “KandM” for 5% off) and put the boards on top, you’ll have the freedom to go wherever.
The Pottuvil Lagoon Safari is epic, but if you don’t have the budget, there's free elephant and crocodile watching places just outside the town. If you really want a safari then Kumana National Park is the quietest as everyone is too busy queueing to get into Yala.
Embrace The Chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
Stay in Homestays - Staying in local homestays meant we experienced authentic food and the local way of life. Everyone was extremely friendly and happy to help.
Best Arugam Bay Tours
Final Thoughts on Arugam Bay Beach, Sri Lanka
If you’re still wondering whether to visit Arugam Bay Beach, then we say go for it! Yes, the surf can get crowded, but that’s because it’s one of the best surf spots in Sri Lanka. Whether you’re catching a wave yourself or sipping an iced latte, Arugam Bay Beach is a beautiful spot to get a smoothie bowl and watch the pros do their thing.
What really sets Arugam Bay apart though, is the mix of surf-town vibes and raw nature. The wildlife in the surrounding areas is incredible, and just beyond the beach you can see elephants, crocodiles and buffalo roaming the lagoons. This melting pot of nature and civilisation is incredible. We also have a complete guide on visiting Arugam Bay on your trip with Itineraries, the best time to visit and more.
After spending two weeks in the town and going to Arugam Bay Beach more times than we could count, we highly recommend visiting this spot of paradise. We fell into the perfect rhythm of surf, food and slow afternoons working from the cafes. Whether you’re visiting to surf, relax, or just enjoy some of the best food, Arugam Bay Beach is 100% worth adding to your Sri Lanka Itinerary.
Read here for a full list of Arugam Bay’s Top Things To Do!
Driving the B35 Elephant Road in Sri Lanka was one of the major highlights of our trip. Renting a Tuktuk made our trip unforgettable, use code KandM for 5% off your adventure.
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