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Voykit pocket guide · India
Baratang Island
Spend one night on Baratang to see Mud Volcano and Limestone Caves; arrive early by road or catamaran and depart the next day.
Baratang Island is a side‑trip from Port Blair offering mud volcanoes, limestone caves and Parrot Island. A single overnight stay lets you avoid the early‑morning convoy and adds a sunset parrot experience.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–May
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, road closures)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹2,500–₹3,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹3,500–₹5,000 excl. bed · High ₹5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Catamaran Port Blair → Baratang | ₹2,300–₹2,350 |
| Bus Port Blair → Baratang (road) | ₹45 |
| Meal (fried fish, local restaurant) | ₹150–₹250 |
| Drink (soft drink at jetty bar) | ₹50–₹80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXZ · Port Blair Airport
- about 30 min by catamaran to Baratang
Typical fares
- Port Blair → Baratang (catamaran)
- about ₹2,300 per person, 05:45–07:45 (check)about ₹2,300 per person, 5:45 AM–7:45 AM (check)
- Baratang → Havelock (catamaran)
- ₹2,000, dep 12:00, 1½ h (check)₹2,000, dep 12:00 PM, 1½ h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Road convoys from Port Blair (04:00 start) or catamaran (05:45–07:45) to Baratang jetty; shared taxi ₹20 each way to Mud Volcano; speed‑boat ₹200 round‑trip to Limestone Caves.Road convoys from Port Blair (4:00 AM start) or catamaran (5:45 AM–7:45 AM) to Baratang jetty; shared taxi ₹20 each way to Mud Volcano; speed‑boat ₹200 round‑trip to Limestone Caves.
See and do
Known for
- Mud Volcano
- Limestone Caves
- Parrot Island
- Jarawa Reserve forest drive
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mud Volcano | Shared taxi from Baratang jetty, about 4 km (2.5 mi) each wayShared taxi from Baratang jetty, about 2.5 mi (4 km) each way | ≈ 45 min total |
| Limestone Caves | Speed‑boat from Baratang jetty, 50 min each way | ≈ 2 h total |
| Parrot Island (sunset) | Private boat from Baratang jetty, 30 min each way | ≈ 1 h total |
| Havelock Island | Catamaran from Baratang, dep 12:00, 1½ hCatamaran from Baratang, dep 12:00 PM, 1½ h | ≈ 2 h total |
Sleep
- Crossroads
- AC rooms ₹3,990, non‑AC ₹2,790; 6 km (3.7 mi) from jetty, basic amenities.AC rooms ₹3,990, non‑AC ₹2,790; 3.7 mi (6 km) from jetty, basic amenities.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजियेmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is it? | यह कितना है?yah kitna hai? |
| Can I take a photo? | क्या मैं फोटो ले सकता हूँ?kya main photo le sakta hoon? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ है?shauchalay kahan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Jarawa Reserve forest: no stopping, no photos, no feeding; travel only in escorted convoys.
- Middle Strait jetty has saltwater crocodiles – stay on designated paths.
- No return catamaran to Port Blair; continue to Havelock or return by road.
Baratang is generally safe for tourists who stay in convoys, avoid the Jarawa Reserve, and keep clear of crocodile‑infested jetty areas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Baratang Island yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mud Volcano
- Limestone Caves
- Parrot Island
- Jarawa Reserve forest drive
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Andaman ferry dataset – BookYourFerry: www.bookyourferry.com/andaman-ferry-data
- Wikivoyage: Baratang Island, revision 5318017 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5318017
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Baratang Island
इस पते पर ले चलें
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- All services112
US Consulate in Chennai (check address); other embassies in New Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/baratang-island). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.