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 Andaman Islands are known for their amazingly beautiful beaches and diving spots. A lot of travellers from across the world travel to the Andamans every year specifically to explore the various underwater spots. The islands are also home to one of the best beaches in South Asia – Radhanagar Beach is a beautiful spot for adventure as well as relaxation.
But that’s not all. If you want to experience a blend of adventure with luxury, the Andamans again brings out a gem from its magic hat. The Barren Island is a volcanic island located in the Andamans that is famous worldwide for being the only active volcano in South Asia. And, if you want, you can also go for a charter fishing trip to Barren Island.
If you love fishing, there is no place better in this world than Barren Island. The water near the island is incredibly rich and has a diverse collection of marine life, especially, fish that are very popular for game fishing. The most common varieties of fish are the Yellow and dogtooth Tunas. You’ll also find many black as well as blue marlins swarming the area. Also common are the dorado and sailfish.
The best part is that unlike in many fishing spots where you’d have to wait throughout the day and be patient before capturing a fish, at Barren Island, you are promised to have great luck with fishing. It is very easy to catch fishes given that are large quantities of them. Also, charter boats usually come with local guides who are well acquainted with the area and know which are the best spots for game fishing.
Who knows, you might even end up with a trophy fish. Wouldn’t that be just great? Since going to Barren Island is a day-long trip, most of which would be spent on the journey, you’d get just about a couple of hours to fish. So, your guides will ensure that you can get the best out of your fishing trip and have time to enjoy other activities as well.
The only way to go charter boat fishing to Barren Island is from Port Blair or Havelock Island. Both places have easy accessibility to Barren Island; however, you can only go via a private charter boat. From Port Blair, it will take around 4-5 hours to reach Barren Island, but from Havelock Island, you’ll take 2-3 hours.
However, note that even Havelock can only be accessed by a ferry journey of 2-3 hours from Port Blair. So, unless you plan to explore Havelock Island, you should ideally take the trip from Port Blair directly. Also, most charter boat trips to Barren Island can take you 8-9 hours including the journey, so you keep an entire aside just for a trip to Barren Island.
You’ll have to pay INR 130,000-150,000 to book a charter fishing trip to Barren Island. This includes meals, beverages and all equipment required for your fishing and other water activities.
There are plenty of things that you can do on Barren Island. The most popular activity is, of course, game fishing. Most people go for a charter fishing trip to Barren Island. Apart from that, many people also go to the island for snorkelling and scuba diving. The underwater area near Barren Island is excellent for scuba diving. Purple Haze, Barren Garden, and Manta Point are famous diving spots not just among Indians but even for scuba divers across the world.
You’ll be able to spot many white-tip sharks and manta rays everywhere. But what will blow your mind is the incredibly coloured corals blanketing the walls and ridges underwater. However, given the depth and difficulty of the dives, only advanced-level scuba divers can dive near Barren Island.
The good news is that you need to be an expert diver to snorkel; you don’t even have to be a swimmer. In snorkelling, you can enjoy a panoramic view while floating on the surface of the water.
The best time to take a charter fishing trip to Barren Island is between November to February. The weather around this time is pleasant and sunny – perfect for a charter boat journey. You cannot travel to Barren Island during the rainy season which is usually between June to August. That’s because all charter fishing trips to Barren Island are cancelled during rainy or stormy weather.
Charter Boats are the only way to travel to Barren Island if you want to do any activities. Being located at a remote location, local passenger ferries do not go to Barren Island. However, there are some cruises that go on trips to Barren Island. However, you’ll not be able to do any activities during the cruise journey. Nevertheless, you’ll still just get a glimpse of the island from the ship.
1. When can you go fishing at Barren Island?
Answer: The best time to visit Barren Island is between November to February.
2. How much time does it take to reach Barren Island?
Answer: It would take you 2-3 hours to reach Barren Island from Havelock and around 4-5 hours to reach the island from Port Blair.
3. Do I need a permit to visit Barren Island?
Answer: Yes, you need a tourist permit from the government to visit Barren Island. Indian nationals have to pay INR 1000 for the permit while foreign nationals have to pay INR 3500.
4. Where will you get the fishing gear game fishing?
Answer: All charter boats that go to Barren Island will have fishing gear with them. You do not have to manage your fishing gear separately unless you want to. You just have to inform the charter boat agency about your interest in fishing before the trip.
5. How much does it cost to book a charter boat to Barren Island?
Answer: A charter fishing trip to Barren Island will cost you anything between INR 130,000-150,000.
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