Sri Lanka- Arugam Bay

A chance to live an “unplugged life” while experiencing epic surfing and safaris- this is Arugam Bay

Written by Gracie Rounds

Introduction

When comparing Arugam Bay to other parts of the island, it is important to know that this area is considered more rustic and underdeveloped. You will often be hard-pressed to find wi-fi or air-conditioning in restaurants or hotels, and this can make things really challenging for digital nomads.

That being said, if you are looking to live a disconnected life for a bit, this is your place. And disconnected doesn’t mean boring! Arugam Bay is full of adventures like epic surfing and safaris. Plus- everything feels super safe and lots of spots are accessible just by walking.

Based on the multi-week stay of my sister, solo world-traveler Callie Rounds, read on to explore all that Arugam Bay has to offer.

Where to Stay

Getting to Arugam Bay will take a 7-hour taxi from the airport. This is quite the trek to get up there, but if you are planning on living the slow life for a while it’ll be worth it.

As previously mentioned, much of what you will find in Arugam Bay is more rustic. When looking for places to stay, everything will be more outdoorsy and you will be hard pressed to find a place with air-conditioning or strong wi-fi.

That being said, there are some really neat spots to stay that immerse you fully in nature. One of those is Surf N’ Sun. This is a really special spot to stay that feels like it’s deep inside the jungle. There is air conditioning here, and wi-fi available but only in the lobby. There is also a cafe, beautiful architecture, and enjoyable yoga classes.

Eats

As you’ll soon find in our other Sri Lanka guide, the best coffee you will get in both places we recommend for your Sri Lanka trip will be KAFFI. This is the same branch as in Ahangama at the southern part of the island, and both spots serve fantastic coffee options and fun smoothie bowls.

Khanna is a really fun restaurant that serves Mexican-style food for lunch or dinner as well as burgers. And Emily’s is one of the only more upscale places you’ll find in town. It says online that it is currently temporarily closed, but was open when Callie was there, so you’ll have to do your research.

Surfing

One of the best things about Arugam Bay is the surfing. There are options for all levels of people looking to surf, including beginners who never have before.

Baby Point is a really good spot to start off if you have never surfed before. This will offer very beginner waves for you to try and stand up on and will be much more forgiving when you fall.

Shortly up the beach from Baby Point is Main Point which will offer more advanced waves. Depending on conditions this can also offer more intermediate waves, but if you’re not quite to either of those levels yet, it’s walking distance from the hotels and restaurants in the area.

For an intermediate wave you can check out Elephant Rock. This is also an incredible spot to watch sunset.

As an “off the beaten path” option, check out Peanut Farm. If you go past where the turn is for Elephant Rock you will end up here with many less people surfing and perfect waves. If you’re lucky you might also get to see an elephant along the way.

Safari

The other main highlight of this area would be the chance to see wild animals. Already, it is common to pass elephants and buffaloes on the streets that are being transported from one place to the next. But safaris and nature preserves are really neat experiences to see these animals and more in the wild.

For the best chance of beating the crowds that can push animals away, go on a sunrise safari. Safaris along with a visit to the Yala National Park will give you the best chance of seeing animals like leopards, crocodiles, elephants and more in the wild.

Conclusion

As you can see, Arugam Bay is a really special spot to visit to get an authentic and immersive experience living a disconnected life by the beach.