The Arugam Bay surf beach is located 314 km from Colombo and 2 ½ km south of the small town of Pottuvil in the Ampara District which belongs to the Dry Zone along the South-East coast of Sri Lanka.

Reaching Arugam Bay Sri Lanka

Arugam Bay can be reached from Colombo via Moneragala while the journey is approximately
a 7 hour drive along the A4 main road

The Arugam Bay Beach is a wide sweeping sandy beach in front of the village of Arugam Bay and is an attraction for surfing and swimming all year-round.

 

 

Arugam Bay‘s first international surfing competition was held by the ISA (International Surfing Association) in the summer of 2004.

Despite the shocking destruction of the Tsunami on December 26, 2004, the ISA returned in 2005 to give the battered local economy of Arugam Bay a boost. The long and consistent right hand point break at the southern end of the Arugam Bay beach makes it one of the finest surf spot in Sri Lanka as well as Asia.

The Arugam Bay Beach consists of a coral reef which is home to an abundance of tropical fish and is a delightful snorkelling paradise.

Things To Do In Arugam Bay

Surfing : Arugam Bay is renowned for its fantastic waves, which attract surfers from all over the world. Although you can surf here all year round, the most favoured season is from April to October with the average height of waves being 1.5 to 2.5 meters. Main surf spots are Pottuvil point, Main Break and Crocodile Rock.

Dive : You can enjoy diving and snorkelling around Arugam Bay. If you are a serious scuba diver, you can charter a boat and head for the Basses Reefs, which is a “must see” dive site in Sri Lanka.

Wildlife : Catch the rare spectacle of elephants strolling across the A4 through the Lahugala elephant corridor. The best time to catch a glimpse of wildlife such as these gigantic elephants, wild boar, deer and crocodiles is before dawn or at sunset.

Bird Watching : Be over-awed by the flocks of birds that migrate to the Arugam Bay area in the months of November and December.

Explore Arugam Bay

Muhudu Maha Viharaya : Located between Arugam Bay and Pottuvil, among the sand dunes of the beach is the ruins of a Buddhist temple with fairly well preserved stone statues. It is believed that the temple was built where Princess Vihara Maha Devi disembarked.

Magul Maha Viharaya : This boasts of the best – preserved moonstone in all of Asia, with a special feature of the Mahout carved on the back of the an elephant. The Magul Maha Viharaya, which was constructed during the reign of King Dhatusena, is also believed to be the venue where the royal wedding of King Kavantissa and Princess Vihara Maha Devi had taken place. It is located eight kilometres west of Pottuvil along the A4 main road.

Pottuvil Point : The highest place in Pottuvil, popular with Surfers ,this is a long and deserted beach. Wild elephants can often be seen around the area.

Crocodile Rock : From a distance the rock look like a pair of sun bathing crocodiles. The area boasts of a wild environment, with elephants roaming around and eagles sweeping overhead.

Okanda: Located around 28 Kilometres south of Arugam Bay, the Okanda Kudumbigala Forest Hermitage is a small ancient shrine dedicated to the God of Kataragama – Skanda.

Where to Eat In Arugam Bay

Be it dining on the beach, or simply enjoying a quiet meal with friends or family the cuisines of Arugam Bay offers just what you are looking for. A Stroll along the Main Street takes you past many Sri Lanka restaurants serving traditional rice and curry dishes. However, if you are looking for a western palate, several restaurants specialise in pizzas while several hotels offer both Eastern and Western cuisine.

The restaurant at Hang Loose Guesthouse offers a selection of local and international dishes. The House of homemade dishes and organic food, the Gecko Restaurant offers all day breakfast fresh fruit platters, steaks, club sandwiches, burgers, fresh apple pie and homemade ice cream. The entire city never fails to impress travellers with fresh seafood dishes.

Where to Stay in Arugam Bay

From beachfront cabanas to tree houses, there are plenty of accommodation units that you can choose from. Unwind at the Galaxy Lounge, which offers spacious beachfront cabanas or head over to the Rockview Beachside Hotel. The Aloha Cabanas consists of cottages, cabanas and tree houses, while a great selection of indoor games will keep you busy during your stay.

The Danish Villa Hotel is ideal if You are looking for that prefect spot for a private crowd. Located in the middle of Arugam Bay, meters away from the white sandy beaches, the natural material and furniture of the Danish Villa Hotel placed against a white background creates a colonial ambience . You can either rent the whole Villa to yourself or rent just one or more rooms.

A combination of Sri Lankan hospitality and Danish comforts, The Stardust Beach Hotel is yet another place to relax or gather around with friends and family after a fun-filled day. The restaurant offers a fine selection of specialties and dishes from around the world and you can also enjoy a range of local drinks with access to an extensive wine cellar.

Consisting of six wooden cabanas the Surf n Sea Guesthouse, offers a surf school and surfboard repair services while surf boards and equipment can also be either bought or rented at the guesthouse itself. The Hang Loose Guesthouse is a typical surfer’s
holiday home. Alternatively, spend the night at the Water Music Guesthouse which is a rustic style Guesthouse designed offering a uniquely tropical environment.

Arugam Bay Surroundings

The beach isn’t the only attraction at Arugam Bay. The village of Arugam Bay brings about the loveliest sceneries that span over mangrove, jungle, lagoon, river, rice fields and sand dunes. Within such a varied landscape is a pair of National Wildlife Parks that are home to mammals including elephants and also myriads of birdlife. Moreover, the historical and archaeological sites in the area reveal the history of the area with its stone inscriptions and longstanding ruins.

Arugam Bay Surfing season

The surfing season in Arugam Bay starts in April and ends in October. During the season the wind is predominantly offshore.
Average water temperature: 28 degrees
Average air temperature: 32 degrees

 

Surf spots at Arugam Bay

Arugam Point, a long right hand break close to Arugam Bay, which has (on a good day) 2m waves and a 400m ride. Thirty minutes north of Arugam Bay by three wheeler taxi, is Pottuvil Point, which is a bit smaller than Arugam Point, breaks off a long sandy beach.

 

Surfing in Arugam Bay

 

South of Arugam Bay is another surfing point. Thirty minutes by three wheeler taxi and a twenty minutes walk, the Crocodile Rock is a fine spot for beginners and intermediate surfers whenever there’s a sufficient swell.