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.
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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.
Rental Car
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, book here!
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.
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- 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.
We have created a full list of the best cafes in Arugam Bay!
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
Best Places To Stay In Arugam Bay
$ Budget
Jama’s Stay
A great option for budget backpackers is Jama’s Stay in the heart of Arugam Bay. For less than $10 a night, Jama’s will give you the perfect base to explore the town as it’s close to main point. It’s also a popular spot with travellers for their homemade rice & curry.
$$ Mid-Range
Upali Beach Surf Resort
Less than $20 a night and located literally on the corner of main point, if you stay here you’ll have a view of the waves from your own private beach hut. The huts are a short walk into town but the real beauty of this place is the two minute commute to the lineup! If you surf or not, this is one of the best places to stay in Arugam Bay.
$$$ High-End
Bay Vista Hotel
Bay Vista Hotel is a great choice for families or luxury couples looking to relax and escape from the chaos that Sri Lanka can sometimes be. The rooms are clean, fresh and comfortable. Located right on the beachfront so you can go for a dip every morning. Great food served in the restaurant and a great choice for a place to stay in Arugam Bay.
Spacing
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!
Best Arugam Bay Tours
Driving the B35 Elephant Road in Sri Lanka was one of the major highlights of our trip. Renting a Tuk Tuk made our trip unforgettable.
Essential Items for Sri Lanka
Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind, plus you’re helping the environment
The week sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high DEET percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes.
Water Shoes – Lightweight with Protection
Stay protected from sea urchins with these shoes. Also useful for trekking to waterfalls and snorkelling. We also love our microfibre towel and dry bag.
Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country… game changer.
