A palm-backed crescent of golden sand and one of the world's classic right-hand point breaks, the heart of Sri Lanka's east-coast surf scene.

Overview

Arugam Bay's beach is a long, gently curving strip of sand fringed by coconut palms and lined with surf camps, cafes and guesthouses. Its main draw is the Main Point, a long right-hand point break at the southern end that peels for hundreds of metres and is regarded as one of the best waves in Asia. Gentler breaks such as Baby Point and nearby Whiskey Point and Peanut Farm suit beginners and intermediates, while swimmers and sunbathers spread out along the calmer central sands. Fishing boats still pull up at the northern end, giving the bay an easy, working-village feel.

History

Once a quiet fishing beach in the Muslim and Tamil settlement around Pottuvil, Arugam Bay was discovered by travelling surfers in the 1970s. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struck the coast hard, but the beach and its surf economy were rebuilt, and it has hosted international surfing competitions since then, becoming Sri Lanka's premier surf destination.