Arugam Bay Surf Guide – All You Need To Know
Arugam Bay surf is the best – and only – surf town on the east coast of Sri Lanka. It’s got epic right handers that work between April and September.
Anyone who’s ever even thought about surfing in Sri Lanka will surely have heard of Arugam Bay.
It’s the jewel in the crown of the island’s impressive roster of surf towns. Boasting a series of beautiful right-hand point breaks for every level, plus beach breaks and some reefs, it’s got excellent variety.
But the real trump card in the deck: The Arugam Bay season.
Being situated on the east side of the island means the swells here work when the south-west coast is in monsoon.
The upshot? The town almost singlehandedly makes Sri Lanka an all-round surf destination, with rideable conditions 365 days of the year spread from coast to coast.
In more recent times, the die-hard surf crowd has been diluted by beach lovers and beginner surfers, which has broadened the range of hotels and fattened the lineup considerably.
But don’t be deterred, there are still loads of waves to go around.
So-called Surf Point (also known as Main Point) is the anchor of the lot, offering fast barrels on the outside and slow sections for the surf schools on the inside section known as Baby Point.
To the north, the coast wiggles through coconut groves and beautiful lagoons to beginner-friendly Whiskey Point. To the south, you’ll find the wild and distant point breaks of Okanda, where the crowds really dissappear and you can surf punchy, bowly rights in the shadow of the rainforest.
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This is a part of our greater guide to Sri Lanka surf
Arugam Bay surf at a glance
The good:
The bad:
What will I find in this guide?
Where is Arugam Bay (and how to get here)?
Arugam Bay sits on the far southeastern edge of Sri Lanka, just 6km south of the regional transport hub of Pottuvil.
The main west-east highway that crosses the southern portion of Sri Lanka goes straight here from Colombo.
Sadly, the coastal highways that connect up the famous surf towns on the southwest coast – Hikkaduwa, Midigama, Weligama – do not directly connect to Arugam Bay since they have to skirt around the big Yala and Kumana national parks.
That means it’s a bit of a long-haul taxi or multi-bus trip if you want to go from east coast to west coast, though there’s a good chance you won’t want to do that since only one side of the island is in season at any one time.
The likelihood is you want to come straight over here from the airport in Colombo.
If you’re short on time, or if you’ve brought surfboards with you, the easiest and most comfortable direct way to get to Arugam Bay is by private taxi. The journey will take approximately 6-8 hours as it crosses the whole island, but it’s doable.
A better way to go about it is to do a stopover along the way. We’d highly reccomend breaking up the trip with a stay in Kandy – to see the temples – and Ella – for teafields.
Arugam Bay surf spots
Arugam Bay has the best surf spots on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Some are right in front of the town, others are a short or long drive out of town…
Here’s a look at the whole lot, starting in the north and running south…
Lighthouse
Lighthouse is the most northerly spot in the Arugam Bay region – it’s about 45 minutes’ drive in a tuk-tuk out of town.
It strings the shore just outside of the small village and lagoon of Komari, by the crumbled remains of an old WWII lighthouse (hence the name).
What the wave lacks in consistency it makes up for in lack of crowds. This is the best place to go if you’re sick and tired of sharing the lineups on Main Point and Peanut Farm with like 100 others.
It’s basically a duo of rippable right-handers that work off the reefs right beside the lighthouse.
One is good for starters but the other is better suited to experienced surfers, coming with a boulder-sand bottom and some pretty steep faces that are fun for top-to-bottom surfing.
Note how the waves at Lighthouse get faster throughout the season, as the sandbanks bulk up during the dry season swell direction. It will be steeper and zippier come August than April.
The best way to surf Lighthouse is to take a few days out from Arugam itself. Come up on a guided surf tour or in a tuk-tuk and stick around for a night or two. It’s a good vibe; just some chilled surf hotels and the beach. That’s it.
We usually stay in Hilltop Cabanas, which are the OG of the scene here and a great option literally steps off the main right hander. But there’s a new kid in town: Niketh Villa Komari Arugambay, which looks pretty stunning, though it will cost a bit more.
Whisky Point
Whisky Point is one of our personal favorite spots in the Arguam Bay area. It’s 10-15 minutes’ north of town, within eyeshot of Pottuvil Point, which is just to the south of it.
Get the tuk-tuk to drop you off in the alley beside the Whisky Point Resort, where you can also stay to be literally on the spot to surf it before the crowds get there in the morning (it’s a nice hotel, closed in low season).
The wave works on a little patch of rock that gathers sand throughout the monsoon season. When the storms finish around April, south swells lick around the boulders and give 100-200-meter rides that are punchy but forgiving, with an open shoulder that allows for a lot of turns and thinking time.
It’s a tailor-made intermediate wave and usually a little less busy than the spots in the center of Arugam Bay. Nice vibes too.
Pottuvil Point
Pottuvil Point is a classic east-coast right hander. The wave breaks on some big boulders on the edge of Kottukal Beach on the north side of Pottuvil town.
They start quite fat and really mellow, so you’ll need to either bring some volume or paddle hard AF.
Once you’re up the initial section steepens quite a lot to give a decent face for some shortboarding turns or just slow trimming on the log. About 200 meters in, the wave fattens again as it hits the sand shelf of the beach. Lip out there, paddle bag, rinse, repeat.
Good SE swells and a morning session are the dream in Pottuvil. There’s zero chance this one will work in the off season (Nov-March). We’ve never seen it manage it and there’s a good chance the Pottuvil lagoon will spill over an pour muddy, crocodile-filled water over the whole point. You’d hardly recognize it.
Baby Point
Baby Point is the name for the inside section of Main Point, Arugam’s most iconic barreling right hander. Don’t worry, though, this really is a baby version.
The wave loses all its power as it wraps into the reefs at the south end of the town beach, making this a perfect beginner location for its mellow waves. The rights are best, of course, but there are small lefts too.
Most likely you’ll come here for your first session and just ride the whitewash.
Main Point
This is probably the wave you’ve seen photos off if you’ve been Googling up images of Arugam Bay surf. It’s a classic regional point break with what’s potentially a long, 50-150m ride coming off reef shelf that’s just about visible from Arugam Bay town.
It’s such a lovely wave when it’s in season. S-SE swells get it firing, shooting out bending lines of water that can run for 400 meters or more as the wave curls around the point to meet up with Baby Point (see above).
I’d say it’s at its finest on a mid-sized swell with low wind. If it’s 5-8 foot then the wave won’t curl over. It holds and offers a nice ramp face that’s a joy to draw lines on with a fish or a shortboard.
The biggest days can see it go hollow and it’s something to behold then, though it’s more down-the-line stuff, not so turny.
Look for the small break in the reef to get out there from the point, or just paddle all the way out from Baby Point to warm up the arms.
Peanut Farm
At the south end of a long, beautiful beach that’s clad in sea vines and speckled with boulders, Peanut Farm offers some of the most accessible waves in the area.
It’s a hubbub of surf schools from May to August, but don’t let that put you off – it’s a corker to learn on and can actually be good fun for intermediates.
The wave, again, is a right-hand point that comes off a lump of rock. There’s an outside section that seems to work but if you watch it closely it’s too steep and hits the rocks. Wait for the to wrap into the inside of the boulder and then it will peak up nicely.
Bigger days of 5 foot+ it’s a better intermediate wave. Smaller days it’s great for learners.
The trip here takes about 20 minutes in a tuk-tuk with the board strapped to the roof. Last time we were in town (2024), tuk tuk drivers had standard rates for a trip to Peanut Farm – it was like 1000 LKR for a roundtrip with an hour or two’s waiting.
There have been reports of roaming wild elephants hitting tuk tuks down here, and even of crocs in the water, so be careful!
Elephant Rock
Elephant Rock is another of the boulder points that define this coastline.
It’s kinda close to town but takes a while to get to by tuk-tuk or moped because you have to go out of town on the Panama Road (the main road heading south) and then through a small neighborhood to the end of Kudakalliya Beach. Then, you have to walk a little – about 200m or so to the break. No biggie.
A fantastic beginner option and lower intermediate wave on normal-sized swells, Elephant is as mellow as they come. It’s a fat, soft wave that really loves bigger volume boards and logs.
Stick around for sunset – it’s epic from the top of the rock. Oh yea, and BEWARE OF THE CROCODILES. They most certainly are in the lagoon here – we’ve seen them!
Okanda
It might be the farthest away from Arugam Bay town, but Okanda does offer ample reward for those who make the 23-kilometre journey.
Not one, not two, but three individual point breaks await here.
They cater to a range of different levels, but are generally strong intermediate and above.
Things can get windy due to exposure, though the waves hold up well to a massive 8-10ft on swell days and give some fricking lovely steep walls to mess around on.
Beware of big rips close to the headland.
Stay close to be in the water before the winds pick up. It’s basic, but Secret Bay Panama gets you within striking distance and is a pretty cool experience of remote Sri Lankan coast living.
Where to stay (for surfing) in Arugam Bay?
The way we see it, there are two choice in Arugam Bay.
- Pick a surf spot you love and know you will love surfing and get a hotel near to it. This plan works best for spots that ARE NOT in the town center – spots like Whisky Point and Pottuvil, but especially Lighthouse or Okanda.
- Stay in Arugam Bay where there’s loads of nightlife and dining and hotels and do trips out. This is better for beginners, but not so good if you want to dodge crowds and explore other spots to Main Point, Peanut Farm, and Elephant Rock (all of which are close to the town).
We’ve done both and think both have thier pros and cons. The very best plan imho would be to do a day or two in A-Bay itself and then do a day or two in a hotel next to a break out of town, like Whisky Point. Best of both worlds.
Anyway here are some lovely hotels that fit the bill for staying in town and out…
- Forcus Cabanas (in town) – We spent a good week in Forcus in 2023 and think the location and the service was cracking. It’s literally 100m away from Baby Point and 150 from Main Point, and has hugely spacious rooms with chilled owners.
- Whisky Point Resort (out of town) – Venture north to Whisky Point Resort to stay on what I’d say is the best intermediate point break in the region. You stay in cool wooden beach huts within eyeshot of the wave.
- Arne’s Place The Friendliest Hotel – Super good value rooms right on the main beach of A-Bay. Walk down the sand to be at Main Point. During the day, hang out in hammocks and chill.
- Stay Golden – Super stylish and with an interesting location south along the beach from Main Point, this hotel is both quiet and good for surfers. The pool is verrrry nice and the rooms are Scandi-chic. We’d go here if we had the budget.
We’ve got lots more surf hotel options all over the island in our complete guide to the top surf hotels in Sri Lanka, which has choices in the east and in the west.
Surf camps in Arugam Bay
Arugam Bay is a fantastic destination to do a surf camp.
The array of super-mellow point breaks means that it’s spot on for learner groups, which tend to be the main customers to planned surf packages.
The other great thing is that this eastern corner of the island isn’t as built-up as the southwest, which means you can usually get real close to the shoreline within walking distance/short drive of the waves.
AND, of course, it’s in season when the western/southern side of the island isn’t, so these camps await when the April-September period swings around…
- 15-Day Surf Package @ the Arugam Bay Surf Camp – We love this 2-week option from the A-bay Surf Camp. It’s actually our top pick among all the camps on the east coast. They pack in 13 surf lessons with vid analysis and the vibe is super welcoming. We’d say it’s one of the best-staffed and best-balanced pacakges on offer here right now.
- 10-day Surf Only @ Star Rest Beach Hotel – The guys at star rest pack your time full of surf teaching. You get up to 16 hours in all here, plus free surf time, and everyone is ISA qualidied. All that, with accomodation and breakfasts and dinners, comes in for under $1,000pp.
There are now something like 20 surf camps on offer in Arugam as a whole. We’ve whittled down the best in our complete guide to the best there for the coming season.
You can also check out our complete guide to the top surf camps in Sri Lanka for 2024/25.
Surf lessons in Arugam Bay
In the main season, A-Bay is a fantastic place to do lessons.
If you’ve never surfed before then I can think of few places in Asia as good as Baby Point for a first surf lesson – it’s mellow and chill there, though the crowds can be an issue (so it’s always a good idea to request and early morning lesson if possible).
There are also some more advanced surf coaches out there who are willing to do surfari trips to more distant breaks.
- Ocean Surf Arugam Bay – Ocean Surf would be our first port of call for lessons. It’s run by Kiyas, who is a great teacher and all-round great guy. He’s coached over 9,000 people here and has ISA1 certification. You’re in good hands.
- Arugambay Agenda – For complete beginners or grom surfers, Arugambay Agenda do this 1.5-hour lesson. It’s highly rated, run by ISA-qualified teachers, and very affordable.
When to surf in Arugam Bay?
The best time to surf in Arugam Bay is the dry season in the east of Sri Lanka, between April and September
April (sometimes even March) to September
Cue the high season in Arugam Bay.
As the south-west monsoon sets in on the far side of Sri Lanka, the dry weather and sun is starting to hit this corner of the island.
More than that, the dominant swell direction switches and the ocean becomes cleaner in the east, inviting surfers to hit the spots from Okanda to Lighthouse.
Be wary that misconceptions about a short season in Arugam Bay, along with traditional holiday dates, mean that the place gets packed around August.
Wear: Rash vest/swimwear/shorty for long sessions. You also might want some good booties if you’re going to be hitting the Sri Lankan reefs.
October and November
These two shoulder months might see the gradual onset of the south-east monsoon, but they are actually a decent time to surf in Arugam Bay.
You’ll notice that there are some pretty pumping days on the breaks that hold up better, like Okanada for example.
That’s due to powerful ocean storms that match the changing of the season. Better than that are the smaller crowds, as the partiers make an exodus and the hotel prices drop.
Wear: Rash vest/swimwear/shorty for long sessions
December to March
The low season.
Weather wise, it’s not ideal. One day could be beaming sun, the next could be torrential rain that doesn’t end for weeks.
The breaks also suffer a lot. Mainly, the water gets really murky as the shoreline lagoons that dominate this half of Sri Lanka burst thier banks and flow into the seas. That ruins key spots, espeically Pottuvil Point.
The swell direction is also an issue. Whisky Point also won’t work because there’s not SE swells that are strong enough, and Main Point very rarely fires cleanly. The only real one that can work in the wet season is Peanut Farm, and it’s usually windy, mucky water the color of tea, and not all that fun.
Wear: Rash vest/swimwear/shorty for long sessions
One thing we wouldn’t skip on is sunscreen.
I use Suntribe’s blocks because they’ve made a real effort to strip out any unneccessary chemicals.
Plus, they offer Surf Atlas readers 10% off orders with code Surfatlas10.
Surf shops in Arugam Bay
You’ll find plenty of surf schools and surf shops lining the wide Main Street and the sandy beaches around Arugam. Some are great. Some are pretty dodgy in all honesty.
Ones we’ve used/heard good things about are:
- Ocean Surf – Almost exactly midway up the main street in Arugam Bay town, Ocean Surf is run and operated by Kiyas, an ISA-certified instructor who runs lessons all year (even in low season). I went to him for a tricky ding repair courtesy of Sri Lanka airlines last time I was about and it was quick and cheap.
- Dylan’s Surf Company – Is one of the best-known names on the island. Pretty sure they now have shops in both the east and the west. They’re one of the best places to buy boards – there’s a great rack of shorties, midlengths and more.
Things to do when you’re not surfing in Arugam Bay
I recently wrote the guide to the East in the Lonely Planet Sri Lanka guidebook, so I know a thing or two about what A-bay can offer off the surf. And it’s pretty cool.
The main thing I’d say everyone should do is a safari in Kumana National Park. For me, it’s one of the very best safari regions in Sri Lanka, way less busy than Yala and still with loads of wildlife.
There’s that, some amazing lagoons, plus a pretty cool temple that you should do as part of a trip to the safari park if you can…
- Kumana National Park safari – A full day trip to safari in Kumana costs anything from $100-200 per person (it’s 1.5 hours’ drive just to get to the entrance of the park). You’ll follow a track around the park to spot wildlife, which could include elephants, crocodiles (we saw loads of these), and sloth bears (one of the rarest animals in Sri Lanka and we saw one!).
- Sunset on Elephant Rock – There are cracking views of the surrounding lagoons and beaches at sunset and sunrise at Elephant rock. Just watch out for crocodiles and elephants, who roam wild here.
- Kudumbigala Sanctuary – The road to Kumana National Park passes the Kudumbigala Sanctuary, so be sure to ask your driver to make a stop there (you might have to pay a little more). It’s worth it, though, cos it’s an amazing temple set over some high rock bluffs. There is a climb you can do up a final hill for stunning views but do not attempt it in the rain or if you have vertigo.
- Pottuvil Lagoon – Go on a boat tour on the coastal Pottuvil Lagoon, an area of eastern Sri Lanka that’s positively thriving with wildlife. If you’re lucky, you may be able to see bathing elephants and crocodiles.
Where to eat in Arugam Bay?
A-Bay is actually really fun. It’s got some hefty nightlife if you’re into that, but also some really great places to eat, with more and more creative spots opening every year.
Just be warned that the whole town goes into a sort of hibernation during the low season (November-March). A lot of restaurants, including the ones we list below, are likely to be closed then.
- Tom and Jerry – These guys have started to do amazing Japanese dishes that you can eat right on the side of the sea if you get in early enough to score a table on the beach. It gets busy.
- Kaffi – The single best place for coffee in Arugam Bay, even the whole east coast of Sri Lanka. We love this joint. Sit upstairs to drink, eat pastries and watch the street go by.
- Pizza Hub – It is what it is. Pizza would embarass anyone from Italy but hey it’s fun, cheap, and good vibes.
- Hideaway – A hotel and restaurant, this spot is great for European plates of hummus and pita and the like.
- Perera Restaurant – Probably the best-priced curry and rice in town. They’re also always open, even in low season.
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what about surfing in arugam at September? i have 6 day from 1/9-7/9
September will be good in Arugam. It’s still the peak season and the monsoon is still on the SW coast. Things start to change properly around late Oct and early Nov.
Sounds rad! Thanks bro! Heading there next week, can’t wait to check out the surf.👍👍🏄♂️🏄♂️