Baratang Island Day Trip: Limestone Caves, Mangrove Creeks and the Mud Volcano
Baratang is the one trip from Port Blair that takes the whole day. You leave before 4 am, drive through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve in a police convoy, cross the Middle Strait on a vehicle ferry and then take a speedboat up a mangrove creek to reach the limestone caves. It is tiring, and it is also very different from anything else near the city. This page covers what you will see, how the convoy works and how to plan the day.
Updated October 2026 by the Blue Bubble Andaman team in Port Blair
Things to Do on Baratang Island
These are in the order you reach them on a normal day trip. The caves and the creek ride come together, the mud volcano is a short drive from the jetty, and Parrot Island only works if you stay the night.
Only have one day? Take the first convoy, go straight to the caves, stop at the mud volcano on the way back and be at the jetty in time for the return convoy. Parrot Island and Baludera Beach need an overnight stay.
No. 1 · The Main Reason to Go
Limestone Caves
Speedboat from Nilambur Jetty, then about 1.2 km on foot · 2.5 to 3 hours return
The caves are why most people make the trip. Water seeping through the limestone over thousands of years has left columns, ribbed walls and formations hanging from the roof, and the local guides point out shapes they have given names to. It is dark inside, so carry a torch or keep your phone light ready.
The walk from the boat landing goes along a raised path, then through a small village and a stretch of forest. It is mostly flat, but the humidity makes it feel longer than it is. Wear shoes with grip, since the rock inside can be wet.
No. 2 · On the Way to the Caves
Mangrove Creek Boat Ride
Part of the cave trip · 20 to 30 minutes each way
The speedboat leaves the open water and turns into a narrow creek where the mangroves close in on both sides and almost meet overhead. The boatmen slow down here, and apart from the engine it is very quiet.
Keep your hands inside the boat. Saltwater crocodiles live in these creeks, and the warning boards at the jetty are there for a reason.
No. 3 · Quick Stop
Mud Volcano
A short drive from Nilambur Jetty · Steps up from the road · 20 to 30 minutes
Gas from deep underground pushes grey mud up through the ground here, and it dries into small cones that bubble every now and then. It is smaller than most people expect. See the cones, take a few photos and move on.
It was very active after the 2004 earthquake and still bubbles off and on.
No. 4 · Sunset, Needs a Night Stay
Parrot Island
Evening boat from Baratang · Overnight stay needed
Parrot Island is a small mangrove island where large flocks of parakeets fly in to roost just before sunset. The boat waits a little way off the island while the birds circle and settle for the night.
The last return convoy leaves in the afternoon, so you can only see this if you spend the night on Baratang. We plan that for guests who want a slower trip.
No. 5 · Quiet Beach
Baludera Beach
A short drive from Nilambur · Very few facilities
A curved, sheltered beach with mangroves at one end and hardly anyone on it. There are no water sports and only a couple of small stalls.
Treat it as a walk and a place to sit for an hour. Swimming is not advised because crocodiles have been seen in the area.
A Baratang Day Trip, Hour by Hour
Times shift with the convoy schedule and the season, but this is how a normal day goes for our guests.
- 3:30 to 4:00 am
Leave your hotel in Port Blair. Pack breakfast, or plan to eat at the stalls in Jirkatang.
- 5:00 to 5:30 am
Reach the Jirkatang check post, about 40 km north. There are toilets and tea stalls while you wait for the convoy.
- Around 6:00 am
The first convoy leaves through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve. It takes about an hour and a half to reach Middle Strait.
- 7:30 to 8:30 am
Vehicle ferry across the Middle Strait to Nilambur Jetty on Baratang. The forest permit for the caves is issued here.
- 8:30 to 11:30 am
Speedboat through the mangrove creek, the walk to the limestone caves and back.
- 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Lunch near the jetty and a short stop at the mud volcano.
- Early afternoon
Ferry back to Middle Strait and the return convoy. Most guests are back at their hotel by 5 or 6 pm.
The Jarawa Reserve Convoy and Permits
The Andaman Trunk Road between Jirkatang and Middle Strait runs through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve. Vehicles can only use this stretch in a convoy at fixed times, with police vehicles at the front and back. The first convoy goes early in the morning and the last outbound one in the early afternoon, and return convoys from Middle Strait run around midday and mid-afternoon. The schedule changes from time to time, so we check it the evening before.
Inside the reserve you cannot stop, take photos or videos, or give food or anything else to the Jarawa people. These are legal rules, and the police take them seriously. Two-wheelers are not allowed in the convoy.
Carry a government photo ID for every adult. It is checked at Jirkatang, and you need it again for the cave permit at Nilambur Jetty. Foreign guests should bring their passport and the permit papers they got on arrival in Port Blair.
Best Time to Visit Baratang Island
November to April is the easiest time to go. The sea is calm for the speedboat, the path to the caves is dry and the ferry keeps to its schedule. December to February is the busiest stretch, so expect longer queues at Jirkatang and at the jetty. From late May to September the monsoon can stop the cave boats for a day or more, and the forest path turns muddy. In late winter, thick fog over the Middle Strait sometimes holds up the first ferry until after 7 am.
How to Reach Baratang From Port Blair
Baratang is about 100 km north of Port Blair on the Andaman Trunk Road. Most people go by private car with a driver, which lets you leave early enough for the first convoy and stop where you like on the way back. Early morning buses also run up the trunk road, but you then have to sort out a boat and local transport on your own once you arrive.
The crossing from Middle Strait to Nilambur Jetty is still by vehicle ferry. A road bridge over the strait is being built, and once it opens the trip will be a little shorter. Boats to the limestone caves leave from Nilambur Jetty. For guests on our packages, the car, permits and boat are booked before you leave Port Blair.
Things to Know Before You Go
Carry water, a torch, sunscreen, a cap and a light rain jacket, and wear shoes you do not mind getting muddy. Mobile signal drops inside the reserve and is patchy on Baratang, so tell your family you will be out of reach for a few hours. Keep some cash with you, since card payments at the jetty are hit and miss and there are very few ATMs.
If you are travelling with small children or older parents, the 3:30 am start and the long drive are harder than the walk itself. The walk to the caves is easy, just hot. Take it slowly and stop in the shade when you need to.
More to See Around Port Blair
Baratang works best on a day when you have nothing else planned, ideally with an easy day after it. Back in the city, Cellular Jail and its evening light and sound show fit well into a shorter day, and the boat trip to Ross Island and North Bay Island takes half a day. Our Port Blair guide has the beaches and the rest of the city's attractions, and Havelock Island is the usual next stop by ferry.
Want Baratang Built Into Your Andaman Trip?
Is Baratang Island Worth Visiting?
For most people it is, as long as you know it takes the whole day. The limestone caves and the boat ride through the mangrove creek are unlike anything else near Port Blair. If you only have three or four days in the Andamans, you may prefer to spend them on Havelock and Neil.
How Far Is Baratang Island From Port Blair?
Baratang is about 100 km north of Port Blair by road. With the convoy wait at Jirkatang and the ferry across the Middle Strait, it usually takes 3 to 4 hours to reach Nilambur Jetty.
What Time Should I Leave Port Blair for Baratang?
Leave your hotel between 3:30 and 4:00 am. That gets you to the Jirkatang check post in time for the first convoy and gives you the most time on the island before the return convoy.
What Are the Convoy Timings for Baratang?
The first convoy leaves Jirkatang early in the morning, around 6 am, and the last outbound one goes in the early afternoon. Return convoys from Middle Strait run around midday and mid-afternoon. The schedule changes from time to time, so check it the evening before you go.
Do I Need a Permit to Visit Baratang?
You need a government photo ID at the Jirkatang check post and a forest department permit for the limestone caves, which is issued at Nilambur Jetty. Foreign visitors should carry their passport and the permit they got on arrival in Port Blair. We arrange the cave permit for our guests.
Can I Take Photos in the Jarawa Tribal Reserve?
Photos and videos are banned inside the reserve, and so is stopping your vehicle or giving anything to the Jarawa people. These are legal rules and the police enforce them. You can take photos freely once you reach Baratang.
How Long Is the Walk to the Limestone Caves?
It is about 1.2 km each way from the boat landing, on a raised path and then a forest trail. The walk is mostly flat and takes 20 to 30 minutes each way at an easy pace. The humidity is the tiring part.
Is Baratang Suitable for Children and Senior Citizens?
Families with children do the trip all the time. The early start and the long drive are harder than the walk itself. For older travellers with knee or breathing problems, the 1.2 km walk in the heat can be tiring, so plan for a slow pace and plenty of water.
What Is the Best Time to Visit Baratang Island?
November to April is the best window. The sea is calm for the speedboat and the path to the caves is dry. During the monsoon, from late May to September, boats to the caves can be cancelled at short notice.
Can I See Parrot Island on a Day Trip?
Not usually. The parakeets fly in to roost just before sunset, and the last return convoy leaves well before that. To see Parrot Island you need to stay the night on Baratang.
Can I Stay Overnight on Baratang Island?
You can, though the choice is small: a few simple guesthouses and lodges near Nilambur. A night stay lets you see Parrot Island at sunset and Baludera Beach without rushing. Book well ahead in peak season.
Is the Mud Volcano at Baratang Worth Seeing?
It is worth a short stop if you are already on the island. The cones are small and the mud bubbles slowly, so most people spend 20 to 30 minutes there before heading back.
What Should I Carry for a Baratang Trip?
Carry a photo ID, a torch for the caves, drinking water, sunscreen, a cap and shoes with grip. Some cash helps too, since card payments at the jetty are not reliable and there are very few ATMs.
Are There Toilets and Food on the Way to Baratang?
There are toilets and tea stalls at the Jirkatang check post, and simple places for breakfast and lunch near Nilambur Jetty. The food is basic, mostly rice, dal, fish curry and snacks.
Is Baratang Safe for Tourists?
It is a quiet island and visitors rarely have problems on land. Follow the convoy rules in the reserve, keep your hands out of the water in the mangrove creeks because of saltwater crocodiles and swim only where it is clearly allowed.