Arugam Bay is a surfer’s paradise and home to one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka. What surprised us most during our 3-day trip was the amazing wildlife near this stunning coastal spot (in the world-famous Yala National Park). We saw monkeys, elephants, and even crocodiles! Here are all our favorite things to do, where to stay, and the best places to eat.
Things to do in Arugam Bay
Arugam Bay’s waves beckon surfers from all over the world to ride barrels by day and party by night from June to August. We visited outside of this season (March), but still really enjoyed it. The weather was great, but there just weren’t as many big waves or parties.
We got a bit lost driving there from Arugam Bay, as it isn’t the most obvious route, but the good part is that it only takes 20 minutes. We drove down the main road and turned left when we got to the Navy Camp sign.
From there, you follow the road until the next junction, where you’ll turn right towards a small lake. Just before the lake, we turned left and kept going straight till the end. Here is the exact location.
2. Muhudu Maha Viharaya
We stumbled upon this beautiful white temple by chance, having spotted it from Arugam Bay Beach. It lies uniquely in the sand dunes of Pottuvil, just a 10-minute drive away. We combined it with a visit to the beach, but you could also visit Whisky Point (one of the best spots for surfing!) if you prefer.
Tip: We had dinner at the restaurant at Whisky Point Resort, which has excellent service and uses locally sourced ingredients. You can book a table here.
3. Surf & Chill at Arugam Bay Beach
Arugam is world-famous for its waves in high season. All the locals told us that there’s no better place to surf, and we couldn’t agree more!
While big companies like Red Bull organize competitions here for the pros, it’s also a great place to learn. We booked a beginner surf lesson, which was an absolute highlight of our Sri Lanka route.
If you’re more advanced, you can also rent a board in town and explore the popular surf spots yourself: Baby Point, Peanut Farm Beach, Main Point, or Elephant Point. High season for surfing in Arugam Bay runs from June to August.
After some surfing, we decided to chill at cafe The Hideout. Stay Golden was another one of our favorites (make a reservation here). Although we didn’t join one, there are also many Yoga lessons available throughout the bayโs high season.
Visiting during the low season: Don’t skip Arugam when there are fewer or no waves. In February and March, you can do all these things to do in Arugam Bay except big-wave surfing. Besides, prices are about five times lower than in high season.
4. Lagoon Safari
Going on a 2-hour lagoon safari was one of our favorite things to do in Arugam Bay. The beautiful, untouched lagoons – Pottuvil or Urani – are home to many crocodiles, elephants, and other wildlife.
We used Azi Taxi and can recommend it as your transportation option to the lagoon starting point. Alternatively, you can book this tour, which includes pickup.
Tip: Another fantastic wildlife spot closeby is Yala National Park (we spotted leopards here!). Our safari in Yala was a dream come trueโthere’s nothing quite like seeing all these animals in their natural habitat.
Our favorite is Sri Lankan Curry, which is served on a platter with bowls of rice, curries, coconut, sambal, and (mango) chutney. It’s a dish we could easily eat every day whenever we’re in the country – we love mixing all the flavors. However, sometimes it’s so spicy that we need a day in between to give our stomachs a break, haha.
Some of our favorite cafes and restaurants in Arugam Bay are:
Tip: During the Friday prayers most of the restaurants close for a few hours.
6. Watch and Help the Fishermen
During the low season, we saw the fishermen at work at the main beach every morning. We loved witnessing them weigh their catch of the day, which they then sent directly to the local restaurants. We decided to help them drag the boat onto the beach and then later enjoyed some fresh seafood nearby.
7. Kudumbigala Monastery
A monastery located in the middle of the jungle. Sounds great, right? Our driver took us to the foot of the rock in about 45 minutes from Arugam. However, if you’re going by tuk-tuk, it might take a bit longer. Here is the exact location.
Once you’re there, you have to climb up the rock (which wasn’t the easiest!), but it’s so worth it for the incredible views of the whole region. Here is the walking route you can follow.
The view from the monastery by lena_moony
How to Visit Arugam Bay
Arugam is a bit off the standard Sri Lanka route, but it’s so worth the journey! It was one of our favorite spots on our trip, especially for surfing and wildlife.
Tip: The best way to reach the bay is to travel from Trincomalee (5h) or, as we did, from Ella (2.5h). From Trincomalee, you can even do a 2-day Sri Lanka East Coast road trip.
Where to Stay in Arugam Bay
Arugam is all about the beach! As such, most accommodations sit along the coastline. There are charming beach huts, mid-range guesthouses, or upscale beach resorts.
Best Time to Visit
We visited in March, which is outside the main/dry season (May-September), but still really enjoyed it! You might get some showers during the day, but they’re never long, so we still had hours of sunshine to enjoy the coastline.
- Most popular months for surfing: June, July, August.
- Note: During the low season, some restaurants and shops may close.
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Hi, I know it’s a kinda old post but do you think it’s also worth it to visit the bay in January? because you mentioned going there during the off-season is still fine but only starting in February. Happy to get your opinion and keep up your amazing work! :)
Hmmm not totally sure as weather could be an issue and shops being closed. You could message some local restaurants and just ask if they are open.