Do I need to tip the boat driver in Kalpitiya.

While the hefty ticket price you pay to the tour agency primarily covers the fuel and the boat rental the actual local captains rely heavily on tourist tips to support their families during the short off season. If the captain drove safely respected the ethical boundaries of the dolphins and worked incredibly hard to locate the pods for you handing them a generous tip of roughly 1000 to 2000 Sri Lankan Rupees directly into their hand as you step off the boat is a highly polite immensely appreciated gesture.