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View all Negombo toursNegombo Lagoon Boat Trip to Monkey Island
A short private boat run across the Negombo lagoon to the mangrove island where troops of macaques live, with fishing craft and birdlife along the way.
Highlights
- Cross the Negombo lagoon by small boat to the mangrove island
- See troops of macaques on the island shoreline
- Pass traditional outrigger fishing craft and stake nets still in use
- Watch kingfishers, egrets, herons and cormorants in the shallows
- Thread the narrow mangrove channels on the return leg
Negombo Lagoon Boat Trip to Monkey Island: Key Facts
| Price | From $88.62 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Group size | Up to 8 people |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Mini Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Full description
The Negombo lagoon is a wide, shallow sheet of brackish water behind the town, fringed with mangroves and worked by fishermen using methods that have not changed much in generations. This is a two-hour boat run across it to the mangrove island locally known as Monkey Island, where troops of macaques live in the trees at the water's edge.
You set off from the jetty in a small boat and cross open water first, passing the outrigger craft and the stake nets that the lagoon fishermen still use. Kingfishers, egrets and herons work the shallows, and cormorants sit out on the poles. The boatman knows where the birds gather and will slow down for them.
The island itself is thick mangrove, and the monkeys come down to the shoreline when a boat approaches. Watching them from the water is the point — they are wild animals, they are quick, and they will take anything loose from an open hand or an unzipped bag. Do not feed them and keep phones and sunglasses secured.
On the way back the route usually threads some of the narrower mangrove channels, where the roots arch over the water and the noise of the town drops away completely. It is the calmest part of the trip and the best of it for photographs.
Two hours is enough. This is a relaxed short outing rather than a full excursion, and it works well as a morning or late-afternoon addition to a day in Negombo, when the light is low and the birds are most active.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Jetty and briefing
Meet the boatman at the lagoon jetty, life jackets on.
Across the lagoon
Open water past the outrigger fleet and stake nets, with bird stops along the way.
Monkey Island
Approach the mangrove island and watch the macaques from the water.
Mangrove channels
Return through the narrow root-lined channels to the jetty.
Detailed Itinerary
[{"time": "00:00", "title": "Meet at the jetty", "description": "Boarding, life jackets and a short safety word from the boatman."}, {"time": "00:15", "title": "Lagoon crossing", "description": "Open water with the fishing fleet working around you."}, {"time": "00:45", "title": "Island approach", "description": "Idle along the shoreline where the macaques come down to the water."}, {"time": "01:15", "title": "Mangrove channels", "description": "Slow run through the narrow tunnels of mangrove root."}, {"time": "02:00", "title": "Back at the jetty", "description": "Return and disembark."}]
Includes
- Private boat with local boatman for approximately two hours; life jackets; lagoon and mangrove channel route to the island.
Excludes
- Hotel transfers to and from the jetty; meals and drinks; gratuities; personal insurance.
Important information
Meeting point
Boat jetty on the Negombo lagoon; the operator confirms the exact landing on booking.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
Lovely day out seeing monkey island. Relaxed welcome, life jackets and umbrellas for us on the boat, boat trip across lake Negombo, we saw and fed the monkeys on monkey island, then stopped off for a coconut drink paddling our feet in the lake. We then chose to stay for lunch at the end (additional cost) and it was yummy food. The whole family enjoyed it (kids aged 3 & 5).
The tour was fantastic. All the staff were very helpful, and the boat ride was very nice. We saw lots of monkeys and took a short break on the mudflats. There, we were served coconuts and enjoyed the smell of walking through the mudflats. The tour is highly recommended, even for small children. The guides were very child-friendly and even let our children take the wheel. We didn't feed the monkeys.
We took the plunge and booked this tour despite only reading two reviews. This trip is also more expensive by local standards, but we still had a wonderful (and exciting 🙈😂) experience. Our boat clearly seemed to have a technical problem. The two guys always made me feel like they had everything under control. They did everything they could to give us a wonderful experience and didn't give up until we'd seen at least a few monkeys from the boat. Unlike other boats that had sunroofs, we were given umbrellas for sun protection, which we were ultimately grateful for. Tip: Be sure to apply sunscreen (anyway) and bring it with you (so you can reapply it later), as well as a well-fitting/sturdy hat. The communication beforehand and the location of the meeting point worked out great. All in all, we were well looked after and had a lovely trip.
We saw a lot of monkeys The lagoon is beautiful Staff is very nice All was good thank you
Very relaxed and enjoyable tour with lots of monkeys.
The monkey experience was great but the directions for meeting place were completely wrong and no assistance available when we needed it. Ended up in a place 200 metres from hotel in a boat that was not fit for purpose as there were no seats and it was falling apart. Appears this is subcontracted out to a sub standard third party.