VANAMCOVE 
Wandoor
Gateway to the Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Morning permit & boat to Jolly Buoy
- Glass-bottom ride
- Reef snorkelling
- Lunch at the island kiosk
- Afternoon swim
- Return by the last boat
Geography & terrain
Wandoor is the village on the south-west coast of South Andaman, 29 km from Port Blair, where the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park begins — a scatter of 15-odd islands and islets in the turquoise water of the Andaman Sea, reached by boats from Wandoor's small jetty.
History & culture
The settlement grew as a fishing and timber village of the island's forest age, then became the park's doorstep when the Marine National Park was declared in 1983 to protect the reefs; its jetty now launches the daily boats to Jolly Buoy and Red Skin island, the park's two open coral islands.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,200–2,800/nightMid-range
₹2,800–6,000/nightComfort
₹6,000+/nightThings to do
Jolly Buoy coral gardens
Red Skin island
Glass-bottom reef views
Wandoor beach
Boat ride through the islands
Eat & drink
- Grilled reef fish
- Coconut and seafood curries
- Tropical fresh fruit platters
Getting there
- Fly
- Veer Savarkar Airport (IXZ), Port Blair
- Train
- No rail — island chain served by ferries
- Road from Port Blair
- road + ferry hub for all islands
- Getting around
- Autos and scooters on the islands; ferries between them
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹3,500–9,500 (1 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,200–6,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹800–1,200
- Per day · Activities
- ₹800–1,200
Month by month
Practical info
- Language: Hindi / Bengali / Tamil (multi-language islands) (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Oct–Mar
- Connectivity: Patchy off the main islands — download offline maps
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- Boats run fixed morning schedules — be at the jetty by 8–9 am
- The park closes for the monsoon (roughly mid-May to September) — plan October to April
- Wear reef-safe sunscreen or rashguard; the corals are protected
Frequently asked questions
Jolly Buoy is the classic first choice — shallower, calmer water and gentle corals; Red Skin suits stronger swimmers. The park opens them on rotation.
Yes — bought at the Wandoor park office with your ID; entry fees and a mandatory snorkel-guide fee apply.
No — the park is shut roughly May to September; the December–April window is the reliable season.
Gateway to the Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP
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