Matara surf is all about getting in a tuk-tuk and exploring nearby spots, whether that’s Mirissa’s reefs or the sand-bottomed breaks of SK Town.
An introduction to Matara surf
The city of Matara sits on a bend in the famous surf mecca of the Sri Lankan south-west coast. It’s actually not on the most wave-rich corner of the region, because it’s just a touch too exposed to the strong south swells that are tempered by the geology in nearby towns and resorts. However, it can be a decent base for a surf trip if you’re keen to feel the pulse of a true Asian town and don’t mind traveling a bit whenever you want to hit the waves.
The nearest breaks are either a little to the west or a little to the east. The first are more quintessential stuff – think left and right points on the reefs of Mirissa. The latter are something a touch different – think exposed beach breaks that give wedgy and punchy lips more like something out of the French Silver Coast. Let’s take a look…
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to Sri Lanka surf
Matara surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Matara surf?
Where is Matara?
Matara is one of the main transport hubs of southern Sri Lanka. It’s the terminus of the main roadway – known aptly as the Matara Road – that wiggles all the way north from here to the fort town of Galle. The town is also the gateway to the more remote but upcoming surf spots further east, especially Hiriketiya Bay. You’re looking at a car transfer using the toll roads of about 2.5 hours (and about 13,000 LKR) from here to the airport. There are also cheap trains or buses from Colombo and Galle.
A guide to the Matara surf spots
As we’ve already mentioned, the surf spots in Matara are mainly outside of city limits. There are some to the west, some to the east. The latter are probably the better quality, though we do have a soft spot for the largely empty beach breaks of SK Town, which are something different to what you get up and down the Sri Lankan shoreline.
Weligama
There’s really no better place to learn to surf in Sri Lanka than Weligama. The town is the hub of surf schools and surf camps for the south coast. It has a large bay that’s open to S-SW swells and gets good chest-to-head-high sets throughout much of the dry season (November-March). We’ve surfed here quite a bit and can say that the moniker of beginner surf town can sometimes turn misnomer – it’s possible for heavy bombs to break out back while the learners ply their trade on the secondary whitewash up front. You’re looking at a drive of about 30 mins from Matara to Weligama, which translates to about 500-800 LKR in a tuk-tuk.
We have a complete guide to Weligama surf
Mirissa
Mirissa is a touch better known for its nightlife than its surf. However, there is a cracking right hander that has steep walls on the main beach – check out the western end and beware of the urchins. You’re looking at about 15-20 minutes in the tuk-tuk to here from Matara.
We have a complete guide to Mirissa surf
Tallaramba Surf Point/Coconut Hill
A very well-known spot that’s surely among the most photographed point breaks on the island. That’s not because of the waves, mind you, but mainly because of the hill that’s speckled with shapely coconut palms just above it. The wave here is a consistent and mellow left hander that peels into the bay just beneath the Sri Sudharshanaramaya temple.
Polhena Beach/Madiha Beach
The Polhena surf (also known as Madiha Beach) remains lesser-known compared to the reef spots in Mirissa next door. But there’s a series of coves here with idyllic white sands that fringe out into sections of reef. Paddle beyond the coral-rock line and you can get some pretty fast left and right handers, though it’s shallow so we’d leave it to experienced riders. There’s one particular right hander that really stands out from the rest, but it’s a magnet for the locals and they’re not used to sharing like the folks in Weligama et al.
SK Town
SK Town is the main break on the Matara surf scene. It’s actually an upcoming spot amid the south-coast options anyhow, since it offers a peaky beach break and some strong A-frame waves that aren’t all that common around this overly mellow length of shoreline. About 10 minutes or so by tuk-tuk from Matara city, the spot is also known as Lakshawaththa Beach. It’s a small fold of cinnamon tinted sand that’s wedged up to Donrda Headland in the east.
Waves are predominantly sandbanks that go left and right. It’s almost entirely unsurfable when there’s any wind, so it’s usually a two-session day – one in the early morning before breakfast and one in the evening with sundown. Apart from that there’s not all that much to do around little SK, so staying in Matara to have the fort and the cricket to watch isn’t all that of a bad idea.
We have a complete guide to SK Town surf
Kiralawella
There’s a bit of a secret right hander that works in a small bay just a short drive in from the main Kiralawella. We’re talking about 5 minutes’ drive east from SK. We won’t name the bay but you can find it if you’re nifty enough with Google maps. You’ll be sharing the spot with the local fishing boats though.
Where to stay when surfing in Matara?
Go stay in SK Town if you want to be really close to the Matara surf offering. Otherwise, resign to being in the buzzing heart of the city where there are tasty hotels (local Sri Lankan kitchens serving dal and rice), colonial-era forts, and some bustling seaside areas by the Indian Ocean. Alternatively, pick a hotel on the Matara Raod near Polhena beach and seek out the less-trodden reef breaks there. We’ve focussed on options in both spots…
LakRaj Heritage
LakRaj Heritage is a really lovely hotel with gorgeous sea-facing suites that open onto breezy balconies. They are just above Polhena Beach, so you get access to famous sea turtle breeding grounds and the reefs of Madiha just to the west (walking distance). We love the direct walking access to the sand and the on-site restaurant is also particularly nice for seafood buffs.
The Seascape
The go-to surfer’s option on SK Town beach to the east of Matara, The Seascape opens to face one end of a long bay with its own string of peaky beach breaks. The hotel has a small pool tucked in behind and a good kitchen that serves western and Sri Lankan dishes.
Onaro Beach View
On the main road just behind the beach in Matara city, Onaro Beach View doesn’t have walking access to the breaks but is only a short tuk-tuk from both Polhena and SK Town. What you do get is walking access to the historic colonial fort and the eateries along Matara promenade. The stay is modern and clean with balcony rooms that have Indian Ocean views.
We’ve also got a complete review of the best surf camps in Sri Lanka for the coming season.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Matara surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Matara surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp. Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Rent a car. If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Matara?
The best time for Matara surf trips is in the peak season for the southwestern side of the island. That’s usually between November and March. However, we’ve been at both ends and have to say there’s MUCH more quality to the waves here in the earlier months – November and December in particular. That’s probably to do with how the oncoming Indian Ocean swell shifts to a more SW angle throughout, putting it a little heavy and head on for the sandbars. We came in February last and the waves were super dumpy until the wind disappeared, and even then loved to close out on certain sets. Don’t even bother in the low season monsoon – it’s rough and messy.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
