Matara Beach is a popular surf spot located in Sri Lanka, known for its wide, open beach. The area features a mix of cultural sights, including a Buddhist temple on a small islet. The beach is quite spacious, providing plenty of room for surfers to enjoy the waves. Generally, it offers a laid-back vibe, making it a nice spot to hang out and catch some surf.
The surf at Matara Beach works best with south to southwest swells, and it can handle sizes starting from about 1 ft (0.3 m). The waves typically break over sand, creating beach breaks that have both left and right rides. For the best experience, it's recommended to surf during low to mid tide, especially since the conditions can get a bit less favorable at high tide. Intermediate surfers will find it manageable, given the wave types and break structure.
Just to add, the surrounding areas between Dondra and Tangalla offer various beach breaks and some reef breaks, but these generally need a bit more swell to really kick in and are best surfed with north winds. So, if you’re nearby, you might want to explore those options as well.