Arugam Bay is world-famous for its steady waves in high season (May until October).

A great surf spot with a sand bottom shores, right-hand breaks/right-hand peak.

Multiple point breaks provide nice and mellow waves, perfect for any levels of surfers.

Most popular spots:

• Main Point 📹: Intermediate to advanced

• Baby Point: Beginners

• Pottuvil Point: All levels

• Elephant Rock: Beginners and advanced

• Peanut Farm 📹: All levels

• Whiskey Point 📹: Learners and refreshing

Climb Elephant Rock and catch the sunset. It will give you beautiful views of the area.

Going on a safari in Kumana or Yala National Parks. You can spot lots of animals including, elephants, deer, birds, crocodiles, buffalo and if you’re lucky, maybe even a leopard.

Explore Panama Tank on a moto. It will take roughly 20 minutes from Arugam. The landscape is stunning and perfect for taking photos, and you’ll probably see a few crocodiles.

Take a cooking class to learn traditional Sri Lankan cooking methods and how to make some of their most delicious dishes. Ecowave hosts great cooking classes near the main road in Arugam Bay, but there are many other places holding these activities daily.

If you want to immerse in the local culture, a visit to the Muhudu Maha Viharaya is a must! This stunning white temple is nestled in Pottuvil, which is just 10 minutes drive away.

Visit Kudumbigala Monastery. It is 30 km from Arugam Bay and can get there by car, scooter or tuk-tuk. It offers beautiful views of the area. (You might spot animals from up here!). There is also a bell that rings around 3-4pm each day which is a magical sound to hear.

Arugam is full of small trendy places.

The food in Arugam Bay is plentiful, diverse and cheap.

Sri Lankan cuisine is similar to South Indian food, yet it has its own distinctive taste and flavours that can’t be ignored. The impact of years of colonization and strong influence from different countries can be seen in the blend of different dishes. For instance, Lamprais is a Dutch-influenced dish, most of the sweets are Portuguese-influenced, while British influences are roasted beef and roasted chicken.

MUST try food: fish ambul thiyal (sour fish curry), Appa (Hoppers), Sri Lankan Samosas, Lamprai, Kottu Roti, Pol Roti (Coconut curry).

MUST try desserts: Aluwa, Aasmi, Kithul Treacle, Athirasa, Aggala.

Local drinks to try: King Coconut Juice, Toddy, Arrack, Elephant House Ginger Beer

Arugam has a laid back vibe, and a lot of people come here for one reason: to relax!

Many Yoga places available to stretch those muscles after a day of surfing. There are countless hotels that offer free yoga, even on the rooftops.

A myriad of options for a nice massage and ancient eastern treatments and medicine.

Originating in India, Ayurveda is traditional medicine that involves one or a combination of these options: yoga, herbal medicine, acupuncture and various massage techniques.

Or you can go partying in the evenings. You have two main hot spots: these are Mambos and Whiskey Point. The whole strip of Arugam bay is filled with bar areas for drinking and cocktail offers to get you started.

Catch the sunrise (Arugam beach) or sunset (Elephant Rock, Mambo’s and Pottuvil Bridge)

How to get there: Arrive into Bandaranaike International Airport near the capital Colombo. Then make the 320 km journey by train, minibus or shuttle. Often best to stop overnight along the way to break up the journey. Travel by bus from Colombo to Arugam Bay and the journey would take about 9 hours. Or you can hire a taxi or rent a car and drive to Pottuvil from any part of Sri Lanka. From Colombo, the journey takes 8 hours.

There are a variety of ways to get to Arugam Bay. But it is recommend using 12Go Asia as the best way to compare route and pricing options.

• Bus: You can take day and overnight buses to Arugam Bay, with varying degrees of comfort. If you're coming from somewhere like Colombo, which is a hot 10 hour journey, would recommend splashing out for an air conditioned bus. Which will still only cost you roughly 1000LKR.

• Train: There is a train network across the country connecting many of the biggest destinations. Again, if you're coming from somewhere further afield, then you may need to change somewhere else. These journeys can be much quicker and not very expensive either. Plus, if you're travelling from the north, you get to take the epic Kandy to Ella train ride.

• Tuk-tuk: The best way to get to and around Arugam Bay is by your own private tuk tuk. It is a great way to dictate your own adventure and find loads of hidden gems along the way.

• Uber/Pick Me: If you're coming from Colombo, you may also be able to arrange a private transfer through one of these apps. They can be much more expensive (13,000LKR - 18,000LKR), but also much quicker and more comfortable.

Arugam Bay has decently-kept roads and the traffic is mild in comparison to many of the other places in Sri Lanka.

It’s important to note that you’re not allowed to travel with a surfboard on your scooter in Arugam Bay. So, if you plan on making many trips to the beach with your surfboard, hiring a tuk-tuk is a much better option.

Arugam Bay surf season and tourist season runs from June to September.

Since Sri Lanka is a tropical country, the weather of Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka is mostly pleasant, except during the monsoon season. The best time to visit would be during the months of May to September when the monsoons have descended (the dry season), with offshore wind in the morning and a flat onshore wind around sunset.

The water is warm all year round, with an average 27 ºC, and there are over 330 days of sunshine per year.

Staying for at least 4 nights (one week is recommended)

Keep in mind that outside of the surfing months, most restaurants and hotels are closed.

Pipa provides the entire package for people seeking adventure and unspoilt beauty on their getaway. The areas alluring landscapes, beautiful beaches and great waves for both beginners and advanced surfers has attracted a great mix of people.

The area exposed to both northerly and southerly swells. That means consistent surf year round. The beautiful town of Pipa, with it´s beach surrounded by amazing cliffs, and 3 great right point-breaks that work best with a north swell, but also happen on south-easterly swells. There is a couple beach breaks in the area that are also worthy of being checked out.

These are the best surf beaches in Pipa and who they’re best suited to:

• Praia do Amor 📹: Praia do Amor (aka Love Beach) is easily the most accessible surf spot in Pipa. You can rent boards right from the beach and the surf here is great for all levels. The waves break over sand with only few rocks so beginners can learn safely. This is where I surfed in Pipa mainly for convenience.

• Lajão 📹: Advanced surfers will love Lajão. This is the longest wave in Pipa and can reach up to 500 meters! It has a reef bottom and gets pretty large swells so this wave is only for experienced surfers.

• Cacimbinhas 📹: Cacimbinhas is located just north of Pipa and is a great beach all year round with waves for all levels. It’s a sand bottom wave with both right and lefts. This is a great alternative to Praia do Amor because it’s much less crowded.

• Madeiro 📹: This last surf spot around Pipa is perfect for all levels. There is a mix of sand and reef as well as left and right-handed waves. This spot is also popular with dolphins so there’s a great chance to surf with them! You can prebook a surf lesson at Madeiro beach that includes hotel pickup in Pipa.

Cycle the coastline 📹: There are two good routes to do with a guide. One, a 24 km (14.9 mi) round trip, goes up and down along the cliffs and the shore. Another goes in the direction of Lagoa de Guaraíras and takes in some of the sand dunes (16 km / 9.9 mi).

Try sandboarding 📹: Strap a snow-style board to your feet and throw yourself down the sandy hills, or perhaps you prefer to go on your bottom in a style the Brazilians call “esqui-bunda“. It will have you clambering back up for more.

Take a buggy tour: One of the funnest tours you can do from the town is to take a buggy down the coast and over the dunes. The best trips take a day and will stop off at inland lagoons, at the largest cashew tree in the world, will pause to see monkeys and dolphins and pit-stop for lunch at a simple restaurant on the beach.

Visit Lagoa de Guaraíras. It is one of the area's most stunning landscapes. A massive, dune- and mangrove-bound lagoon, it's particularly spectacular at sunset.

Playing football or volleyball on the beach.

Check out this short video 📹 about life and adventures in Pipa

Pipa is also a gourmet destination with fabulous restaurants and cafés on offer, with no sign of big commercial restaurants or cafés chains.

The cuisine enchants for its spices, flavors and presentations. It is hugely inspired by Portuguese, native Indian, Amerindian, and African cooking styles. The favorite ingredients being tropical fruits, manioc, beans, rice, peanuts and fish.

There is so much fresh seafood, from tuna to prawns to lobster.

Don’t miss the chance to sample Moqueca de Camarão, shrimps cooked in coconut milk and dendê oil and served over white rice. You should also try Tacaca, a soup shrimps, yellow pepper and other herbs boiled in manioc root broth, as well as the flavorful duck stew, Pato no Tucupi.

Popular dishes: Feijoada (black bean soup), Acarajé, Vatapá, Bolo de Aipim, Caruru, Bobó de Camarão, Xim Xim de Galinha,...

Wide variety of flavors and international cuisines, from French, Portuguese, Mediterranean, Spanish, Japanese and Argentine.

Pipa is the perfect place in Northeast Brazil to escape the larger crowds and enjoy some quiet and relax time.

There are many Yoga studios that offer great yoga classes.

There are salons in town and many of the pousadas, such as Sombre e Agua Fresca or Toca da Coruja, have their own dedicated spas and offer Ayurvedic treatments, reiki, reflexology and various forms of massage to really put you in the holiday mood.

Watch the sunset or sunrise at Chapadao Hill.

If Pipa is a little snoozy by day it certainly perks up at night. Small bands play live music in the street and a roster of bars will lead you eventually to the town’s clubs that serve excellent cocktails and beer.

How to get there: Arrive into Natal International airport before making the 115km journey south to Pipa. From Europe, the easiest route is via Lisbon which flies direct.

How to get to Pipa from Natal Airport:

• Taxi/Transfers. Book a Private Taxi. It will take 1.5 hours. Approximate cost is R$240.

• Bus. From the airport take any bus to Parnamirim city or Natal Bus Station. There are two different bus companies that go to Pipa: Alternativo Minibus which goes 3 times a day & Ocean Bus which goes 12 times a day. First bus is usually around 6am and last one leaves at around 18hr. The cost is about R$14.

• Car Hire. Rent your car from Natal airport and drive south to Goianinha on the BR 101 highway (60 minutes) and then get off the highway and follow the signs for 16 km to Pipa. The roads are good but there are some potholes and animal crossings once off the highway. From Natal airport it is 1.5 hours.

You can get around Pipa by renting a car or bike. But everyone gets around mostly on foot.

Pipa is small and unspoilt and retains that sense of magic.

Due to strict environmental laws in Pipa, there are no high rise buildings, and development has been limited.

Peak season for tourists is December to March.

Pipa has high temperatures throughout the year.

During the winter, the lows are hardly below 21°C, while the highs are around 28°C. In summer, on the other hand, it's good to get ready to face the delicious typical northeastern heat. It is common for temperatures to easily exceed 31°C during the day, in the same way that at night they can have values ​​of 24°C as a minimum.

Rain increases from May-August but usually falls at night. During this period, the local humidity is high, and it is common to have a few drops throughout the day. Still, it is worth noting that temperatures are still high, making it possible to enjoy your vacation without any problems.

Surf is year round.

Costa Rica offers an intense Caribbean coastline influenced by the Atlantic Ocean moods and a no less powerful Pacific Ocean side regulated by long-distance groundswells.

Some of the world’s most perfect barreling waves, it truly is a paradise for any nature and adventure lover.

Surfing spots along The North-Pacific Coast of Costa Rica:

• The main surf base for this area is Tamarindo 📹. It has become one of Costa Rica's most popular surf towns with some of the best Costa Rica surfing holiday options. The long beautiful beach at its centre is great for learning how to surf and their are more intermediate & advanced breaks close by. This half-kilometer stretch of beach with warm water generates waves that reach heights of three meters.

• Head south for 30 minutes and you will reach Avellana & Playa Negra 📹, crystal clear water, highly consistent surf with different breaks for all levels.

• Nosara 📹 is the next town south and is a smaller version of Tamarindo. The area is surrounded by 3 stunning beaches with some of the best surf for beginner/intermediates in Costa Rica.

• 25 km's south of Nosara, 50 minutes by car, is the beach town of Samara, a beautiful scenic area with one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. The town is a great base to experience a true authentic Costa Rican beach town. There are good surf beaches 15 minutes north and south to explore, the towns beach itself is good for learning for the first time but would not be a classic learn-to-surf-beach or a place for intermediates or advanced.

• The adjoining villages of Santa Teresa & Mal Pais 📹 make up the next area south. Santa Teresa is one of Costa Rica's nicest surf towns, not overdeveloped. There are very consistent right and left beach breaks in the area, perfect for learners and intermediates.

Zip lining. There are various zip lining options in the region. It is an experience well worth it and truly breathtaking.

Horseback riding. It is a great way to discover the back roads of Tamarindo and the surrounding areas.

ATV riding through jungle, short jungle hikes

Various water sports:

• Kayaking. From the water, you will see wildlife ranging from monkeys, caymans, and iguanas to tropical birds.

• Snorkeling or scuba diving. Another way to explore the Pacific Ocean or the Catalinas Islands. The area has very clean water and thus an abundance of fish and other creatures. Moray eels, sea turtles, and octopus are commonly seen.

• Paddleboarding. The water in the estuary is very calm so even beginners can enjoy a peaceful paddle through the jungle. You’ll get a chance to see many of the animals and fish.

• Fishing.

• Swimming under waterfalls.

Visiting Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park. Awesome hike, active volcano with boiling mud. Fantastic hot springs, waterfall and mud bath.

Stop by a local farmers market.

Traditional Costa Rican food is a blend of comfort food, grandma’s cooking and flavor-bursting Latin flare.

Rice and beans along with Corn tortillas are served with almost every meal including breakfast.

You can find everything from street food to 5-star dining

There are many international cuisine and dishes available from Argentina (grilled meats/steak) to Japan (sushi, rice bowls,..), burgers and seafood…

Local dishes to try:

• Casado. It consists of beans, rice with finely diced red bell peppers and onions, fried plantains, a cabbage salad with tomato and carrot, and a choice of meat (chicken, fish, pork, or steak with grilled onions). The meat that comes with a casado is grilled or sautéed, but never fried.

• Arroz con → pollo/camerones/vegetales/mariscos (chicken/shrimp/vegetables/seafood). The rice is mixed with annatto (which is similar to saffron) to make yellow rice, and vegetables like peas, carrots, bell peppers, and celery are diced and mixed in. Then, whatever “con” you decided on is thrown in the mix. This dish is quite simple, but incredibly flavorful.

• Gallo Pinto is the typical breakfast in Costa Rica. It consists of rice and beans mixed together (not separate like the casado), fried or scrambled eggs, chopped beef, fried plantains, and tortillas. A popular custom in Costa Rica is to pour Salsa Lizano over the gallo pinto. Salsa Lizano is a sweet greenish brown salsa with the faintest hint of spice.

• Palmito Cheese is a traditional, Costa Rican cheese. It looks like a ball of string and is eaten in a very fun manner, as you have to pull the ball of cheese strands apart. The flavor and fat percentage are similar to mozzarella cheese, however Palmito Cheese is denser and saltier.

• Ceviche, Vigorón, Tamal de Maicena (Cornstarch Tamale), Patacones (fried green plantains), Chorreadas (Sweet corn pancakes), Tamal Asado, Arroz con Leche (rice pudding), Tres Leches.

• Drinks: Jugos frescos or jugos de naturales frescos, guaro (Chili guaro, guaro sour), Miguelito.

Yoga and wellness travel are ubiquitous across the region.

Visiting a spa for the day at Los Altos de Eros Boutique Hotel and Spa. The spa is all open air with water features, a hot tub, and a view of the Pacific Ocean from the top of a cliff. They feature the only Balinese soaking tub in Central America. And the very affordable price includes a shuttle, three spa treatments (including 1.5 hours of an incredible massage), a gourmet lunch, and wine.

Another spa place is Coco Spa Tamarindo, where you can get a nice massage after a day on the waves.

Enjoy a soothing soak in the hot springs and volcanic mud baths of Rio Negro.

Nantipa (Santa Teresa) creates a custom wellness experience from top-to-bottom, including Ayurvedic spa treatments, nourishing meals, and unique variations of yoga practice available to guests.

Catch a sunset. The Pacific Coast boasts some of the world’s best sunsets.

Especially during high tourist season there is vivid nightlife.

Tamarindo and Santa Teresa are located just north of Montezuma on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula.

Get into Tamarindo:

• arrive at Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia. Tamarindo is located just 1 hour drive from the Liberia airport. You can rent a car, take a taxi or shuttle bus, or take a 2-3 hour ride on the public bus for US$2.50.

• You can fly into San Jose International airport and get a connecting 40 minute flight to Liberia. Or alternatively you can get a 6 hour bus or 5 hour car ride. They are 260 km apart and the well-paved road makes for a pretty easy drive.

Get to Santa Teresa:

• From San Jose International airport you can also get a connecting 40 minute flight to Tambor. From there you can rent a car, get a taxi, bus and ferry to get to Santa Teresa. It’s about 150 km from San Jose International Airport.

From Tamarindo to Santa Teresa is approximately 200 km distance and will take you around 4 hour or 6 hour drive by the coastline.

Tamarindo 📹 is a small beach community, truly walkable. Stay anywhere in the center for a taste of everything (including 100 restaurants and bars, many right on the beach).

Santa Teresa 📹 is much less crowded and undeveloped compared to Tamarindo. It is mellow and low-key and Tamarindo is more for the younger crowd or party scene.

You can also rent some gear to explore the area at your own pace. Bicycles, surfboards, boogie boards, SUP board and other equipment are available for rent from a variety of stores.

There are 2 seasons in Costa Rica. The dry season, and the rainy/green season. The dry season runs from December until April. Temperatures hover just shy of 30 degrees Celsius and keep in mind, it is a dry heat. The rainy season runs from May to November. It can be a little muggy at this time of year, but temperatures hover in the comfortable mid-twenties. Most mornings are bright and clear, and the rain clouds don’t roll in until the afternoon.

With an average water temperature of 30°C throughout the year.

The area is a year round destination. The bigger swell season is from April to October. December to April is generally best for clean 4 foot waves. Wind is not usually a big factor but morning is always best for glassy offshore conditions.

Best time to go: Between May and October and from November through March. Keep in mind that dry season (December - April) is the busiest time of the year. A great time to go is always the shoulder months (June/July/August/November), less tourists, accommodation is less expensive and best of all the waves are not crowded.

Plan to spend at least 2-3 days in Tamarindo to give yourself time to enjoy the beach and take advantage of some activities and tours in the area.

In Santa Teresa it is recommended to stay a minimum of 3 nights, though some travelers stay as long as a week.