Indigo Summer Hostel
A friendly hostel around 100 metres from the beach, with free breakfast, a bar, game room and lockers.
- Budget
Stay Happy Hostel
A cosy, well-reviewed hostel with easy access to the surf beach and lagoon, and help with lessons and day trips.
- Budget
Pottuvil Lagoon Safari
A peaceful boat trip through the mangroves of Pottuvil Lagoon to see birds, monitor lizards and crocodiles.
- Mid-range
- Experience
Little Lagoon Hostel
A sustainable garden hostel in Arugam Bay with hammocks, resident dogs and a shipping-container private room.
- Budget
Surf Arugam Bay
Sri Lanka’s most famous surf, with the long right-hander at Main Point and gentler waves at Whiskey Point and Baby Point.
- Mid-range
- Experience
The Riptide Women’s Hostel
A women-only hostel near the main surf point and Pottuvil Lagoon, with a shared kitchen, lounge and bike rental.
- Budget
- Women-only
- Surf
Hangten Surf Skate Hostel
A surf-and-skate hostel with a backyard skate park, surfer staff, board-rack tuk-tuks, family dinners and quiz nights.
- Budget
- Surf
- Skate park
- Family dinners
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About Arugam Bay
Arugam Bay is Sri Lanka’s surf capital, a laid-back strip of hostels, cafés and surf shops on the east coast. Main Point is the famous right-hand break, with gentler waves at Baby Point and Whiskey Point for beginners.
The main surf season runs roughly from April to October. Some hostels close or slow down outside the season, so check before you travel.