Ultimate Arugam Bay & Pottuvil Travel Guide {Sri Lanka} 2025
- Kate Colliety
- May 22
- 12 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
After a long day driving Sri Lanka’s winding country roads in our Tuktuk, we finally arrived in the chaotic and overwhelming town of Pottuvil. Bustling street markets, bus stations, honking taxis and people everywhere - it was chaos to say the least. But just a short 5-minute drive further along the road, through the chaos, everything changed. As we crossed the bridge, leaving the noise behind, just a stone's throw away we were met by a family of elephants, standing calmly in the lagoon. Welcome to Arugam Bay.
The town of Arugam Bay is centered around surfing, so much so that it is known as the surf capital of Sri Lanka. As you make your way through the town, past the elephant lagoon, you’ll notice the laid back vibes take over. Beachfront bars, reggae music, artisan coffee shops, everything feels a world away from the chaos of Pottuvil, you’ve arrived in paradise.
Arugam Bay Sri Lanka was one of our favourite spots in our whole Southeast Asia trip, the friendliness of the locals and community felt unmatched. We witnessed a sunset surf at main point surf spot with dolphins cruising by, creeks full of crocodiles, and elephant rock. Incredible wildlife, friendly locals, great food, surf and reggae music, what more could you want from a tropical paradise.
Read on to find out everything we wished we had known before heading to Arugam Bay: how long to visit, itineraries to make the most of your stay, the top things to see and do, best places to stay and more, all in one helpful post.
Contents
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Best Time To Visit Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Being a seasonal town, heavily dependent on tourism & surfing, the best time to visit Arugam Bay is during the dry season (May-September), with the best weather which also coincides with the best surf. However, with peak season comes much higher prices, some places can even be 4x as high!
So although October-April is the off season, you will be greeted with cheaper prices, less tourists and rain - lots of it. The town of Pottuvil is much more local and is bustling chaos all year round, compared to Arugam Bay, where many of the restaurants close for the rain. We don’t really recommend visiting Arugam Bay after October as many restaurants shut down meaning there is little atmosphere left.
How To Get To Arugam Bay & Pottuvil
Arugam Bay & Pottuvil are located on the south-east coast of Sri Lanka, just next to the Kumana National Park and famous Yala. Being slightly further out of the way from the main tourist loop, going from Ella to the south coast, gives travellers a chance to travel without the crowds, which are evident in Weligama’s surf breaks. There are several main ways to get to Arugam Bay depending on your budget:
Families: Private Car or Taxi
One of the most comfortable and convenient options is a private taxi, the driver will pick you up from your current hotel and drop you off in Arugam Bay at your next stay. This option comes at a cost, however is great for families on a two week vacation.
Rental Car: For the families out there who like to be on their own schedule, a rental car gives you the flexibility to travel at your own pace. Giving you the option to visit the famous elephant road on the way.
Budget Travellers: Public Transport Bus or Train
The buses in Sri Lanka are a budget travellers best friend, cheap and chaotic. They run from both Colombo and Ella straight to Pottuvil bus station, ideal for travellers who can handle the noise, strange looks and sketchy driving. There’s no direct train to Arugam Bay or Pottuvil, so you’ll have to get the train to Badulla, then a taxi or Tuktuk.
Backpackers: Shared Tourist Van or Drive a Tuktuk
Shared tourist vans run from the main tourist towns such as Colombo, Ella and Kandy straight to Arugam Bay in peak season. You can pre-book your transport from Ella to Arugam Bay.
We opted to rent a tuktuk and had a crazy adventure, making our own way and taking the scenic routes between places. We highly recommend you take the leap and use code “KandM” for a 5% discount on your trip.
Top Things To Do Arugam Bay Map
Top Things To Do Arugam Bay
Go Surfing!
This easily has to be the number one thing to do in Arugam Bay, it is a surf town afterall. If you’ve already got a solid foundation with surfing and know your way around the waves or were born in Australia, then we recommend just renting a scooter/tuktuk and heading to the best surf spots in Arugam Bay. If you’re like us, completely new to surfing, or you need a refresher - we recommend getting a Surf Lesson. The instructor showed us a couple of different spots and gave us the basic knowledge so we could get to a point and go out on our own.
Book your surf lessons here! Arugam Bay is much quieter than places on the south coast so we recommend surfing here
Tuktuk Safari
The wildlife in the surrounding areas of Arugam Bay is incredible, although we did a Wilpattu Safari, we wished we had just stayed in Arugam Bay for longer! The usual safari’s in the national parks and big jeeps will cost anywhere from £50-100 a ticket, which is a high price considering everything that can be seen in the national parks (except for leopards!) can be seen from a tuktuk in the surrounding Pottuvil areas. More on this below!
A 5-minute drive out of town in the opposite direction to Pottuvil, you’ll come across signs to a military base. Once you turn onto the dirt track and wind through the trees, you’ll eventually come to Elephant Rock Viewpoint, a stunning spot for sunrise and sunset and one of the best things to do in Arugam Bay.
Elephants and crocs are active in the area so make sure to be aware as you’re going through to get to the viewpoint. As we drove through the dirt tracks in our Tuktuk to get to the beach, we came across an elephant standing in the bushes. We stayed calm, moved the branches that had fallen into the road and gave it space to drive past. Location
Kumana National Park Safari
You’ve probably read in multiple places by now that the national park safaris in Sri Lanka are questionable, however if you’re stubborn like us and adamant to still go on one, we recommend Kumana. A smaller national park connected to the overcrowded Yala, Kumana Park Safari’s are said to be the least crowded and you still have a chance of seeing a leopard.
Muhudu Maha Vihara
On the edge of Pottuvil is the Mududu Maha Vihara temple, the bright white stupa can be seen from Arugam Bay Beach, shining bright in the midday sun. With a rich history to understand, we found that these temples are only really worth visiting with a guide, otherwise it's just another stupa to look at. When visiting Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka, we found the same problem of not understanding the history. Location
Yoga Arugam Bay
After surfing, there’s three things that come to mind: a massage, yoga and pancakes. Throughout the town you’ll see signs for all three. Yoga is a great way to meet like-minded travellers in Arugam Bay and release some stress, which might be needed if you chose to get the bus there!
Pottuvil Lagoon Safari
Surprisingly, this is one of the Safari’s we actually recommend doing! Go with a local on one of their boats around the lagoon and you’ll spot wild elephants, giant crocodiles, more birds than you can count, crabs and so much more. This mangrove tour has great reviews and costs a third of what a national park safari would, without the queues of jeeps waiting in line to get a glimpse of a hard to spot “leopard” in a bush.
Café Hopping
Anywhere there's surfers, there's smoothie bowls. Arugam Bay town is jam packed with aesthetic cafés and great food on a budget.
Hideaway Blue: Trendy & chic
with top tier smoothie bowls, great coffee and strong Wi-Fi.
Salty Swamis: Beachfront chill spot, serving up breakfast hoppers and iced lattes.
Thaththa’s Tea Shop: Cheap & laid back surf café known for strong espresso and massive pancakes. Perfect spot after surfing Arugam Bay Beach.
Kudumbigala Monastery
If you’re up for a challenge and have your own method of transport, then this Monastery gives you epic views of the Pottuvil and Arugam Bay area. It's a tough climb to the peak and about a 45 minute drive from the main town, so it's not ideal to get a taxi. If that sounds like too much hard work then the next one is probably more for you. Location
Chill at Arugam Bay Beach
Whether you’re into surfing or not, you’ll find yourself gravitating towards Arugam Bay Beach most days as that's where the action is. You can grab a sunset cocktail in one of the beachfront bars, or just chill out on the sand. The beach is also lined with the iconic Sri Lankan fishing boats which you can watch the locals lift out of the ocean every afternoon. Location
While visiting Elephant Rock Beach, you’ll also see a sign for Peanut Farm Beach located on the other side of the military base. This is a great surf spot and where we went to learn, there's a surf camp located right on the beach with a small café on site. Definitely worth checking out, even if you don’t surf. Location
Drinks & Beach Parties
Arugam Bay is known for its nightlife in peak season, people surf in the day and party at night. A popular spot is Mambos Bar which has a beach party every week, in peak season there are a lot of parties going on and hostels will host their own nights out. Whiskey Point is also another party spot but requires a tuk tuk to get back. Arugam Bay Beach is a popular cocktail spot, with loads of beachfront cocktail bars, perfect for sunset.
Just past the chaotic town of Pottuvil is Whiskey Point, a perfect spot for relaxing on the beach in front of the beachfront bars. It’s also a great Arugam Bay surf spot, or you can simply order some food and chill on the beach. Location
Get a Massage Post-Surf
We never fully understood why there were so many massage shops around surf towns in Thailand, until we learnt to surf and couldn’t get out of bed the next day. Muscles hurt in places you didn’t even know existed and even getting to the toilet is a huge effort, that’s where a massage comes in!
Arugam Bay Wildlife
As we mentioned above, one of the highlights of our time in Arugam Bay was the wildlife. Pottuvil is hectic, Arugam Bay is touristy, but the surrounding area…. is untouched. Wild and raw, the popular toque macaques can be seen causing trouble all over town, as well as the rarer black-faced langurs.
The Pottuvil Lagoon brings herds of elephants for bathing on a regular basis as well as buffalo, and the creeks are full to the brim with enormous crocs. Arugam Bay and Pottuvil are home to a diverse combination of ecosystems, from the thick jungle, wetlands and lagoons, to the coast, causing a mixing pot of some of the best wildlife we saw during our time in Sri Lanka. A truly wild gem.
Here are our two favourite spots for seeing elephants and crocs for free! We visited at least once everyday because we were so amazed:
Known as the surfing capital of Sri Lanka for a reason! Here are our favourite surf breaks in Arugam bay:
Main Point: Intermediate to Advanced
Baby Point: Beginners
Pottuvil Point: All levels
Elephant Rock: Beginners to Advanced
Peanut Farm: All levels
Whiskey Point: Beginners & Intermediate
Suggested Itineraries For Arugam Bay
3-day Arugam Bay Itinerary
If you’re just passing through, then three days is enough time to see the highlights.
Day 1: Arrive and check into your accommodation. Explore the town and head down to Arugam Bay Beach where you can have your first look at the Sri Lankan surf. If you plan on surfing, you’ll most likely need to chat to a local surf shop to get some lessons or rent a board.
Day 2: Surf! Straight into it on day two, either go on your lesson or hire a scooter/board. Alternatively, you could explore Elephant Rock’s Hike and Peanut Farm Beach which are next to each other.
Day 3: On the last day of the three day Arugam Bay Itinerary, why not explore Pottuvil? Do the Lagoon Safari to spot elephants, crocs, monkeys and more. Then check out the Muhudu Maha Vihara if you’re into temples, and spend the afternoon with dinner on Whiskey Point Beach.
The three days itinerary is a whistle stop tour to Arugam Bay considering your first day is checking in and exploring the town. We recommend spending longer here, especially if you’re surfing.
Discover The Top Things To Do In Sri Lanka!
While driving around the country for 2-months, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited and were recommended in Sri Lanka. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your Sri Lankan adventure! Don’t miss out...click here to view for free!
7-day Arugam Bay Itinerary
Day 3: More surf! Head to some of the best surf spots in Arugam Bay.
Day 4: Mooch the local shops, try a local cooking class or just relax on the beach before heading down the beachfront for sunset cocktails.
Day 5: If you loved the Lagoon Safari, then it might be worth checking out Kumana National Park, either DIY in your own tuktuk or via a jeep tour.
Day 6: By this time, you’re settled into the relaxed Arugam Bay rhythm, hopefully enjoying the raw nature for free (Crocodile Watching Spot & Elephant Lagoon) and have been surfing. Do it some more and appreciate it, because we found places like this don’t always come around on your travels often.
Longer in Arugam Bay?
If you’re spending more time in Arugam Bay, then you’re most likely a surfer, digital nomad or both. We spent 10 days in this paradise town, we surfed Peanut Farm Beach and worked from the cafés most days.
Best Arugam Bay Restaurants
Read here for all of our recommendations on the best restaurants in Arugam Bay!
Best Arugam Bay Tours
Arugam Bay FAQs
Where is Arugam Bay?
Located on the south-east coast of Sri Lanka, Arugam Bay is just next to Kumana National Park and the famous Yala. Slightly off the usual tourist route, Arugam Bay gives travellers the opportunity to see the real side to Sri Lanka with relaxed surf vibes.
What To Do in Arugam Bay?
You definitely won’t be bored in Arugam Bay! The wildlife in the surrounding areas is some of the best in Sri Lanka, with free elephant and crocodile watching spots, Pottuvil lagoon safari and Kumana National Park. The number 1 thing to do is surf, from beginners to advanced, this seasonal town revolves around surfing. Alternatively, you can hike Elephant Rock Viewpoint & Beach, or simply relax with a cocktail in hand at Arugam Bay Beach!
How To Get To Arugam Bay?
Private Taxi: Comfortable, convenient but expensive. A good option for families. A pre-booked private taxi is the most convenient way to get to Arugam Bay.
Rental Car: You can travel at your own pace in comfort, this is a good option for the adventurous families out there who can brave the Sri Lankan roads.
Public Transport: Get the train to Badulla, then a connecting taxi or trike. Alternatively, get the public bus which goes straight to Pottuvil bus station, ideal for budget travellers.
Shared Tourist Van: Ideal for most backpackers, these tourist vans run from the major towns in peak season. Pre-book your transport from Ella to Arugam Bay on 12Go
Rent a Tuktuk: If you’re craving adventure like us, then rent a tuktuk and drive your way around Sri Lanka! Use code “KandM” for 5% off your travels
Is Arugam Bay Safe?
Yes, we really found it safe for couples and solo-travellers. The US embassy actually put out a terrorist warning during our time there so many tourists decided to leave. But honestly, it was one of the friendliest towns we visited, the laid back surf vibes took over. As always in Sri Lanka, you have to keep your wits about you especially late at night, as many of the locals drink & drive.
Is Arugam Bay Expensive?
Not really, you can get a place to stay, tuktuk and surf board for a cheap budget. Combined with great food, what more could you want. If you’re eating in the western style restaurants, then these will cost slightly more but overall it's a pretty cheap town.
How Long in Arugam Bay?
If you’re not surfing, then 3-5 days is plenty to see the wildlife and relax on the beaches. If you’re a surfer, then how long is a piece of string, because we could’ve stayed here for weeks!
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.
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