One very good reason for venturing to Pottuvil is for the delightful two-hour mangrove tours. Outrigger canoes take visitors punting across the lagoon where you can potter about among the mangroves searching for mighty big and toothy crocodiles, monkeys making mischief in the trees and birds, birds, birds everywhere you look. It’s best to go either early in the morning or last thing in the evening. Unfortunately, none of the boat conductors are likely to speak much Sinhala let alone English (they speak Tamil) and the ‘guide’ you paid for in Arugam Bay doesn’t normally bother accompanying you on the boat. Though you can organise mangrove tours yourself for less, it’s much easier to arrange everything through the Arugam Bay Hilton Guest House.
