Travel to Pottuvil

a totally different vibe from the busier southwest coast

The town of Pottuvil is located on the relatively remote southeast coast of Sri Lanka.

This part of the island provides quite a contrast, with a string of mainly Muslim fishing villages set at the back of broad open beaches.

The southeast coastline is surfing territory, with the smaller settlement of Arugam Bay (4km to the south) being a world-renowned location which has hosted several international tournaments.

A little further south lies Kumana National Park, which is the little-visited eastern side of the popular Yala National Park, one of our favourite safari areas on the island.

The best time of year to visit the Pottuvil area is generally considered to be during the Jan-Sep northeast dry season.

Temperatures are more or less constant year round, with daytime temperatures around 33C/91F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures up at a potentially uncomfortable 25C/77F.

The main issue is rainfall, which is highest Oct-Dec and low for the remainder of the year, this being by far the driest part of the island.

The best time for surfing on this part of the east coast is Apr-Oct, with July generally being recognised as the peak month.

Getting there

The Pottuvil area is usually reached by road. For our guests, this means combining it with various other locations on the island in a private guided overland safari, travelling in the company of an expert driver-guide. Popular connections include …

Kandy : 4-5 hours
Nuwara Eliya : 3-4 hours
Wasgamuwa : 4-5 hours
Yala : 1-2 hours

The Pottuvil area cannot be reached by train.

Where to stay

Naturally the focus on surfing in this Pottuvil area means that it tends to attract a younger backpacker type of crowd and accommodation options are generally rather simple, but there is at least one higher quality option

access to the quieter side of Yala