Lovely set up, more than just surf. Good food, accomodation, nice people. Best break sits 50m off-shore, infront of a dozen guest-houses, usually full with surfers. Crowds from dawn till dusk. Water temp is ultra-warm. Consistantly 2-3 foot, maybe the odd 4-5 foot day.
Overview
Atmosphere
Plenty of guest-houses to chose from. You may share the lineup with a few small crocs but they don't bite often...
General
Several of the local surfers reside here, little surf shop on the beach called A-Frame (like the reef break close to it) Good place to have repairs done and just sit and have a break. Great place to chill.
Mambo's.....
My buddy & I went to Mambo's at Arugam Bay earlier this year. Surf was great however, we unfortunatley stayed at Mambo's..whilst staying there, about 4 locals (who were on something) hung around the whole time annoying paying guests & wouldn't leave, Mambo got his throat slashed by another local during a party over a foreign chick & got put in hostpital and a number of rooms were broken into....correct me if iam wrong but your telling me that Mambo is running a good business? Japenese money is behind the whole place & it really puts down the rest of Sri Lanka....
comment by bigbiglove, 2009-09-29 20:08:50
Mambo Hikkaduwa is a Legend!
There appears to be great rift amongst mambos supports and foes. Clearly Mambo is a character, and a fine one at that. As you can read from most of the more informative posts... the problem is not with mambo. Its with the trouble caused by inexperience surfers and young guys with too much agro.
If you dont respect the locals you can expect to be put in your place, any surfspot in the world. I believe all the local boys do in Hikkaduwa is try and establish some sort of order in the water. It is well in order i feel.
These fellows jumping online here just to bad mouth local surfing greats need to step in line.
There is alot of shit on the internet, any somebody with all of his little mates can jump on here writing a bunch of bad posts because of some personal grudge.
mambo has alot of long established surfing connections with people from all over the world. He is a clever entrepreneur with a deep love for his home town.
most of all, to all of you reading this in search of good surf-travel info....
- travel with an open mind.
- Accept, don't expect.
Its all very well to read a whole lot of advice, but i challenge you.... to go down to Mambos and introduce yourself to the guy with a big smile and sit down for a curry.....
Chances are you'll make a great friend.
peace and love
comment by insenguendo, 2009-04-22 18:41:00
the mambo boys sleep with anyone and anything as long it have legs maybe even cows! go to arugam bay! and to the locals in hikk you are not rastafarians they live in jamaica not hikk, stop play bob marley because you dont understand it anyway, learn to surf and embrace your buddhism instead of beeing evil to the hands that feed you.. muuuuuuu
comment by Anonymous, 2009-11-02 13:00:18