Far in the East of the island lies one of the most up and coming hip locations of Sri Lanka- Arugam Bay.  Not your typical luxury destination but home to some of the most trendy hip cafes and a haven for budget travellers. Accommodation is plentiful in this little beach town. Few hotels, many affordable budget guesthouses such as Yoho Beach View Road give easy access to many of Arugam Bay attractions. Popular as a surfers’ paradise there is also a lot more to do than just enjoying the swells.

Surf Points in Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is often regarded as one of the top ten surf spots in the world. The best time to surf over here is from April till around November. The coastal town also hosts many international tournaments. “The point” is where one could catch some of the biggest waves in Arugam Bay. Some of the other famous surf points are the Crocodile Rock, a great spot for beginners. Furthermore, there is Peanut Farm which has two points one great for the pros and at the same time one suitable for beginners. Further from Okanda too one could catch some great waves. Away from Arugam Bay is Pottuvil that is also rising in popularity, especially among the pro surfers – places such as Pottuvil Point are among them. Some of the other breaks worth checking out are Whiskey Point and the Lighthouse Point which is also known as “The Green Room”.

Don’t Surf – Then what?

Apart from checking out all the surfing activities, there are other things to do in this little coastal gem. Pick up a new passion perhaps? There are various places that teach yoga, which is a great way to maintain physical as well as mental wellbeing. It’s a great way to start one’s day while at this action-packed town.  

Eat Away?

It’s no surprise that there should be an abundance of seafood over here given its close proximity to the sea with the fresh catch every day, restaurants cooking up some of the best feasts. Restaurants in Arugam Bay such as Hideaway are popular options for amazing food. There are plenty of other cafes and restaurants lining up the beach front.

The Panama Tank

A perfect backdrop for all your photos a ride around this tank is a must. There is one path to get around the tank that is about 15-20 minutes away from Arugam Bay. The Panama Tank is also one of the places to even catch a glimpse of crocodiles.

History and Culture

Apart from the fun and games, there are also a few historical sites to check out close to Arugam Bay. The Kudumbigala Monastery is one of the ancient monasteries built for Buddhist monks who want to get away from the cities. This is the temple that has the only cylindrical Dagaba that has survived in Sri Lanka. The other historical site worth checking is the Muhudu Maha Viharaya that was built over 2000 years ago. It is also believed to be the place where queen Viharamaha Devi first landed in Sri Lanka. There are many ruins within the temple premises that can be seen even to date. Another temple located close to Arugam Bay is Sangamankanda that is worth a visit. 

Wild Trail

Arugam Bay is located close to the Kumana National Park and a trip to Yala from Arugam Bay wouldn’t take up too much of an effort. Kumana spreads over 35,000 hectares of land. Kumana is a great feeding ground as well as resting habitat for what are considered as some of the threatened species of wetland species. It is also regarded as a bird watchers paradise.

What’s stopping you – hop on a bus or rent a car make your way to Arugam Bay and have a wave of a time!