Things to do in Arugam Bay
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Arugam Bay
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Surf season, dry east coast, peak June to August with best swell, full town and highest prices.
Shoulder gamble, early month can surf, then wind shifts, rain starts and businesses close.
North east monsoon, rough seas, no reliable surf, town largely shut, swimming unsafe.
Slow reopening, calmer spells and lower prices, confirm stays and restaurants are open.
What's on
- Pada Yatra pilgrimage through Okanda Usually June to July, varies by year
Devotees walking to Kataragama rest at Okanda Murugan Temple, expect a busy road south and modest dress around temples.
- Kumana bird nesting season May to June
Waterbirds nest at Kumana Villu, the best birding window in the park.
Best things to do in Arugam Bay
Main Point
The famous long right hand reef break the town is built around, for intermediate and advanced surfers.
Baby Point
Gentler sand bottom section of the bay where surf schools start beginners.
Muhudu Maha Viharaya
Small active temple in the dunes linked by tradition to Princess Vihara Maha Devi landing here.
Magul Maha Viharaya
Sprawling wedding temple ruins with ponds, stupas and a moonstone carved with elephants and riders.
Arugam Bay surf lesson
A local lesson on a beginner break is the safest way to learn reef, current and break etiquette here.
Panama Road strip
One slow walk past surf shops, cafes and guesthouses tells you how the town works in season.
Where to stay in Arugam Bay
Main strip, Panama Road, Ullai
first trip, surf and cafes on foot
Walk to Main Point, Baby Point, surf schools and restaurants, with bar noise in peak season.
South end towards Pasarichenai and Cemetery Road
quieter nights, couples and solo surfers
Beach walk to Main Point, calmer than the central strip, still on foot to cafes.
Whiskey Point, north near Pottuvil
surfers focused on Whiskey Point
Its own small base for that break, a tuk tuk ride from the main strip for dinner.
Think twice about
- Pottuvil Lagoon, Urani Lagoon and Panama Tank water and edges
Crocodiles live in these waters. Never swim, wade or let children or dogs near the edge.
- Unmarked tracks and off road jungle south towards Kumana and north of Pottuvil at night
Wild elephants move here after dark and landmine risk in parts of the north and east means staying on well used roads and paths.
- Pottuvil town as a beach base
A working town away from the beach, not a surf base. Stay on the bay and visit Pottuvil for ATMs, the temple and the lagoon.
Best restaurants in Arugam Bay
Hideaway Blue Cafe and Bar
Garden cafe and restaurant at Hideaway, the closest thing to a destination table in town.
Gecko Restaurant and Rooms
Beachfront family restaurant for carefully made Western and Sri Lankan dishes and home baked cakes.
Tandoori Hut Arugam Bay
Indian heart of the strip for tandoori and curries with generous rice and bread servings.
Cili Restaurant
Italian plates centred on pizza, a reliable curry break for mixed groups in season.
Flo! Restaurant
Surf cafe for healthy bowls, flatbreads, burgers and Sri Lankan curry after a morning session.
Bambini's Cafe
Cheap and cheerful cafe for seafood and grilled fish at the budget end of local listings.
Outdoor things to do in Arugam Bay
Whiskey Point
Rocky point break north of town known for sunrise sessions when it is working.
Peanut Farm
Quiet bay point break south of town that can suit different levels on different swells.
Elephant Rock
Big rock headland to walk to and climb with care for a panorama over the coast.
Pottuvil Point
Long right hand point at the lagoon mouth that can work later in the season.
Kumana National Park
Wetland safari park famous for nesting waterbirds, with elephants and leopard also present.
Kudumbigala Monastery
Ancient forest hermitage on a rock where monks still live, with paths, ruins and wide views.
Okanda Murugan Temple
Colourful Murugan temple on the Pada Yatra route at the gateway to Kumana, with a surf point nearby.
Pottuvil Lagoon
Dawn or dusk boat safari through mangroves for birds, elephants at the edge and crocodiles on banks.
Best hotels in Arugam Bay
Jetwing Surf & Safari
Eco chalet resort and the most polished stay in the area, the honest top of the local market.
The Blue Wave Hotel
Star rated hotel with pools, gym and spa, the in town splurge in a town of cabanas.
The Spice Trail
Boutique rooms around a garden and pool on the main strip, a short walk to Main Point.
Hideaway Resort
Long running family garden hideaway with villas, calm service and a well regarded restaurant.
Stay Golden
Small beachfront cabanas with a restaurant and rooftop yoga shala at the quieter south end.
Ranga's Beach Hut
Classic budget cabanas and treehouse rooms with a sociable garden and home style food.
Is Arugam Bay expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | LKR 14,000 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | LKR 34,000 a person |
| Splurge | LKR 90,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Arugam Bay surf lesson: a few days ahead
- Kumana National Park: a few days ahead
- Pottuvil Lagoon: a few days ahead
- Jetwing Surf & Safari: weeks ahead
- The Blue Wave Hotel: weeks ahead
- The Spice Trail: weeks ahead
- Hideaway Resort: weeks ahead
- Stay Golden: weeks ahead
- Air conditioned rooms, Jetwing, Blue Wave and Spice Trail rooms and Kumana safaris book out in July and August, book weeks ahead.
Is Arugam Bay safe?
- Swim only in the bay in season where locals say it is safe that day, never in lagoons, tanks or rivers due to crocodiles.
- In an emergency, call police on 119 or the tourism hotline on 1912.
Arugam Bay travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Agree tuk tuk waiting and return prices in advance, photograph hire boards before use, and check a break is working before paying for the ride.
- Restaurants and stays that look open online may be closed from November to February, confirm directly in off season.
Getting around Arugam Bay: public transport and more
- Walk the Panama Road strip and hire tuk tuks with board racks for the breaks, price agreed before you set off.
- The Colombo journey is a full travel day by bus or car via Pottuvil, plan it as such.
Who Arugam Bay suits
| Solo travellers | Great |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Arugam Bay your trip
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