Without a doubt, our favourite surf spot in Sri Lanka was Arugam Bay’s Peanut Farm Beach. Although difficult to get to, that’s part of the charm. Tucked away from the crowds, this remote beach is perfect for beginner to intermediate surfing. With a small surf camp on site and really not much else, the atmosphere here is unmatched.
Wondering if Peanut Farm Beach is worth the trip? Curious about what the surf is like, how to get there, or whether it’s a good spot to chill for the day, or maybe even do some fishing? You’re in the right place, this blog covers everything you need to know.
Perched on the south-east coast of Sri Lanka, hugging the edge of the Indian Ocean, is the laid-back surf town of Arugam Bay, a place where wildlife, friendly locals and travellers from all around the world come together in a beautiful mixing pot. Just outside the town lies Peanut Farm Beach, a remote stretch of golden sand, aptly named after an old, abandoned peanut farm. This wild and remote beach is framed by thick jungle to one side and the Indian Ocean on the other, stretching all the way down to Elephant Rock. With elephants and crocodiles often roaming nearby, you have to be careful when visiting, here’s everything you need to know before visiting Peanut Farm Beach in Arugam Bay.
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Where Is Peanut Farm Beach, Arugam Bay?
Just a short 5-minute drive out of town, in the opposite direction to the chaos of Pottuvil town, you’ll find the turnoff for peanut farm beach. Tucked just the other side of a military base and down a dusty track, like all the best surf spots, it’s hard to get to.
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Best Time To Visit Peanut Farm Beach
The best time to surf at peanut farm beach, and Arugam Bay in general, is May to October, when the waves are consistent and good for all levels from beginner to advanced surfers. As usual with surfing, the most popular times are early morning and late afternoon, when the sun is low and the heat isn’t too strong. That said, during peak season Peanut Farm Beach is surfable all day.
In the off season (November to April), the town of Arugam Bay goes quiet. Many of the restaurants/cafés close for the rainy season, meaning cheaper accommodation prices and less crowds, but no surf and less atmosphere.
How To Get To Peanut Farm Beach?
Rental Scooter
The most popular way of getting to Peanut Farm Beach is by rental scooter. Once you turn off the main road, it’s all dirt track the rest of the way, bumpy in parts and slippery after rain, so take it easy and drive slow.
Tuktuk
We rented a Tuktuk during our time in Sri Lanka and fell in love with the adventure. You can rent Tuktuks in Arugam Bay town to get to Peanut Farm beach, but they’re not as mobile as the scooters, so we had to take it very slow getting down to the beach with a much bumpier ride.
Elephants On The Road
Safety Tip: When visiting Peanut Farm beach, we don’t recommend going too early or too late in the day. Elephants are really common in the area (we drove past one), and while that’s part of the magic, visiting when the sun isn’t fully up might be sketchy. Take your time and if you bump into an elephant on the track, stay calm, give them space and slowly back away. Most travellers make it to Peanut Farm Beach without any issues and are completely fine getting there!
Peanut Farm Beach Description
Once you get through the dirt track road, you’ll reach a small parking area just beside the military base entrance. Park up and stroll down onto the silky smooth sand, take in the incredible views of the misty Jungle treeline backed straight onto a paradise beach. To your right, near the cluster of boulders, you’ll spot the beginner surf break, a relaxed rolling wave perfect for those learning the ropes.
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Peanut Farm Beach Surfing
Surf Spots
There are multiple surf breaks at Peanut Farm Beach suitable for beginners, intermediates and advanced surfers:
Beginner Surf Break
Right in the front of the beach is where you’ll find the beginner surf schools. This section can be chaotic on busy days, when Peanut Farm beach is the only spot producing waves in the area. Local instructors all push tourists on softboards at the same time towards the beach, entertaining to watch as some fall, others crash and some manage to keep standing.
The wave here is a pretty tame 2-4ft swell with a soft sandy bottom, so is a great place to learn. It’s also suitable for intermediate surfers when it’s not as busy. Paddle out along the rocks and surf the right hand wave all the way in, when the surf schools are there you’ll have too many people to dodge to ride it the whole way in.
Compared to the often hectic Main Point Arugam Bay Surf Break, Peanut Farm is much more relaxed.
- Wave Type: Point Break
- Direction: Right
- Distance: 25-100 meters
- Level: Beginners
- Bottom: Sandy
- Paddle Out: Easy
- Tides: Any
- Risk: Low
Main Point Surf Break
Further around the bay will bring you to Peanut Farm beach main surf point, only suitable for confident intermediate to advanced surfers due to the shallow rocks. As you walk to the right of the boulders and around the coast to the next bay, the wave breaks to the next group of rocks on the headland. Offering a much more relaxed line up compared to Main Point at Arugam Bay.
On a big swell day, the two points combine, meaning you’ll be able to surf the whole way in, past the beginners.
- Wave Type: Point Break
- Direction: Right
- Distance: 100–300 meters
- Level: Intermediate & Advanced
- Bottom: Rocky
- Paddle Out: Easy
- Tides: Any
- Risk: Medium
We used & recommend SafetyWing Travel Insurance, with worldwide coverage of over 30 activities including surfing when you choose their adventure sports add-on.
Board Rental at Peanut Farm Beach
There’s board rental available directly on the beach from the surf camp however the price is nearly double what you’ll pay in town. We rented our boards from No Worries Surf Shop, strapped them to the roof of our tuktuk and made the short drive out.
If you’re surfing closer to Arugam Bay Beach main or baby point, there are closer shops to the beach.
Peanut Farm Beach Surf Lessons
If you’re looking for lessons, on google you’ll find Shane’s Surf School right on the corner of Peanut Farm Beach. It seems to have great reviews from both beginners and intermediate surfers, so might be worth checking out, especially if you have your own transport.
Alternatively, you can pre-book your surf lessons online and they’ll take you to the best spot for that day.
🗺️ Your Ultimate Sri Lanka Map
On our way, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited in Sri Lanka. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your adventure!
Peanut Farm Beach Surf Camp
Pretty much the only infrastructure in the area other than the military base and a couple of local homes is the surf camp. Peanut Farm Surf Camp and Wild Resort looked great when we stopped by, a very relaxed corner of the world, with a café on-site and beach huts with warm showers. Staying here means you can surf Peanut Farm beach at the off-peak times and not when others come from Arugam Bay town, the surf point is literally 20 meters from your bedroom!
Book your stay at the Surf Camp online today!
Peanut Farm 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 Peanut Farm Beach Arugam Bay
We must’ve sold you on visiting Peanut Farm Beach by now! This slice of paradise is a must-visit spot when in Arugam Bay, the huge golden stretch of sand hugged between the wild Indian Ocean and thick jungle makes you feel like you’re in a movie.
Perfect for beginners, the sandy bottom 2-4ft swell is risk free and gives you a chance to grow your confidence catching waves. While intermediate and advanced surfers have the option to go further out to the main point. If you’re not surfing, there’s not much to do on Peanut Farm Beach other than grabbing an iced latte, relaxing on the beach and watching the surfers.
The entry road is a bumpy dirt track winding around the military base surrounded by jungle. Drive slowly and keep an eye out for elephants as they’re commonly seen on the route. Enjoy your day in paradise.
Best Arugam Bay Tours
Essential Items for Sri Lanka
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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.
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