10 Best Things to Do in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka

Arugam Bay is Sri Lanka’s most famous surf spot. The world-renowned surf destination is home to a consistently long right-hand break that can provide rides of up to 500m long. It’s one of the longest rides in the world, with the mostly mellow waves attracting backpackers, surfers, and travellers alike.

In peak season, the small town on the east coast of Sri Lanka comes alive with a never-ending party scene. However, you can still find plenty of chances to relax on the surrounding beaches, at local cafes, or in any of the yoga studios.

I visited Arugam Bay on my second trip to Sri Lanka. While it was well and truly at the end of the tourist season, I found welcoming and friendly locals, great food, and beautiful nature and wildlife just on the doorstep of town.

There’s something for everyone in Arugam Bay. If you’re planning on visiting Sri Lanka during the middle of the year, then Arugam Bay should definitely be on your itinerary.

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How to Get to Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is not the easiest place to reach. It’s located south of Pottuvil on the east coast of Sri Lanka. You can only reach this corner of the island from either the north or west. To the south of Arugam Bay is mostly national park down to Yala.

Most people travel to Arugam Bay either from Trincomalee or Ella. However, you can also come all the way from the south coast too, if you’re ready for a long day of travel. Here’s how to travel to Arugam Bay by public transport.

From Trincomalee

Take a bus to Batticaloa from Trincomalee Bus Station, which takes about 4 hours. Then, change to a bus to Pottuvil. Otherwise, you might have to get a bus from Batticaloa to Kalmunai and then change again to Pottuvil. Just keep asking people, as it will depend on bus schedules and timings. Once in Pottuvil, either wait for the local bus to Panama or take a tuk tuk for the 10-minute ride to Arugam Bay. Prepare for the whole journey to take from 8-10 hours. Read: Best Things to Do in Trincomalee.

From Ella

To reach Arugam Bay from Ella, you need to take the bus to Wellawaya, which takes about an hour. There are frequent buses in the morning heading to the Wellawaya Bus Station. Then, take a bus to Monaragala which takes another hour. From there, you can find a bus to Pottuvil, which should take about two hours. Then take a tuk tuk or bus to Arugam Bay. Read: Best Things to Do in Ella.

From South Coast

The best way to travel from the South Coast to Arugam Bay is to first jump on a bus from Matara to Wellawaya. From there, it’s similar to above, change to Monaragala and then again to Pottuvil.

In the other direction, there is a direct bus from Pottuvil to Matara once a day at around 6:30am. This is the best way to travel to the South Coast from Arugam Bay, as you can get off in Dickwella for Hiriketiya or go to Matara and change for Weligama, Mirissa or Ahangama.

When to Visit Arugam Bay

The best time to visit Arugam Bay is from May to September, as this is the peak high season. However, it can be incredibly crowded in Arugam Bay from June to August, so if you’re not keen on all the noise, crowds, and parties, I’d recommend visiting just before or after the high season.

I was there at the end of October and start of November and the weather was still dry (but very hot) and the waves were still rolling in to the bay nicely. I was often the only one surfing in the morning at Baby Point, so it was perfect to improve my skills.

However, many restaurants, cafes and hostels close from end of September until start of April, so be prepared to have very limited food and accommodation options. Otherwise, I’d definitely recommend considering an out-of-peak visit. It does usually get very rainy in Arugam Bay from December onwards though, so I wouldn’t plan on surfing at this time of year.

Where to Stay in Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is a small village, but it has so much accommodation to choose from. There’s everything from hostels to surf camps and boutique hotels. Here are some of the best places to stay in Arugam Bay.

Waypoint Hostel | I stayed at this hostel for a week and I really enjoyed it. The dorms are simple but have AC and lockers. The outdoor space is nice with plenty of room to meet people. In high season, they have plenty of activities including yoga. It’s in the best location, just across from Baby Point surf spot on the main street.

Moonlight Surf Hostel | A newer hostel that has a similar vibe. Moonlight has basic dorms, lots of outdoor space to hang out with people and a very budget price. One of the owners, David, is also a good surf instructor so you can easily arrange lessons directly.

Lucky Bay Guesthouse | A mid-range guesthouse with private en-suite rooms, this place gets exceptional reviews. It’s further up the main road away from the surf spot, but still an easy enough walk. The owners are incredibly helpful and friendly.

Forcus Cabanas | Right in the middle of the action of Arugam Bay, this place offers really nice private en-suite rooms. You can walk absolutely everywhere from here, with the comfort of the rooms waiting for you to return from the beach.

Surf N Sun | This oasis of an eco-lodge is tucked into a garden just off the main road in Arugam Bay. They offer a range of cabanas and villas for varying prices ranging from mid-range up to higher end luxury. Plus, their onsite café and restaurant serves deliciously healthy meals.

Where to Eat in Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay has a mix of everything from little street vendors teeming with backpackers to trendy coffee and matcha spots filled with digital nomads. Some places are only open during high season, while locally owned spots are open all year round.

Kaffi | A chain café that can be found all around Sri Lanka, this is a pricey spot to get a coffee and cake, but let me tell you that it’s worth it. It offers one of the best places to enjoy a good hot drink with some friends. They also offer vegan and gluten free options. Open all year round.

Shady Lane | Along with its sister café down in Mirissa, Shady Lane Café is one of the best places to have brunch in Arugam Bay. Their famous GF banana pancakes are always a hit, or smoothie bowls and avocado toast are good choices. It’s tucked down a side street but always busy. Closed during low season.

The Hangout | Best beachfront location in town, this bar and restaurant is where you can grab a sunbed and sit back with a drink and awesome sunset view. They also have live music in high season. Open all year.

Dosa Station | This is where I ate dinner every night. This local spot has an extensive menu of Sri Lankan and Indian meals, from masala dosa to Indian thali. They also offer delicious desserts like Nutella roti. Super friendly and reasonably priced. They’re very good with gluten free travellers too! Open all year.

Moon Garden Restaurant | A wonderful little local restaurant on the main road just before coming into town, this place should be your go-to for Sri Lankan food. The staff are super friendly, plus they offer cooking classes too. Open all year.

Surf Cast Café | A little café just across from the beach, I ate breakfast here most mornings as it was really conveniently located on the main road. The guys are super friendly. In high season, they also run a bar with karaoke, but when I was there in low season they just ran the café.

Best Things to Do in Arugam Bay

While most people go to Arugam Bay to surf, there’s plenty of other things to do as well. From elephant safari to chilling out at cafes, you can easily pass a few days in Arugam Bay. Here are the best things to do in Arugam Bay:

Surf at Main Point

If you’re a keen and experienced surfer, Main Point in Arugam Bay is the most famous surf spot in the country. Located on the far right side of the crescent shaped bay, Main Point is one of the longest waves in the world, offering an almost 500m long surf.

In high season, the point break is fairly big and reserved for those with experience. It’s great to walk around on the sand and watch the real surfers carve it up all day long. As the waves roll into the bay though, locals refer to the break as Baby Point, where beginners head to learn.

Learn to Surf at Baby Point

Baby Point is closer inside the bay and easily accessible directly in front of town. This is where the waves are gentler and roll through at consistent intervals over the sandy bottom, making it perfect for beginners.

I had a week’s worth of lessons every morning at Baby Point and found it to be one of the best places to learn to surf in Sri Lanka. Surf lessons range from 5000 LKR to 7500 LKR depending on quality of the instructor. This includes about 1.5 hours of instructing, board hire and sometimes rash top too.

I had a local instructor, David, who also part-owns Moonlight Surf Hostel, and can highly recommend him. You can contact him on Whatsapp here: +94 74 120 4705

Surf at Peanut Farm or Whisky Point

If Main Point is getting too busy in high season, there are various other spots to surf too. Pottuvil Point and Whisky Point are both north of Arugam Bay, while Elephant Rock and Peanut Farm are south of town.

You can arrange a tuk tuk driver to take you with surf boards or hire a scooter yourself.

They all have various breaks for beginners up to advanced surfers. Although if you’re a beginner, I would highly recommend only going to these spots with an instructor who knows the breaks well at first.

Relax on Arugam Bay Beach

With its tropical palm trees, fine golden sand and laidback backpacker vibe, the beach in Arugam Bay is the place to hang out. Find a spot amongst the local fishing boats to relax on the sand, or head around towards Main Point to watch the surfers.

You can also find a life guard on duty here all year round, as the currents can be quite strong and the water can be very crowded in high season.

Climb Elephant Rock at Sunset

For a sunset mission, I highly recommend a trip out to Elephant Rock. This rocky outcrop is just 5km south of Arugam Bay and juts out into the ocean with panoramic views from the top.

The beach below Elephant Rock is popular amongst surfers in high season, but you can also spot crocodiles and elephants just back from the beach amongst the lagoon. If you come at sunset, be careful as this is when the animals are quite active.

You can follow a little path around and up to the top of Elephant Rock, from where you can enjoy incredible views of the coast and watch the surfers from above. It’s a super popular sunset spot, so arrive early in high season for a good seat.

The drive there is a bit treacherous (sandy and boggy) and I would not recommend going in a regular vehicle. It’s best to take a local tuk tuk to get there, as they know their way around or hire a scooter yourself if you’re confident.

Spot Wild Elephants Around Town

One of the incredible things about Arugam Bay is that the town is surrounded by incredible nature and wildlife. You can spot elephants in the evenings at the edge of the bay and as you head south to Elephant Rock.

There are a couple of known elephant spotting locations near the bridge as you come into Arugam Bay from Pottuvil. Otherwise, local tuk tuk drivers will know other places not far from town where you can reliably see them.

Go on Safari in Kumana National Park

If you really want to get close and see a range of wildlife, then I recommend hopping on a safari to Kumana National Park. Just a couple of hours drive south of Arugam Bay, this is a much quieter place than Yala to spot elephants, leopards, crocodiles, and buffalos.

Most hostels and hotels in Arugam Bay can help you arrange a safari, with most drives happening early in the morning or in the evening when animals are most active.

Do Some Yoga

As with any surf town in Sri Lanka, yoga is a popular activity and you’ll find plenty of yoga studios or hotels offering yoga classes, especially in high season. The best places to find good yoga classes are Yoga Shack just behind the main street, Stay Golden Hotel (on the backside of town near the beach), and Hideaway Resort (offering a range of yoga, meditation and other classes).

Party on the Weekend

Arugam Bay attracts a lot of backpackers and young travellers, so there is always a party going on somewhere in high season. The main street is typically buzzing every night in the middle of the year, but you’ll also find weekend parties at Whisky Point or Mambos.

Most hostels will have all the local party details and help you get there with other guests.

Surf and Stay at Lighthouse Beach

This is a hidden gem that some surfers told me about! Lighthouse Beach is the northernmost surf spot around Arugam Bay and is about 45 minutes north of town. It’s a much more chill and relaxed atmosphere than Arugam Bay because most people do not venture this far away.

There are a couple of cabanas and villa-style accommodation options just on the beach there, where you can stay and surf for days (or weeks). There’s far less infrastructure there than in Arugam Bay, but that’s kind of the appeal for surfers wanting to get off the beaten track in high season.

Stay: Light House Beach Hut or Hilltop Cabanas Lighthouse Beach

Is It Worth Going to Arugam Bay? My Honest Take

Arugam Bay is one of the busiest towns in Sri Lanka, especially in the middle of the year when the monsoon moves to the south coast. If you want to make friends, party, go surfing, and hang out in bustling cafes, then it’s definitely the place for you.

If you’re not into the party scene, then I would highly recommend visiting outside of peak season or being smart with where you book to stay. Think guesthouse or private villa rather than hostel.

If you’re going to surf, just be aware that the surf will be crowded in high season, so it’s definitely not a laidback surf vibe. However, if you’re willing to travel out of town, then you’ll still find some quieter spots.

It does take a bit of effort to reach Arugam Bay, so if you’re short on time, I’d say it’s probably not an essential place to visit. And if you’re looking for a more laidback beach scene then you can find it elsewhere, in places like Trincomalee instead.

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10 Best Things to Do in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka