Fulfil your zest for adventure by visiting the Jolly Buoy Island when you are vacationing in Andaman. Renowned for its beautiful corals and its scintillating beaches, this place can be accessed from Wandoor Beach and is one of the famous places to visit in Port Blair. Often called a no man’ s land, this place can be visited by boats after bringing and taking back all the necessary things. Famous for snorkelling and scuba diving, Jolly Buoy Island will make you feel like you are at the end of the world with the infinite sea in front of your eyes.
One of the most fascinating things about visiting Jolly Buoy Island is that you can have a look at the gorgeous coral reefs through glass bottom when you are riding there. Moreover, the place is a no plastic zone and boasts of some of the cleanest natural surroundings that you will witness in your life. The stunning island is a must visit if you are a nature lover.
Highlights: The place is a no plastic zone and it is banned by the authorities to leave any plastic items there. It is one of the cleanest places to visit.
Activities: The adventure lovers can look forward to have an enthralling glass bottom boat ride and see the beautiful coral reefs beneath. Jolly Buoy Island is also an excellent place to enjoy activities like snorkelling and scuba diving.
Distance from Port Blair: It is located 30km south west of Port Blair.
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Nestled away in a small corner of Andaman and Nicobar is the Jolly Buoy Island, an uninhabited and ecologically preserved island known for its clear waters and beautiful coral reefs that make it one of the most sought-after sports in the Andaman for scuba diving and snorkelling, and truly being able to experience the beauty of nature that has been unaffected by man-made dirt and pollution.
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Getting to the island takes quite some time, as you need to take a boat from Wandoor Beach, located in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, situated around 30 kilometres away from Port Blair by road. After you reach Wandoor Beach, you will need to travel another half an hour approximately to get to the island. On this boat, you will get a sneak peek of the beautiful underwater coral reefs because of how clear the water is and if you would like to explore the sea some more, you can always opt for underwater snorkelling and scuba diving once you get to the island.
Upon reaching the island, you'll be stunned by how clean and beautiful the island is, which makes it one of the best attractions in Andaman. There are no traces of pollution or any sort of many made constructions. There is even a very strict no plastic policy and people who visit the island are all required to make a list of all the plastic items in their possessions as they enter the island, and make sure that they show the same plastic covers to the authorities at the time of departure. There are also heavy fines charged for loitering on the island, so make sure to be extremely careful with your belongings and make sure not to litter on the island.
There is a plethora of Andaman activities for you to do on this island, like admiring the various shades of blue and green of the ocean, exploring the uninhabited island, taking a boat glass trip around the island, and trying out activities like scuba diving and snorkelling to get a better perspective on the exquisite underwater world of the island.
There is a beautiful jungle filled with trees for tourists to explore and seek some shade from the sunny beach. Children can also enjoy some fun time splashing around the waves and swimming in the crystal clear water of the ocean.
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Unless you are traveling through a travel or tour agency then you need to make sure to carry your own snacks and refreshments, as there are absolutely no shacks or shops on the island, and you will need to wait till you return to the Wandoor beach to purchase food. Again, make sure to be careful of the plastic bags that you bring. If you are travelling through an agency then they will provide you with lunch and some other refreshments like tea and snacks.
If you are interested in knowing more about the island and the various things you can do there, then make sure to read our detailed guide about Jolly Buoy Island
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How to Reach Jolly Bouy Island from Port Blair
To get to Jolly Buoy Island you will first need to reach Port Blair, and you can only get there by flying.
By Air: Most of the major cities in India are connected to the Port Blair International airport, formally known as the Veer Savarkar International Airport. The airport is centrally located and you get easy and quick access to all parts of the city from the airport, through cabs or rented vehicles.
Once you're in Port Blair, you will need to take a ferry or drive to Wandoor Beach. Either way, the distance is around 30 kilometres, and it will take you 45 minutes approximate to reach Wandoor Beach. There are regular ferries that go to the Wandoor Beach from Port Blair, starting at either the Phoenix Bay Jetty or the Chiriya Tapu point.
One point to be noted is that you need to start from Port Blair at around 7 AM - 7:30 AM as there is only one boat that leaves from Wandoor Beach to Jolly Buoy Island, and that is at 9:00 AM in the morning. So you need to make sure you catch that boat or you won't be able to visit the island until the next day. Since the journey from Port Blair takes approximately an hour, you need to make sure that you are at one of the boarding points latest by 7:30 AM to catch a ferry.
The boat from the Wandoor Beach to the Jolly Buoy Island takes around half an hour to reach and you get some amazing views of the beach while you're on the way to the island. Make sure to keep an eye on the sea as you get to see some sights of the bright red coral reefs that you will definitely not be able to see anywhere else. You can later explore them closer through scuba diving or snorkelling.
Also, check out the best places to visit in Portblair.
Best Time to Visit
One of the good things about the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is that the island is blessed with a tropical climate, so most of the year you get to enjoy beautiful, pleasant weather, making anytime the best time to visit the Andaman Island.
During the summer season, from the months of April to June, the island enjoys a warm sunny climate, and this is the perfect time to get into your swimsuits and enjoy the beautiful cold waves at the beach contrasting the sunny rays of the sun. If you feel too hot you can always catch some shade in the tree-filled jungles of the island.
The December season, is the most popular time to visit, during the months of November to March, as the weather is supposed to be the most pleasant, not too hot and not too cold, and right after the rains, the lush forests couldn’t look greener. This season is also considered to be the best time to visit, as the climate is pleasant enough to explore the city without feeling too hot and sweaty under the sun.
The offseason of the islands is the monsoon period, during the months of June to October, and most of the beaches and islands are closed for visiting during this period.
Other Essential Info about Jolly Bouy Island
Here are some other important points to note about the Jolly Buoy Island:
1. Mobile Connectivity
Most of the networks that work in other parts of India do work quite well on the Andaman and Nicobar islands as well. However, there are some networks that are said to get better reception than others, and some networks like Jio and Reliance have been said to get pretty bad reception on the islands. Vodafone and Airtel are known to get the best service on the islands, so make sure one of the members of your travel group has one of these networks. That being said, since the island is so isolated, you might not always get reception due to the lack of reception towers in the vicinity.
2. Medical Facilities
Being an uninhabited island with no stores, shacks or amenities, you won’t find medical facilities on the island. If you are visiting through a travel or tour agency, they will be carrying a first aid kit with them. Otherwise, to reach the nearest clinic you will have to travel back to Port Blair, as there are no other clinics or medical stores around the area. If you require any specific medicines, then make sure to carry them along with you as there won't be any place to access them during an emergency.
3. Timings to visit
The boat to Jolly Buoy Island from Wandoor Beach departs around 9:00 AM and that’s the only time the boat leaves there in the morning so you need to make sure you are there on time to catch this boat, or else you will have to wait until the next day to visit the island. The last boat from the island back to Wandoor Beach leaves from Jolly Buoy Island at 5:00 PM sharp.
One important point to be noted is that the island of closed for visitation on all Mondays.
4. Places to eat near Jolly Buoy Island
As we have mentioned, Jolly Buoy Island is an uninhabited island to maintain the pristine beauty of the place. Therefore, there are no eating shacks or restaurants in or around the island, and you will have to travel back to Wandoor Beach to get some food. We recommend that you pack your own snacks before you visit, but be careful not to throw the plastic items on the island. If you are visiting through a travel agency, they will provide you with lunch, tea, and other refreshments and snacks.
5. Activities to do
There are plenty of activities to do on the Jolly Buoy Island. You can carry your swimsuits with you and take a dip in the cool waters of the ocean, or try out some underwater activities like snorkelling and scuba diving. You can also go bottom glass boating and admire the beautiful coral reefs found around the island. There is also a forest jungle with interesting harmless animals on the island, and you can explore the shady jungle to escape the heat of the beach.
Also, know more about all the fun Andaman activities to add to your bucket list before hitting the island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions people have about the island.
1. How do I get from Port Blair to Jolly Buoy Island?
To get to Jolly Buoy Island from Port Blair you will first need to take a chartered boat or ferry from Port Blair to Wandoor Beach. The distance between the two is around 30 kilometres and it will take you around 45 mins to reach there. You can also travel there by road if you wish. From Wandoor Beach, you need to take the 9:00 AM boat to Jolly Buoy Island.
Also, check out the list of activities in Port Blair that you can take part in.
2. Is Jolly Buoy Island Open?
Yes, Jolly Buoy Island is open to visitors from 9:00 AM in the morning until 5:00 PM in the evening, and these are the only boats that go to the island. The beach is closed for visitation on all Mondays, so make sure to avoid going on that day.
3. Where is Jolly Buoy Island?
Jolly Buoy Island is located near Wandoor Beach, located on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. You need to take two boats from Port Blair to reach the beach, and it's open from 9-5 on all days, except Monday.
4. What water activities are available at the Jolly Buoy island?
Some of the most exciting water activities that you can do on Jolly Buoy Island are:
-Swimming
-Bottom Glass Boating
5. How do you get to Jolly Buoy Island?
You need to take a boat or ferry from Port Blair to Wandoor Beach which takes 45 minutes, or you can reach there by road as well. From Wandoor Beach, you will need to take the 9:00 AM boat that goes to Jolly Buoy Island and you will reach there in around 30 minutes.
6. Which is the best resort near Jolly Buoy Island?
Since it is an uninhabited land, there are no hotels or resorts on the islands. The nearest resorts are located in Port Blair, and some of the best ones are:
-Megapode Resort
-Ripple Resort
-Peerless Resort
7. What places can we visit around Jolly Buoy Island?
Some of the good places around Jolly Buoy Island that are also worth visiting are:
8. What are the ticket prices of a ferry from Port Blair to Jolly Buoy Island?
The ticket prices to get to Jolly Buoy Island from Port Blair cost around INR 850 per head. This price also includes the permit to visit the island.
9. How long can we stay at Jolly Buoy Island?
You can stay on the island for as long as it is open, from 9:00 AM in the morning, till 5:00 PM in the evening.
10. Do we have to pre-book boats to visit Jolly Bouy island from Havelock?
Yes, it is advisable to pre-book your tickets with a travel agency to ensure a hassle-free travel experience
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