Currency Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). Reference exchange rate approximately 300 LKR per USD (verify before travel).
Pricing Hotels, agencies and safaris quote in USD. Local cash is useful for tuk-tuks, markets, temples and rural areas.
USD cash Bring crisp, unmarked notes. Money changers refuse worn bills; exchange at airport bank counters.
Cards Visa and Mastercard accepted at boutique hotels, urban restaurants and supermarkets. American Express has more limited coverage.
ATMs Commercial Bank, Bank of Ceylon and HSBC have reliable ATMs at the airport, in Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Ella.
Gratuities 10% at restaurants if not included. For driver-guides the customary tip is USD 15–25 per day, and USD 5–10 per safari session for the tracker.
ePASS Sri Lanka operates an Electronic Travel Authorisation, processed online before travel. Usually approved within one to three days.
Passport Must be valid for at least six months from your date of entry, with at least two blank pages.
Documents Onward ticket out of the country and proof of accommodation for at least the first night.
Length of stay The tourist ePASS permits short stays; for more than 30 days specific visas exist. Verify before travel.
CocoVolare We guide you through the process but do not apply for visas on behalf of clients.
Vaccinations None mandatory from Latin America or Europe, except yellow fever if arriving from an endemic country. Recommended: hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus.
Dengue Moderate risk, especially during the monsoon. DEET 30% repellent is essential, particularly in Yala and on the east coast.
Malaria Low risk on standard tourist circuits. Consult a travel medicine clinic six weeks before departure.
Water Always bottled with an intact seal, even for brushing teeth in modest accommodation.
Insurance Essential with evacuation coverage, especially if trekking, surfing or diving.
Driver-guide The CocoVolare standard: a dedicated private driver-guide for the full itinerary, not a rental car. The logistical backbone of the journey.
Panoramic train The Kandy-to-Ella stretch is a non-negotiable experience. Observation class must be reserved six to eight weeks in advance.
Distances Short on the map, slow on the road. 170 km can take four hours — the roads wind and climb.
Domestic flights Cinnamon Air connects longer routes. CocoVolare uses them only when they save more than six hours of road travel.
Apps PickMe is the local ride-hailing app with better national coverage than Uber. WhatsApp is the universal means of communication with drivers and hotels.
Official languages Sinhala and Tamil. English is widely spoken in the tourism sector and in urban areas.
Hotels and guides Hotel reception staff, experienced drivers and official guides speak English fluently.
Rural areas English fades outside tourist circuits. Managed with gestures and a translation app.
Useful phrases Ayubowan (greeting, long life) · istuti (thank you) · ow (yes) · naha (no) · vanakkam (Tamil greeting).
Our approach CocoVolare prioritises guides and drivers with strong English fluency for all English-speaking clients.
Temples Remove shoes, take off hats and cover shoulders and knees. Always carry a sarong or shawl.
The Buddha It is forbidden to pose with your back to a Buddha image or climb onto a statue. It is a criminal offence — tourists have been deported.
The left hand Considered impure. Receive, hand over and eat with your right hand.
The Sinhalese "yes" A side-to-side head wobble means yes or understood — not no. It takes a couple of days to get used to.
Poya Day On every full moon, alcohol sales are restricted. Licensed hotels continue to serve.
01 · Capital
2 nights
