Pick-up from your Bentota hotel
Drive south to the Balapitiya jetty.
~25 min
Madu River Safari and Turtle Conservation
Glide through mangrove tunnels to Cinnamon Island, then visit a sea-turtle conservation hatchery.
One day. Unforgettable.
Overview
A gentle boat safari on the Madu River, a protected Ramsar wetland of mangroves and island villages, followed by a visit to a sea-turtle conservation hatchery at Kosgoda.
Tour highlights
- Boat safari through the Madu River mangroves, a Ramsar wetland
- Island villages, monitor lizards and water birds
- Kothduwa island temple
- Cinnamon Island: watch cinnamon peeled by hand
- Kosgoda sea-turtle conservation hatchery
- How eggs are protected and hatchlings released
- Total tour time
- ~4.5 hrs (08:30–13:00)
- Driving
- ~1 hr
- On the water
- ~2 hrs
- Hatchery visit
- ~45 min
- Breaks
- ~15 min
Timed around the best light and the smallest crowds
How your day unfolds
-
08:30
-
09:00
Experience
Madu River boat safari
Mangrove tunnels, islands, birdlife and fishing life on the water.
~1 hr -
10:00
ExperienceKothduwa island temple
Small Buddhist temple on its own island.
~20 min -
10:30
ExperienceCinnamon Island
Watch cinnamon being peeled and rolled, with a cup of cinnamon tea.
~30 min -
11:00
Boat back to the jetty, then drive to Kosgoda
~40 min -
11:45
ExperienceKosgoda turtle conservation hatchery
Learn how eggs are collected, protected and hatchlings released to the sea.
~45 min -
12:30
Fresh coconut break
~15 min -
12:45
Return to your hotel
~15 min
We'll collect you from your hotel
Pick-up points & travel time
| Starting from | One-way travel | Pick-up | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bentota / Aluthgama | ~20–25 min | 08:30 | As shown |
| Hikkaduwa | ~25–30 min | 08:15 | |
| Galle | ~1 hr | 07:45 | |
| Colombo | ~1.5–2 hrs | 06:30 | Becomes a full day |
Before you go
What to bring
- Hat and sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Light rain jacket (May–Sep)
Good to know
- We use hatcheries that release hatchlings quickly and don't let visitors handle the turtles.
- Boats carry life jackets. Rides may be shortened in heavy rain.
- Times are a guide and may shift with traffic, weather and the group's pace.
Optional add-ons
- Ambalangoda mask workshop
- Brief Garden or Lunuganga (Bawa gardens)
- Afternoon on Bentota beach
Part of these round tours
Big adventures, one day at a time
More day tours
Full day
03
Galle Fort and Southern Coast Heritage Tour
Mask carvers, stilt fishermen, a seaside Peace Pagoda and sunset on the ramparts of Galle Fort.
- Duration
- ~12.5 hrs
- Starts from
- Colombo
- Level
- Easy
Half day
05
Negombo Lagoon, Canal and Fishing Village Tour
The dawn fish auction, lagoon mangroves and the old Dutch canal by boat, just 20 minutes from the airport.
- Duration
- ~6.5 hrs
- Starts from
- Negombo
- Level
- Easy
Full day (half-day options)
06
Yala National Park Day Tour
Track leopards, elephants and sloth bears in Sri Lanka's most famous national park.
- Duration
- ~13.75 hrs
- Starts from
- Tissamaharama / Yala
- Level
- Easy