Arugam bay is a popular surfing and tourist destination. It is situated in district of Ampara, Approximately 314 km from Colombo, Arugam Bay is known as one of the best three surfing spots in the world. This typical fishing village to the south of the small town of Pottuvil can be reached via A4 from Colombo. The unspoilt town of Arugam Bay offers an abundance of opportunities for those with a passion for water sports and underwater photography Area is rich in bird life and wildlife in the widespread jungle areas, wetlands and lagoons nearby. lt has its own specific climate with very little rain compared to the rest of the island. The average temperature in November, December and January is around 28-30 degrees Celsius. It is also often windy during this period in February and March as well as in September and October the temperature is around 30-32 degrees Celsius. With the sun at its zenith in April, it can get rather hot and humid during that with temperatures going up to 36 degrees Celsius.

Surfing in Arugam Bay

The resplendent waters surrounding the moon-shaped curl of soft golden sand in the eastern shores of Sri Lanka are known to be one of the best ‘point brakes’ in the world. Experience and ride through the majestic waves of the ocean as they break in an exhilarating rush. Surfing is best in Arugam Bay during the season of April to October each year. During this time is conducted the UK Pro-Surfing Association’s Sri Lanka Surf  Championships, an event open to all and where the entire place becomes a hub of activity as the best surfers across the seas comes together to participate in the thrilling event in one of the finest surfing hotspots in the world.

Surf spots

Arugam Bay is on the list of the top ten surf points in the world. Situated on the South East side of Sri Lanka Arugam Bay receives the same Antarctic winter swell's that hit Indonesia in the in the middle of the year. The best time of the year is between May and November when the predominant wind is offshore for at least the first half of the day. Due to its location and southerly swell direction the area is dominated by right hand point breaks. There is a beach break in front of the Stardust Hotel, which can be fun for body surfing or for beginners but that's about it. Three of the point breaks "The Point", "Pottuvil Point" and "Crocodile Rock" are within a hour tuk tuk ride from the Hotel, with "The Point being visible (15 min walk) from the hotel. There are several other points that are within a 1-hour's ride or can be accessed by boat. Some of the staff at the hotel surf and are only to happy to help you plan surf trips to some of these lesser known breaks

The Point: This is the main break at Arugam Bay. The point is a long right-hand point/reef break that breaks at the headland in front of Arugam Bay. It is also the best swell magnet of all the points and you can almost always guarantee that point will be a couple of feet bigger than any of the other breaks. It breaks from anything between 2 and 6 feet but tends to max out after 6 foot. Due to its location it is also attracts the biggest crowd but seems to be handle it as it often sections in a few spots. On a good day it provides a clean rideble wall that will barrel in the sections and give you a 400-meter ride right through to the inside. When you ride all the way through the best option is to paddle a few yards to the beach and walk back out to the entry point (booties are advisable as the reef starts from ankle depth). There is also caf�run by some of the locals that provides a grant vantage point to watch the action from and take in stock up on energy for the next session.

Pottuvil Point: Pottuvil Point is every surfers dream tropical wave. A long deserted sandy beach dotted with some huge boulders at the water’s edge, make this wave a favourite with some of the season veterans. Less crowded because of the hour tuk tuk ride north from Arugam Bay, Pottuvil point provides 800 meter rides from the outside section right through to the beach on the inside. The unique thing about this wave is that for most of it you can be working a four foot faces and be only a few meters from the beach as the wave grinds down the sandy point. The outside section sucks up and throw's out as the swell raps into the point giving a 30 meter wall to work with before it fades as it hits deeper water for about 10 seconds. The wave then tends to double up as it hits a shallow sand bottom section that will have you hanging in there for all you worth just to try and make the next 40 to 80 meter section. Failure can leave you standing in knee deep water with a mouth full of sand if you manage not to get slammed into one of the boulder's first. If conditions are right and you can make it through this section then the wave peels perfectly meters from the beach for an eternity until it closes out in the bay and you begin the long walk back. Pottuvil Point needs a decent size swell before it starts working at all and a large swell before the middle section.

Wild life

The area surrounding Arugam Bay is a wildlife lover’s paradise, and gives easy access to two of Sri Lanka’s most renowned wildlife sanctuaries.

Kumana National Park

Accessible through the Panama road, this park is a must see for bird enthusiasts. Kumana is the most popular bird sanctuary in the country, boasting more than 250 species of birds, and is also home to wildlife found in the adjacent Yala National Park such as elephants, leopards, golden jackals and wild boars.

Lahugala National Park

The Lahugala National Park is well known for its wide range of flora and fauna, while its main attraction is the herds of elephants that head towards the Beru Lake in the months of June, July and August

Heritage

Experience Sri Lanka’s rich cultural legacy by visiting some of the many ancient temples located in the nearby area, symbolic of Sri Lankan Buddhist and Hindu heritage.

• Magul Maha Vihara
• Muhudu Maha Vihara
• Kudumbigala
• Sastraweli
• Okanda Devale

Airport to Arugam bay car or van

Transport provides by Cyril Tours to Arugam Bay from Katunayake airport or any point in Sri Lanka by dual air conditioned and fully insured luxury van..

Please contact for for more information

email: ct@cyriltours.com