Lovely Arugam Bay (aru-gam-beh) is the east coast’s most traveller-friendly destination. It’s basically a single laid-back strip of beach accommodation, following the Panama road and backed by the Muslim village of Sinna Ulla.
From April to October it has the best surfing waves in Sri Lanka, but Arugam Bay is also a great place to unwind, eat seafood and enjoy a mellow party scene. During the low season (November to April) things get very quiet, though NGO types still come for weekend getaways and the sea is better for swimming. At any time of year the surrounding region offers some superb opportunities for viewing birdlife, crocodiles and elephants.
Location
Arguam bay is located 320 km from Colombo. Some 60km due east from Monaragala, Arugam Bay is a tiny fishing village 3km south of the small fishing village of Pottuvil (12000 inhabitants) at the remote southern end of the Eastern coast & on the edge of Yala East National Park.
To the beach
The journey to the beach here takes you across some attractive meadows teeming with wildlife.
Orientation
The bay lies between two headlands & is excellent for surfing.
Beach
The wide, sweeping sandy beach in front of the village is an attraction for swimming all year-round. The beach is usually deserted, except at the southwest corner, where some fishing boats & thatch huts reveal the tiny fishing village of Ulla, just to the south of the guest house area. This is also the safest area for swimming.
Surf
'The Point' in Arugam Bay is regarded as a top world surf destination. It is a well lined up right hand point break, generating a clean peeling glassy wave that barrels a surfer a 400m ride right through to the inside. Additionally there are four or five high quality breaks within a radius of 30 minutes.
Three main point breaks of the surf The Point
Pottuvil point in the northern end of Arugam is often deserted & popular with more experienced surfers Crocodile Rock promontory 3km south of Arugam Bay is a long, deserted beach from where wild elephants can quite often be seen.
Water temperature of the surf
With a water temperature of 24-28 centigrade year-round, you don't need a wet suit.
Surf Championship
June 2004 saw Arugam Bay host the inaugural Sri Lankan Airlines 'Champion of Champions' British Professional Surf Association tour competition.
"The contest exceeded all expectations and have secured funding for the contest for the next 5 years. Our aim is to make it bigger and better next year". BPSA president David Reed
"Bay and the waves really turned on. The wave here is pretty much world class" - Arugam Bay BPSA competition winner Spencer Hargraves
Wreck Diving
There are various opportunities for wreck diving in the bay with five pre-1850 ships within 5km of each other.
Village
The village still has an impromptu, remote, crashed-out ambience with a palm-shack feel that still reflects its origins as a low-key surfing hangout. It carries you with the "end of the road" feeling.
Crocodile Rock
The Crocodile Rock is 2km south of Arugam Point along another deserted beach to Kudakallliya. We can reach the rock by scrambling across the dunes & fording the lagoon. Its wild: eagles swoop overhead, elephants attempt to climb the rock. Look out, large mugger crocs creep in utter stealth. At the top, we will be rewarded for our efforts with magnificent views inland across the paddy fields & lagoon.
Elephant Rock
A walk to Elephant Rock, about 3km south of Arugam Bay provides an appreciation of the extent of the beautiful beaches. In the early morning or evening we will have the sight of elephants roaming nearby.
Lagoon, Bridge & Prawn catching
Pottuvil lagoon is a haven for numerous bird species. Arugam Bay's picturesque lagoon divides Ulla village from Pottuvil lagoon, north of town. The bridge is an excellent vantage point to see the sunset, & at night you can watch prawn fishermen throwing, gathering & emptying their nets.
The Pottuvil Lagoon ecotour
The Lagoon tour provides us with two hours of calm paddling & an insight into the importance of mangrove ecosystems in the area. Local fishermen takes us in their fiberglass canoes through the mangroves, stopping off at the sandbar in the ocean & then at a mangrove nursery. Lagoon is home to a wide variety of wildlife including crocodiles, monkeys, water snakes & plenty of birds. The lagoon tour was set up as part of a mangrove conservation project (Restoring the Natural Cycle) by the local Hidayapuram Fisheries Cooperative Society & the Sri Lankan NGO Sewa Lanka Foundation.
From April to October it has the best surfing waves in Sri Lanka, but Arugam Bay is also a great place to unwind, eat seafood and enjoy a mellow party scene. During the low season (November to April) things get very quiet, though NGO types still come for weekend getaways and the sea is better for swimming. At any time of year the surrounding region offers some superb opportunities for viewing birdlife, crocodiles and elephants.
Location
Arguam bay is located 320 km from Colombo. Some 60km due east from Monaragala, Arugam Bay is a tiny fishing village 3km south of the small fishing village of Pottuvil (12000 inhabitants) at the remote southern end of the Eastern coast & on the edge of Yala East National Park.
To the beach
The journey to the beach here takes you across some attractive meadows teeming with wildlife.
Orientation
The bay lies between two headlands & is excellent for surfing.
Beach
The wide, sweeping sandy beach in front of the village is an attraction for swimming all year-round. The beach is usually deserted, except at the southwest corner, where some fishing boats & thatch huts reveal the tiny fishing village of Ulla, just to the south of the guest house area. This is also the safest area for swimming.
Surf
'The Point' in Arugam Bay is regarded as a top world surf destination. It is a well lined up right hand point break, generating a clean peeling glassy wave that barrels a surfer a 400m ride right through to the inside. Additionally there are four or five high quality breaks within a radius of 30 minutes.
Three main point breaks of the surf The Point
Pottuvil point in the northern end of Arugam is often deserted & popular with more experienced surfers Crocodile Rock promontory 3km south of Arugam Bay is a long, deserted beach from where wild elephants can quite often be seen.
Water temperature of the surf
With a water temperature of 24-28 centigrade year-round, you don't need a wet suit.
Surf Championship
June 2004 saw Arugam Bay host the inaugural Sri Lankan Airlines 'Champion of Champions' British Professional Surf Association tour competition.
"The contest exceeded all expectations and have secured funding for the contest for the next 5 years. Our aim is to make it bigger and better next year". BPSA president David Reed
"Bay and the waves really turned on. The wave here is pretty much world class" - Arugam Bay BPSA competition winner Spencer Hargraves
Wreck Diving
There are various opportunities for wreck diving in the bay with five pre-1850 ships within 5km of each other.
Village
The village still has an impromptu, remote, crashed-out ambience with a palm-shack feel that still reflects its origins as a low-key surfing hangout. It carries you with the "end of the road" feeling.
Crocodile Rock
The Crocodile Rock is 2km south of Arugam Point along another deserted beach to Kudakallliya. We can reach the rock by scrambling across the dunes & fording the lagoon. Its wild: eagles swoop overhead, elephants attempt to climb the rock. Look out, large mugger crocs creep in utter stealth. At the top, we will be rewarded for our efforts with magnificent views inland across the paddy fields & lagoon.
Elephant Rock
A walk to Elephant Rock, about 3km south of Arugam Bay provides an appreciation of the extent of the beautiful beaches. In the early morning or evening we will have the sight of elephants roaming nearby.
Lagoon, Bridge & Prawn catching
Pottuvil lagoon is a haven for numerous bird species. Arugam Bay's picturesque lagoon divides Ulla village from Pottuvil lagoon, north of town. The bridge is an excellent vantage point to see the sunset, & at night you can watch prawn fishermen throwing, gathering & emptying their nets.
The Pottuvil Lagoon ecotour
The Lagoon tour provides us with two hours of calm paddling & an insight into the importance of mangrove ecosystems in the area. Local fishermen takes us in their fiberglass canoes through the mangroves, stopping off at the sandbar in the ocean & then at a mangrove nursery. Lagoon is home to a wide variety of wildlife including crocodiles, monkeys, water snakes & plenty of birds. The lagoon tour was set up as part of a mangrove conservation project (Restoring the Natural Cycle) by the local Hidayapuram Fisheries Cooperative Society & the Sri Lankan NGO Sewa Lanka Foundation.
Source : mysrilankaholidays