Negombo Lagoon & Muthurjawela Bird Watching Boat Tour

Nice little walk

Small boat ride of 2 hours approx , discovery of different birds and flora .superb mangrove .those who drove the boat were adorable .I recommend this visit to those who love nature

Response from the operator: Merci beaucoup pour ce joli retour ! Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez apprécié cette balade en barque à travers la superbe mangrove, ainsi que la découverte des oiseaux et de la flore locales. C’est merveilleux que l’équipe qui conduisait le bateau ait contribué à rendre cette expérience encore plus agréable. Merci pour votre recommandation aux amoureux de la nature !

via Tripadvisor (translated)

No transport ship to boat; no lagoon boat tour.

My transport from the ship to the Lagoon Boat Ride broke down. He said he would be an hour or two?! Knowing this meant I would miss the tour, I told him not to bother. BTW, I was sent the name and driver’s phone number. But when we called, he wasn’t the driver.

Response from the operator: Hello There, Could you please provide us with more details? We do not offer transfers from the ships to our boatyard. This experience takes place in Negombo and is only available to travelers staying in or around Negombo and its suburbs. Best regards. Premil & Real Lanka Team

via Viator

Pleasant motorboat ride; Interesting ecosystem

This was a very pleasant boat ride through an interesting ecological area in a small motorboat. The guide was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and ecosystem, however the afternoon is not the best time of day for birdwatching and seeing much wildlife. I also did not know that my transportation to and from was not included in the $30 price. Unfortunately, as a solo traveler, the cost was for the entire boat. For me, as a solo traveler, I don’t feel that it was worth what I paid. For several, traveling together, the cost would be reasonable. This is one of the drawbacks to traveling solo, so that part is on me and not the guide with the boat.

Response from the operator: Thank you for your feedback. It appears that your review might have been posted to our page in error, as it pertains to a different business. We encourage you to direct your comments to the correct company so they can address your concerns appropriately. If there is anything specific we can assist you with, please let us know.

via Tripadvisor

An issue with pick up arrangements

Unfortunately we decided not to take this boat trip. When we booked it, the details stated that it included pick up from hotel or convenient central point in Negombo. We booked it ahead and contacted the provider to check where the pick up point was. We were staying at a Negombo hotel that was a few kilometres from the centre of town. The operator said there would be an additional charge. We would expect this to be around 500 to 600 rupees to take a tuk-tuk. We asked what the charge would be and the cost was confirmed at 15,000 rupees! We felt that this was not consistent with the advertised detail so cancelled it with the operator. By the time we had established all this the trip was less than 24 hours away so we are going to have to pursue a claim for a refund. We would advise caution and ensuring you have established pick up arrangements when booking to avoid a similar issue.

Response from the operator: Dear Mr. Tony Harvey, We are sorry to hear about your disappointment with our service. Our policy clearly states that we offer pick-up services from hotels in Negombo, not from suburban areas. Additionally, the fare of 500 LKR (approximately £1.20) is not a standard rate for such a ride unless there are special circumstances. Despite this, we have processed a full refund for your convenience. Kind regards,

via Tripadvisor

Negombo lagoon

The team were so kind and helpful! The guide took us on the tour and was very informative and gave us loads of information about the wildlife we saw. We were able to witness monitor lizards, monkeys, white bellied gulls and lots of other rare birds. The guide took us for lunch afterwards and was able to provide loads of information about Sri lanka and the culture. 100% recommend!

via Tripadvisor