Lovely Arugam Bay, a moon-shaped curl of soft sand, is home to a famed point break that many regard as the best surf spot in the country. It’s a tiny place, with a population of a few hundred, and everything is dotted along a single road which parallels the coast. So in other words, the epitome of the laid-back beach scene that first drew surfers and sun-seekers to Sri Lanka.
If you’re not a surfer, there are plenty of other draws: beachfront guesthouses, oceanside restaurants and a mellow, swing-another-day-in-a-hammock kind of vibe that’s totally removed from the brash west-coast beach resorts. Arugam Bay also makes a great base for several adventures in the surrounding hinterland. During the low season (November to April) things get extremely quiet and many places close altogether, but it can also be a serene time to visit, with few tourists and verdant landscapes.
Ranked as the fifth best place to surf in the world Arugam Bay is truly a paradise on earth. It offers the best of a classic tropical holiday. Best conditions for surfing, clean white sandy beaches, crimson sunsets, beachfront guest houses and hotels and grand waves; this is what Arugam Bay is about in a nutshell if you prefer to visit Arugam Bay for a holiday. If you travel from Colombo you can reach Arugam Bay in about 7 hours. Both private and public transportation (buses) are available to reach Arugam Bay.
What is most attractive about Arugam Bay is its pristine beach. The white sandy beach is perfect to lull around lazily swinging on a hammock. But Arugam Bay which is situated about 342 kms east of Colombo is not just a location with a nice beach. It is most famous for surfing and is home to a number of quality surf breaks. Especially after the war, surfers from all over the world have been visiting this place to ride on those big waves discovering this hidden paradise.
The most famous point break is ‘Main Point’. Potuvil point, Whiskey Point, Elephant Rock and Crocodile Rock aptly named because it resembles a crocodile sun bathing in the glorious sun, are some of the well known point breaks in Arugam Bay that have gotten surfers hooked on this place. If you are lucky you might even see herds of wild elephants in the evenings if you manage to walk further down the coast line. June and August are the best months to visit Arugum Bay. Even if you haven’t surfed before you can take surfing classes as they are offered in the area for reasonable prices.