Sri Lanka / The East Coast / Arugam BayArugam Bay
Surf Point and Lagoons on the East Coast
Sri Lanka's surf capital: a right-hand point break with easier waves at Whiskey Point, Peanut Farm and Elephant Rock, a relaxed village of cabanas and cafes, and lagoons with elephants and crocodiles. The season is April to October, when the east coast is dry; from November the north-east monsoon brings rain and many places close. Kumana National Park, for birds and the odd leopard, and Kudumbigala hermitage are nearby. About 3 hours from Ella, 7-8 from Colombo.
Highlights
- Surf the point or a beginner break
- Pottuvil lagoon boat at dawn
- Elephant Rock sunset
- Kumana safari for birds
- Kudumbigala forest hermitage
- Beach cafes and live music in season
Things to do
- Surf lesson at Whiskey Point or Baby PointMorning · 2h 30m
- Pottuvil lagoon mangrove boatMorning · 2h 30m
- Elephant Rock at sunsetEvening · 2h
- Kumana National Park safariMorning · 5h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: May – September
Worth knowing
North-East Monsoon: East Coast Off Season
From about November to February the north-east monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas to the east coast: snorkelling and boat trips stop, Arugam Bay's surf season is over and many guesthouses close. Spend these months on the south and west coasts and in the hills instead.
- Kataragama Esala festival and the Pada Yatra — Two weeks of nightly processions at Kataragama, the shrine to Murugan (Skanda) by Yala, sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims, ending on the Esala full moon with fire-walking. Before it, pilgrims walk the Pada Yatra down the east coast from Jaffna through Arugam Bay and across Kumana, which opens a forest path for them. Tissamaharama and Kataragama fill up.