Arrived in Arugam Bay and it's a ghost town. Is everything closed?
We just took a 7-hour taxi to Arugam Bay because we heard it's the "surfer's paradise." We got here and it’s windy, raining, and 80% of the restaurants are boarded up.
Did we miss a memo? Is there anywhere to surf here right now?
1 Answer from travellers
Oh no, this is a classic "monsoon mix-up."
The Seasons: Sri Lanka has two opposite seasons.
May – September: East Coast (Arugam Bay) is sunny and pumping.
November – April: South Coast (Mirissa/Hiriketiya) is sunny.
Right Now (January): The East Coast is in the middle of its monsoon. The ocean is choppy and dangerous, and the town shuts down. The "surfer vibe" has migrated to the South.
What to do: Don't stay. Cut your losses and head back to the South Coast (Weligama or Ahangama) or the West Coast (Hikkaduwa). That is where the sun and waves are right now.
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