Andaman Tourism Opens: The Andaman & Nicobar administration has announced that all tourist spots in the South Andaman district will be opened for tourism activities with immediate effect 8 Feb 2022.
The tourists are allowed to visit Baratang/North & Middle Andaman on production of double dose covid certificate/ All other passengers viz. unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers (those who have taken only 1S1 dose of COVID vaccine) shall have to produce RT-PCR negative test report
General Guidelines defined for traveling to Andaman Islands during COVID :
What are the guidelines for testing for tourists coming to Andaman after August 03 2021?
On arrival at Port Blair :
1. The tourists need to carry COVID-19 negative test report from mainland based 1CMR approved lab using Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR). However, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to starting the journey from the origin station. (For e.g. if the tourist takes a flight from Delhi at 0600 hrs. on 1st September, 2021, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken not before 0600 hrs. on 30th August, 2021).
2. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in
institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&N Administration, on rates as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid-19 care centre on case-to-case basis.
3. Tourists may also have to undergo random Rapid Antigen Test conducted from time to time on payment basis as prescribed by A8N Administration.
What if the tourists test positive after arriving at the Andaman Islands?
If the tourists tests positive during their stay in the Islands, he/she will need to undergo institutional isolation as per existing health protocols. The
cost of such isolation for govt. facility will be paid by the tourists as fixed by the administration from time to time.
If the patient wants to stay at hotels, he/she can stay in the hotels if all the conditions below are met:
a) Patients are not symptomatic and not more than 60 years old.
b) Request/ undertaking is made by patient in writing.
c)lf allowed by doctors.
Hotels will make necessary arrangements to designate a part of their rooms for institutional isolation for this purpose.
The Andamans is calling you. No, really, can’t you hear the seashore rumbling or the waves crashing against some of the most pristine white beaches in South Asia? If you have been waiting to see the beach, there’s nowhere more perfect than the Andamans. Imagine a brilliant blue sky, lanes lined up by the fronds of pretty coconut trees leading to some of the best beaches you’ll ever see, and corals – vibrant, colourful, and abundant.
There are so many things that you can do in the Andamans. If you have an adventurous soul, dive underwater to experience the magical marine world. If you’d rather just relax, go ahead and sip a cold beverage from a coconut calabash while sitting on some of the best beaches in South Asia. And if you like fishing, take a charter boat and go for a game fishing trip to Barren Island. Now that’s an idea, isn’t it?
Why go game fishing in Barren Island?
Barren Island is one of the Andamans’ best gems. It is the only active volcanic island in the whole of South Asia. It shouldn’t be a surprise then to see people from all over the world flocking to the island to witness an actual volcano. While Barren Island itself is dry and uninhabited, the water around it boasts an incredibly rich and dense marine ecosystem attracting a myriad of interesting sea creatures. As such, the place is great for game fishing.
If you go for a game fishing trip to Barren Island, you’ll be able to spot and catch a variety of popular game fish. Especially popular are marlins both black and blue. Barren Island is also known for the variety of big Tuna fish that come to the cleaning station underwater. You’ll primarily find the Yellow and Dogtooth varieties of tuna. Since there are some large fish, you may also get lucky and be able to catch a ‘trophy’. Dorado and sailfish are also available in plenty as are many small varieties of fish.
Most charter boats to Barren Island come with local guides. So, don’t worry about having to be patient the entire time to find one fish. Your guides will take you to the right spots where you’ll be able to fish to your heart’s content.
How to go for a game fishing trip to Barren Island
Barren Island is in a remote location a little further away from the primarily inhabited islands of the Andamans. You can visit the island from either Port Blair or Havelock Island. But being in a remote location, you wouldn’t find any local passenger ferries going to the island. The only way to visit Barren Island is to book a charter boat from either Port Blair or Havelock Island.
The island is 140 km away from Port Blair and may take you 3-4 hours to reach. From Havelock, Barren Island is 100 km away which takes a little over 3 hours to cover. Charter boats are faster than ferries, so it may take you a bit less time to cover the distances compared to a ferry.
Charter boats can accommodate up to 8 people at one time. They also come with many facilities like toilets and a seating area and even a kitchen. You can expect a luxurious trip with all meals and beverages for the day included in your package. Besides Barren Island, you’ll also be taken to nearby islands and some of the best points to spot the amazing sea animals of the Andamans. A visit to Barren Island will take you the entire day including the journey to and from Port Blair or Havelock.
Top things to do in Barren Island
Barren Island promises to be everything you had hoped for. While you cannot step into the island, you can watch the brilliant caldera of the volcanic island and the barren and ash-coloured shore surrounding it. The sand here is black, even underwater; experts believe that the frequent eruptions from the volcano may have layered the entire place with ash and turned the sand to black colour. But you don’t have to just look at the island and come back. You can enjoy a plethora of fun activities near Barren Island. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Cost of visiting Barren Island
Since no regular ferries go to Barren Island, the only way to visit the island is by charter boat. You can book a private charter boat at either Port Blair or Havelock. The cost of booking a charter boat is around INR 130,000 to 150,000. Since the boats can accommodate up to 8 people, it makes sense to travel with a group. The cost per person is INR 20,000. If you are taking a game fishing trip to Barren Island, you’ll be provided with all the fishing gear including a guide in the charter boat package.
You’ll also need a tourist permit to visit Barren Island. Indian nationals have to pay around INR 1000 for the permit, while foreign nationals have to pay INR 3500.
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