Matara Surf & Travel Guide – A City by the Surf
The city of Matara sits on a bend along the famous surf mecca of the Sri Lankan south-west coast.
It’s actually not on the most wave-rich corners 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. Plus, the beaches here are long, yellow-tinged runs that are totally undeveloped and lack – in honesty – a bit of cleanliness.
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. And there are a few little surfer town areas just outside of Matara city, mainly SK Town, which happens to have one of the best beach breaks on the island IMO.
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.
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!
>>This guide is just one part of our complete guide to Sri Lanka surf
Matara surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
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 from Colombo and Galle that are fun ways to travel, with great views of the coast the whole way along.
You’ll need to book them in advance using 12Go.
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 first 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.
Where to stay? Don’t base yourself in Matara if you want to learn to surf. Choose any of the top-notch Weligama surf camps that are currently on offer. It’s just WAAAYY easier.
>>Read our 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.
Where to stay? Surf & Yoga Mirissa do a fantastic week-long package that includes 14 guided sessions. One of our top picks in the region.
>>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.
Madiha Beach
Madiha 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 more experienced riders.
There’s one particular right hander that really stands out from the rest, but it’s a magnet for the locals and can be busy when its on with some of the best surfers in the area.
>>We have a complete guide to Madiha
Polhena Beach
Polhena isn’t really a surf point but there is a reef area here about 800m along from the main beach that’s got some wedgy lefts and rights on its outside, though we cannot figure out how the hell you’re supposed to paddle out there.
The main reason to know about Polhena is because it is such a downright gorgeous beach – think white sand, resident turtles, and stunning sunsets.
On top of that, it’s like five minutes by tuk-tuk from Matara and close to the reef breaks of Madiha, which by our estimations makes it a fantastic base for surfers who want to stay somewhere a bit more remote and who don’t mind traveling to and from the breaks each morning/evening.
>>Read our full guide to lovely Polhena Beach right now
SK Town
SK Town is the main place to know about. It’s actually an upcoming spot amid the southcoast 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 road at Kiralawella. We’re talking about 10-ish 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.
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. That’s the time to hit Arugam Bay over on the east coast of the island.
>>Read more about when’s best for surfing in Sri Lanka in our seasons guide
Where to stay (for surfing) in Matara?
Go stay in SK Town if you want to be really close to Matara city but also want to surf. That’s what we do – tuk-tuking into Matara for a few hundred Rs. whenever we want to enjoy the city.
Alternatively, pick a hotel near Polhena Beach/Madiha and seek out the less-trodden reef breaks there. It’s a shorter ride to the heart of the city but the breaks are a bit more advanced.
We’ve focussed on options in both spots…
- The Seascape – The go-to surfer’s option on SK Town beach to the east of Matara, this hotel 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.
- LoSu Polhena – This is one of the top-rated hotels in the area of Polhena Beach. It’s locally owned, has a seriously cracking breakfast offering, a gorgeous pool, and is within walking distance of the white-sands and turtle lagoon. The surf spots of Madiha are maybe 15 minutes’ walk away and the city center of Matara is a short tuk-tuk.
- Surf Lodge Madiha – A toned-down aesthetic, lush gardens, and a location right on one of the more challenging left reefs in the region, this is a cracking stay. I love it.
We’ve also got a complete review of the best surf camps in Sri Lanka for the coming season – they’re perfect if all you want is to surf every single day. The price typically includes all your lessons and gear rental.
If you want more hotel suggestions, check our guide to the top surf hotels in Sri Lanka, and the top surf hostels in Sri Lanka (the more budget-friendly list).
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!
