dive · Eastern
Pigeon Island National Park — Trincomalee
Cover photo: Oleksandr Sushko (Unsplash)
- District
- Trincomalee
- Province
- Eastern
- Best for
- Snorkellers and divers; coral reef, turtles and reef sharks
Marine national park a short boat ride from Nilaveli beach with two islands and shallow coral gardens. Boats leave Nilaveli mornings in season (May-September); foreign park entry has been revised several times and recent guides report roughly USD 15-40 per foreign adult plus a shared boat fee, so confirm at the wildlife counter and join a group. Do not touch coral; bring reef-safe sunscreen.
About this place
Marine national park a short boat ride from Nilaveli beach with two islands and shallow coral gardens. Boats leave Nilaveli mornings in season (May-September); park entry is the priciest in the country at around 12,000 LKR per foreign adult plus a shared boat fee, so join a group. Do not touch coral; bring reef-safe sunscreen.
Visitor brief
Good to know before you go
- Season roughly May-September; seas and visibility are best then.
- Buy park entry at the wildlife-department counter on Nilaveli Beach, not from touts.
- Join a group boat to split the shared boat fee; arrive before 8 AM in peak season.
- Do not touch or stand on coral; bring reef-safe sunscreen and your own snorkel set if picky about fit.
How to travel there
Boats depart Nilaveli Beach mornings in season; Nilaveli is 30-40 minutes by bus or tuk-tuk from Trincomalee town.
Where to stay
Stay at Nilaveli or Uppuveli: resort-tier and mid-range beach hotels; budget guesthouses near the Nilaveli junction.
Nearby places
Nilaveli Beach, Uppuveli Beach, Trincomalee whale watching, Fort Frederick and Koneswaram
Scams to watch for
- Boats bundling inflated entry fees - verify the current fee at the official wildlife counter first.
Comments & tips