Negombo Lagoon

Embark on an adventure and become a part of the city and learn the history behind one of Asia’s richest cultures. Journey into the North of Sri Lanka’s Capital and Urban Metropolis, Colombo, to witness its most spectacular sights. See the remains of one of the most distinct tourist attractions of Negombo, the 17th century Dutch Fort which now houses a prison. Explore the traditional fishing town of Sri Lanka and the small thatched palm houses lined with fishermen’s huts that feeds into the Dutch-era Hamilton Canal on the water's edge. Gaze at the lavish and grand nature of the Neo-classical St.Mary’s Church that features a ceiling decorated with vivid religious paintings.

Start your memorable boat ride through the Dutch canal. This was at one time an important link in the transportation route which supplied the Dutch colonial administration. You will continue your ride through the Canal to the lagoon which is fed by a number of small rivers and a canal. It is linked to the sea by a narrow channel to the north, near Negombo city. It is surrounded by a densely populated region containing rice paddies, coconut plantations and grassland. The land is used for fishing and agriculture. The lagoon has extensive mangrove swamps and attracts a wide variety of water birds including cormorants, herons, egrets, gulls, terns and other shorebirds.  Finally, you will reach Muthurajawela Wetland that provides a home for a diverse range of flora and fauna, some of which are endemic and threatened. It is also an important area for migratory birds, making it a primary recreational and educational destination in Negombo. 

After a 9:00am pick-up from your hotel, visit Negombo fish market and buy your favourite fresh seafood for your lunch. Start your boat tour in Negombo lagoon. Here, you can engage with traditional and modern ways of fishing, while enjoying complimentary refreshments. At midday, experience the live preparation of your lunch in an Island in the lagoon. Rice and two grilled seafood items will be served, plus any additional seafood you may have purchased during your visit to the fish market.  Take a Catamaran ride with an experienced driver through the lagoon area while you relax and see the beautiful scenery, before transferring back to your hotel.  

Escape the hustle and bustle of Colombo with a private boat excursion through the Negombo Lagoon. Feel relaxed on calm waters and idyllic scenes of local life and nature. Your driver will pick you up in Colombo and take you on an approximately 2-hour drive to Negombo. Board your boat and push out into the lagoon and through the mangroves. Enjoy the breeze and bright sunshine of the late morning. As you cruise along the water, watch as fishermen cast their nets and float beside sailing boats as they make their way out to the sea. See a wide range of water birds and waders. Depending on the tide and season, have the chance to see the gull colony on the sand flats. During your boat excursion, refreshments will be provided. Also delight in a Sri Lankan seafood lunch. At the conclusion of your boat excursion, safely return back to Colombo.