Negombo canal boat tour scams.
3 Answers from travellers
Fifty dollars is a massive tourist trap. A standard hour long boat ride along the Dutch Canal and out towards the Muthurajawela marsh should realistically cost around 15 to 20 USD maximum per boat not per person.
The touts hanging around the main bridges aggressively inflate prices. To get a fair rate walk directly to the official boat mooring areas or ask your hotel reception to organize a trusted local captain for you.
Always negotiate the final total price clearly before stepping into the boat and explicitly confirm that the price covers everyone in your group to avoid an aggressive demand for more money later.
Scam Watch: colombo
Driver claims the meter is broken and quotes an inflated flat rate. Common on arrival at airport or railway stations when tourists are tired and disoriented.
Drivers wearing official-looking uniforms claim to be "government-approved" and charge 3-5x normal rates. They may have fake badges or ID cards.
Women with babies approach asking you to buy milk powder at a nearby shop (not cash). The shop is run by accomplices and charges 5-10x normal price.
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