Wandoor Beach — The Andamans Travel Wiki

Overview

Wandoor is the village on the west coast where boats leave for Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, and its beach is what most people see while waiting for one. That undersells it. Wandoor Beach is a long, open, west-facing shore — good for sunsets, scattered with driftwood and shells, and considerably quieter than its role as a transit point suggests.

For most visitors it is one half of a day: boat out to Jolly Buoy or Red Skin in the morning, and the beach in the afternoon once you are back.

Getting there

Roughly 25 km south-west of Port Blair, about an hour by road. Taxis run the route, and there is a slower government bus. The road is decent by island standards.

Boats to the marine park

Wandoor jetty is the departure point for the national park islands. Only one of Jolly Buoy and Red Skin is open at any time — they alternate roughly six-monthly so the closed island’s reef can recover — and you need a Forest Department permit, issued here before boarding. Boats go in the morning and numbers are capped, so arrive early rather than mid-morning.

Confirm which island is currently open before you travel out. The changeover date moves.

Things to do

Sunset — the shore faces west with a clear horizon.
Walk the beach — it is long, and the far ends see almost nobody.
Driftwood and shells — photograph them; taking them is another matter inside a protected coastline.
Use it as the base for a marine park trip rather than as an afterthought.

Practical notes

Crocodiles are present along this coast and in the creeks behind it. Ask locally before swimming, and take any warning at face value.
There is no shade structure and little shelter on the sand — bring a hat and water.
Small shops and eateries in Wandoor village; nothing on the beach.
Bring cash for permits, boats and food. There is no reliable ATM out here.
Monsoon weather closes the boats and makes the beach rough; the drier months are better for both.

Nearby

Jolly Buoy Island and Red Skin Island — the marine park islands, reached from the jetty here.
Kurmadera Beach — further up the same coast, and considerably harder to reach.
Chidiya Tapu — the other sunset drive out of Port Blair.