If you want an island adventure and enjoy snorkelling and diving too, then the Pigeon Island National Park in Sri Lanka is well worth a visit. Read on to find out more!
Planning Your Trip
This marine national park can be found in the country’s Eastern Province around 1 km off the coast from Nilaveli Beach in Trincomalee. Beach hotels in the region offer easy access to this site which in fact, is made up of two islands that can be easily reached by boat.
Snorkelling and Diving
Home to one of the best remaining coral reefs in the country, the Pigeon Island National Park is a key site for snorkelling and diving. Local properties the likes of Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes offer excursions here to enjoy the underwater wonders be it coral, hundreds of reef fish, blacktip reef sharks or turtles.
Island Exploration
Those exploring the paths on land will come across blue rock pigeons that the island is named after. There are spots with white sand along the shore, while you will also see charming rock pools that make up this fascinating landscape. You can have a sea bath too, though be mindful not to step on sharp dead coral.
Best Times to Visit
While you can visit the Pigeon Island National Park almost year-round, the best weather can generally be experienced between May and October, especially in June. That said, the crowds will be relatively less during the off-season in the east coast from November to April though the waters may get choppy.
