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This beautiful Island is home to the Indian Ocean. Offshore reefs and stunning beaches densely border it. Sri Lanka doesn’t only look incredible; it also offers some pretty nice waves to ride. Although surfing can seem daunting at first, it is fun! Take your first steps hand in hand with the local guides and learn about the ocean.
Today I have selected the best surf spots on the Island and classed them by level. This guide will save you some precious time before catching your flight! In each section, you will find three options, depending on where you will stay in Sri Lanka.
Let’s start with the beginner spots. If you have never surfed before or think you need to refresh your surf, head to these spots. At most of the surf spots, you can rent boards. And even book one on one surf classes with the local surf schools.
•Weligama, South: Main point and Island point.
Both of these spots are beach breaks ( break onto the beach) and have a smooth sandy bottom. These conditions make your life much easier, especially when you are starting.
Beginners generally stay in the whitewash (broken waves) as this offers power but a small-sized wave. The waters here are shallow and far out, meaning you can take a break anytime. The surf breaks will be in or out of season, depending on when you come. And of course, from year to year, it is different, but you can be sure to find waves during these periods:
Island point: Mid-April to
Main point: December to mid-May, although it is possible to practice in the whitewash (broken waves) all year round.
The waves found in both spots are generally a medium size, but the Main point can swell up nicely if the conditions are correct. They offer left and right-handers, making it an excellent place to master your turning skills.
•Arugam bay, South-East: Baby point.
Baby point is a great place to start your surf journey as the waves here are generally smaller. Just like in Weligama, we continue with a beach break. Located along Arugam bay’s beach, the waves break off the sandy shore and form great right-handers.
The trick to this break is understanding the current. The water is pushed along the sandy shore creating waves you can surf. But to paddle back out, you should stick to the left. There is a tiny current that helps you move quicker.
•Unawatuna, South: Dewata beach.
If you are in the Galle region, then Dewata beach is worth a visit. With fantastic bay views over the Japanese peace pagoda, yet another beach break awaits you. Easy, small waves create a perfect playground to grasp your first steps on a board. It also has a sandy bottom, so you can safely walk out to catch your first waves.
Once you have mastered the pop-up and your balance on the board is more stable, you will quickly start progressing. There is no better feeling than catching your first wave alone. For intermediate beginners, you should check these spots out:
•Arugam Bay, East: Peanut farm.
Now you are feeling more comfortable on your board. You can discover different places. Peanut farm is home to two separate breaks, but we will focus on the first and most straightforward. Also, a beach break, where you can catch medium and higher waves. The waves are created by hitting the rocks out in the water. Doing so offers fun, long right-hand rides to the shore.
•Arugam Bay, East: Pottuvil point.
Located just a few kilometres from Pottuvil town, you will find yet another beach break. Getting nice waves here depends on many elements as it is more exposed. But when the wind is offshore, you can catch a long ride. This spot can get a little crowded sometimes but is worth the visit.
•Midigama, South-West: Lazy, right.
Here at Lazy right, you can catch a 500-meter ride on a good day. The deep reef forms the waves. Not to worry, you will be floating far above it! If the conditions are correct, this spot is also great for longboarders. Ideal for those of you who have only surfed sandy bottoms. You can safely discover a reef break without the stress of getting hurt.
Make sure not to mix Lazy left and right as the levels are different!
As your level progresses, you will gain confidence and want to try new things. The following breaks are ideal for Intermediate-advanced surfers. These breaks need some extra knowledge as they are mostly reef bottoms.
•Mirissa, South:
Mirissa is a surf spot with a view on the right-hand side of the main beach.
When surfing here, we strongly advise taking a guide for your first session. Being a reef break, you should know where to get in and out of the water. Adding to your surf experience is the reef, which is home to our prickly friends, the sea urchins. Once at the line up you can enjoy both left and right-handed waves of medium size. The waves here are generally low power, so it is a great place to gain confidence and knowledge.
•Weligama, South: Fisherman’s reef.
To reach this reef break, you will have to face the paddle out. Longer than usual (800m), it takes around 10 minutes to paddle out. As you do so, it is essential to find the right place, so take a guide for the first couple of times. It is possible to ask one of the local guys to catch a boat ride out there if you want. The water here can get pretty shallow depending on the swell and tide, so be well informed. As all experienced surfers know, reefs are not forgiving! This spot works better during a bigger swell and offers right-hand waves.
•Midigama, South-West: Lazy left.
Midigama is the place to go if you are looking for a wave with a bit more challenge. The lazy left can be unforgiving when you don’t know what you are doing. So, before getting into the water, there are a few things to know. The waves here are generally steep and form nice energetic rides ideal for short boarders. Other things to look out for are rocks and sea urchins as you enter and exit the water.
Last, of all, we have advanced surf spots. These reef breaks are for those who have mastered the art of surfing. Taking a local surf guide out with you during your first session is always a good idea as they can save you from some nasty cuts or dings.
•Arugam Bay, South-East: Main point.
“Main point” is the most famous surf spot in Sri Lanka. This reef break regularly hosts surf competitions for plenty of reasons.
The surf spot is to the right of Arugam bay beach, just after “Baby point”. The waves can get pretty big here depending on the swell, but there is nearly always something to surf. This point break is a place of dreams for advanced surfers with long right-handed rides of up to 400m; there is plenty of time to have fun.
If you are not at this level yet, you can enjoy watching the pros sipping a fresh drink at Upali’s.
•Madiha, South: Right side.
As you head towards the town of Matara, you will find other fantastic surf spots. Madiha right is also a reef break where you can have a lot of fun! With faster and slower sections, this gives you plenty of space to master your carving or cutbacks.
As you wait at the “line up”, you will have company, and I don’t mean the other surfers. It is at this surf point you can spot the most turtles. What more to ask for, right?
•Kabbalana, South: The rock.
Located along Kabbalana’s beach, you will notice a large rock piercing through the ocean; this is your destination. This surf point offers fun and waves for intermediates on a smaller day and, if you are lucky enough, barrels for the more advanced. The waves break left and right, creating powerful take-offs.
Need a ride to your surf break?
You have multiple options to reach your surf spots, depending on your time and budget.
-Walk to the close spots.
-Rent a bike and ride to your spot. It is sometimes possible to find board racks for those with longer boards.
-Take a tuk-tuk. The fuel prices in Sri Lanka have more than doubled since the country struggles to survive. But it remains the easiest way to travel, and you can strap your boards on top of the tuk-tuk.
-Rent a scooter: You can travel by scooter, but with the petrol shortage I do not recommend it. If so, stay away from board racks as they are illegal in the country and can lead you to get stopped and fined by the authorities.
Pssst: Before you leave home.
Remember that Sri Lanka is tropical because nobody wants to get here and struggle. With the situation, it is hard to find foreign products on the Island meaning that products such as wax, zinc and accessories are rare or more expensive. So double-check before you hit the road.
It is hot, even in the water.
Protect yourself from the sun using UV rash guards, sunscreen, hats and zinc for optimal protection. If you are travelling with your board, ensure it is adequately protected for the journey here and don’t forget your essentials: Wax suitable for warm waters, leash, fins, etc.
Respect the locals and other surfers.
Oh, too many times have I seen surfers think they own the spot. We are all out in the water to have fun. So share waves, practice good surf ethics and respect the locals that surf alongside you. They have a lot of knowledge about the spots and will openly help you if you don’t drop them every 5 seconds.
Surf’s up! You will have fun on the Sri Lankan waves with all this information. We look forward to welcoming you to this beautiful country and hope to see you on the water soon.
Featured Image Credit: Marius Dobilas
