Located on the beautiful East Coast of Sri Lanka, Arugam Bay is home to some of Sri Lanka’s most famous beaches. The area is most famous for being a surfer’s paradise, but there are also plenty of other great things to do in and around Arugam Bay!
With its white-sand beaches, nearby safari parks and ancient temples, Arugam Bay is a part of Sri Lanka that I really loved. It’s both a great place to chill and relax as well as to explore the surroundings.
You’ll find a little guide at the end of this post including the best time to visit Arugam Bay, how to get there and other practical information. But first, here are some of the best things to do on a visit to Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka.
Note: This post was written in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Board (Destination Sri Lanka). As always, all thoughts and opinions, however, are my own. I don’t accept freebies or payments in return for positive reviews.
The 12 best things to do in Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka
1. Go surfing
One of the most popular things to do in Arugam Bay is surfing, so it had to be number 1 on this list. The area is packed with surf shops offering lessons and surfboards for hire. The bay is argued to be the best surfing spot in Sri Lanka and it attracts surfers from all over the world. It’s good to know that it’s a great place for both amateurs as well as professional surfers.
Some of the most popular surf spots in Arugam Bay are Main Point, Whiskey Point, Peanut Farm, Pottuvil Point, and Elephant Rock.
Note that if you want to go surfing, it’s best to visit Arugam Bay between the months of June and August to catch the best waves.
2. Visit Muhudu Maha Viharaya
This ancient Buddhist temple was constructed over 2,000 years ago by King Kavantissa of Ruhuna, and it’s steeped in history. It’s often called the ‘Temple by the Sea’, and it can easily be combined with a visit to the nearby beach.
According to the legend, Viharamaha Devi, the daughter of King Kelanitissa, sacrificed herself to the sea to appease the gods who were angry at her father for punishing an innocent monk. The waves of the ocean then pushed the princess ashore near the Muhuda Maha Viharaya temple and this is where she encountered King Kavantissa, who she would later marry.
The Muhudu Maha Viharaya Temple is a very important site for Buddhists, and one of the things I loved the most about the place is the life-sized statues of the Buddha leading to the pagoda.
3. Climb Elephant Rock
Not only is Elephant Rock a popular surfing spot, but it’s also the perfect place to watch the sunrise or sunset. It’s located on the southernmost spot of Arugam Bay Beach, and can easily be reached either by walking or by tuk-tuk.
While it’s okay to swim and surf in the sea, don’t swim in the lagoon near Elephant Rock because there are crocodiles there.
I didn’t visit Elephant Rock myself, unfortunately, so it’s something I will have to come back for!
4. See the fishermen
Fishing has been a big part of the economy of Arugam Bay and its surroundings for many years. If you visit Pottuvil Beach in the morning, you will find fishermen pulling their nets onto the beach. The nets are attached to hundreds of meters of rope and it takes around two hours to pull them out of the ocean.
You’ll also find plenty of colourful fishing boats adorning Arugam Bay Beach. If you visit in the morning, you will see how the fishermen sort their catch of fish before selling it.
5. Go on a safari in Kumana National Park (Yala East)
Kumana National Park is located on the East of the more popular Yala National Park, and it’s just 30 km (18.6 mi) from Arugam Bay. Chances are that you’ll encounter a lot of wildlife here even before entering the park’s gates!
Not only is Kumana National Park a great place to spot wildlife, but the landscapes here are beautiful as well. During our safari, we spotted elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, peacocks, monkeys, warthogs, mongoose, turtles, deer, and even the rare and endangered black-necked stork. But there’s much more wildlife here, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot a sloth bear or a leopard!
Having visited both Yala and Kumana National Park, I have to say I preferred Kumana by far. Yala National Park is more touristy and it’s packed with jeeps, whereas Kumana National Park is a calm place with equally beautiful landscapes and many animals.
6. Go on a lagoon safari in Pottuvil
One of the most popular things to do in Arugam Bay is going on a lagoon safari in Pottuvil. This is basically a canoe ride along the lagoon where you will be able to observe many species of animals and birds. Some of the animals you can spot here are crocodiles, (bathing) elephants, buffaloes, monkeys, and many species of birds.
The Pottuvil lagoon is located 7 km (4.3 mi) from Arugam Bay and it’s easy to reach by tuk-tuk.
7. Drink fresh juice
You simply cannot go to Sri Lanka and not try the delicious fresh juice – and Arugam Bay is packed with juice bars. It’s fun to see how the juice is made and some juice bars also offer a mix of coconut and lime juice, which is truly delicious (and quite refreshing too).
8. Visit the Kudumbigala Monastery
The Kudumbigala Monastery is a 45-minute tuk-tuk drive from Arugam Bay. It’s a place you will love if you’re a history buff! It’s estimated that this Buddhist monastery was built in 246 BC, during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. It was used by monks who wanted to escape the city and follow a path to enlightenment.
Don’t forget to explore the nearby trails and caves, and climb to the peak next to the monastery for a beautiful view of the surroundings when you’re there. The climb to the highest viewpoint takes approximately 1,5 hours, so the best time to do this is in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat. You’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view over the jungle, rocks and the coastline once you reach it.
On the way to this monastery, you will pass the Panama Road (which is also on the way to Kumana National Park). Here, you’ll have a good chance to spot elephants, crocodiles and monkeys!
9. Join a cooking class
For foodies, one of the best things to do in Arugam Bay is to join a cooking class. Here, you’ll learn how to make some of Sri Lanka’s most famous traditional dishes like dahl, coconut sambal, curries and more.
The best part is that after finishing the cooking class, you’ll be able to make your favourite dishes when you’re back home!
10. Check out the Arugam Bay nightlife scene
Another thing Arugam Bay is known for is its party scene. If you’re visiting during the high season (from June to September), there will be plenty of beach parties with lots of music and dancing.
One of the most popular beach parties in Arugam Bay is Mambo’s Saturday Nights. It’s free for tourists, so make sure not to miss it if partying is your thing.
11. Chill by the beach or pool
It’s important to rest from time to time too, especially after visiting so many new things, and Arugam Bay is a great place to do so. Head to the beach or pool to swim, chill, get a coconut, read a book (or do absolutely nothing) and reload your batteries.
While you can lay down your towel on the sand, there are also beach bars where you can rent a sunbed and enjoy some snacks and drinks.
12. Pamper yourself
Speaking of relaxing – Arugam Bay is also full of places where you can pamper yourself a bit. Go to an Ayurveda treatment centre for a traditional massage, for example. Or head to one of the many places where they offer yoga classes – your body will thank you later!
Best time to visit Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanks has a tropical climate with warm temperatures all year round. There are, however, two monsoon seasons on the island. On the East Coast, where Arugam Bay is located, the monsoon season runs from November to January, so you might want to avoid this period.
The best time to visit Arugam Bay if you want to go surfing is during the months of June to September. This is also the high season and the best time to go snorkelling and diving.
However, if snorkelling and diving are not activities that you’re interested in, you can visit Arugam Bay between February and may as well. I visited the bay at the beginning of March, and the weather was great! I went snorkelling too, but unfortunately, the visibility wasn’t very good.
How to get to Arugam Bay
Arugam Bay is located on the South-East Coast of Sri Lanka, about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Pottuvil. In order to get there, you will have to head to this little town first.
- Public bus: Taking the public bus to Pottuvil followed by a tuk-tuk ride to Arugam bay is the cheapest way to get there. It takes at least 8 hours from Colombo and 5 hours from Ella.
- Private car: Although this is also the most expensive option, hiring a driver or renting a car is the easiest and fastest way to get to Arugam Bay.
- Tuk-tuk: It’s possible to rent a tuk-tuk and drive it yourself in Sri Lanka. So if you’re up for an adventure (and have enough time (since tuk-tuks only drive around 40 km/h), this is quite a fun way to go to Arugam Bay!
How to get around in Arugam Bay
Once you’re in Arugam Bay, you can easily get around by:
- Tuk-tuk: Tuk-tuks can be found nearly everywhere in Sri Lanka, and Arugam Bay is no different. Hopping on of these is the most popular way to get around the area.
- Scooter: The roads are good in the area and renting a scooter is not too expensive. This is probably the best way to get around if you want to have a lot of freedom.
- Private transport: A private car can be arranged and this is probably the most comfortable way to get around, but it’s also the most expensive.
Where to stay in Arugam Bay
Jetwing Surf ($$$): I stayed at the beautiful and eco-friendly Jetwing Surf hotel, which is located in Pottuvil. It’s the perfect place to stay if you’re looking for a luxury resort! The rooms in the huts are both big and magnificent, and wait until you see the bathroom! On top of that, the food at Jetwing Surf is delicious. And there’s a very beautiful pool too, which is surrounded by palm trees and overlooks the beach.
Read more about Sri Lanka:
– Hiking to Little Adam’s Peak in Ella: Everything You Need to Know
– Climbing Ambuluwawa Tower in Sri Lanka: Everything You Need to Know
– Boat Safari in Gal Oya National Park: A Complete Guide
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