Have you watched the Disney animated movie Moana? If not, then I recommend you watch it. It’s a movie made for all people belonging to any age group.
The movie is about how a determined girl who is the chief of her tribe, sets out to sail in the ocean to save her island when the people of her tribe find it difficult as the vegetation and fish catch reduce day by day.
Once she saves the island, the people of her tribe set out to sail in their specially crafted boats in search of new islands. The soundtracks of this movie are wonderfully composed.
You can experience the Moana movie vibes when you visit St Mary’s Island Malpe.
So what made me plan to visit this place? My hubby and I have made a New Year’s Resolution to visit a new spot every weekend. So to start with our newly made resolution, we planned to go to St Mary’s Island on the 1st weekend of January 2023.
Read further to know more about how I spent the day visiting the island. Toward the end, I will share the visuals of the boating experience.
St Mary’s Island Malpe: A Walk Back in Time
Visiting a calm, clean beach and a blissful island is a good idea to destress from work. Located around 62 km from Mangalore and just 7km from Udupi, this beach is gaining popularity among people because of the water sports activities and the history behind St Mary’s Island.
When you visit Malpe beach and try to look far away, you can see land this island with tall coconut trees.
These are a group of 4 islands namely North Island, South Island, Coconut Island, and Daryabahadurgarh Island. Coconut island and Thonsepar are other names of St Mary’s island which has lots of coconut trees.
St Mary’s island is the largest one among all the other islands, which is visible from the Malpe sea coast.
According to folklore, it is believed that this island was discovered by Vasco da Gama when he landed here on his journey from Portugal to Kerala. He fixed a cross here and named the island after Mother Mary.
One of the reasons behind this popularity is that this is the only island in India with natural crystalline rock formations. These crystalline rock formations formed due to sub-volcanic activity when the island of Madagascar got separated and rifted from India around 88 million years ago.
The basalt columns could be the best background when you click pictures. Isn’t it fascinating that these columnar basaltic lava rocks are not found on any other beaches or islands in India?
The tallest column is about 20ft tall! Noticing that these occurrences are of high importance and rarity, in 2001 these islands were classified as a National Geological Monument by the Geological Survey of India.
Ferry Rides to St Mary’s Island Malpe
The only way to reach the island is to use the frequent ferry rides from Malpe beach. There are 2 types of ferry rides, one is Government ferry rides and the other is Private ferry rides. Both have separate counters for booking tickets and different boarding points.
Exploring St Mary’s Island Malpe
Now the question arises what are we supposed to do once we reach the island? As I told you before St Mary’s island is the only one geo tourist location where you can find basaltic lava rocks. So you can explore these rocks keeping your safety in mind.
Put your photography skills to the test and click the best pictures with the rocks in your background.
The sand here at the shore contains more shells and very less of sand. The island is inhabited by humans but not by flora and fauna. If you are lucky enough you can find some of the rare birds which we don’t see in the cities or villages.
There is a place where you can see the ‘Peace’ board’ and here you can click your ‘perfect-moment’ pictures!
If you are interested in water sports, then you can try some of the activities on the island.
Before trying any of these sports activities please read the next sections ie. Rules and regulations and Things to keep in mind. Swimming is allowed only in designated areas where lifeguards are nearby.
Rules and Regulations to be followed
As Indian citizens, it is our duty to follow rules and regulations so that watching us, tourists from outside India would also follow the rules and would like to visit different destinations in India again and again. Following are the rules mentioned on the island.
Things to keep in mind before visiting St Mary’s Island Malpe
- Do not wear heels/sneakers/fancy footwear as you have to change boats before you reach the shore and you will be stepping down in the water near the shore. It’s comfortable to wear crocs or good old Hawaii slippers.
- Wear comfortable cotton or linen clothes as by noon it becomes very hot and sunny.
- Do carry hats, sunscreen lotions, and drinking water in reusable bottles(Bisleri-kind of bottles are not allowed).
- This place has no shops. You cannot carry any snacks in plastic bags/wrappers. Snacks can be carried in reusable containers.
- On the island, a single vendor can be seen serving juice, water, and some snacks soon after you enter the entrance.
- Once you reach the island, the sailors inform you to come back exactly in an hour. It is highly recommended that we follow the rules because the ferries have a fixed capacity. In order to avoid crowds towards the end of the day they ask us to be back in an hour.
- Before using any kind of camera, it is compulsory to take permission from Island Office. Permission is not required for using Mobile Phones.
Best time to visit St Mary’s Island
Tourists can visit the island from October to May. From June to September the island is closed due to rough seas.
The Timings to visit St Mary’s Island: 9 am to 5:30 pm. If you visit during the day you can spend an hour on the island. Post 3:30 pm, you can spend only half an hour on the island.
The island will be closed on Government Holidays and on those days when the weather is unfavorable. Before starting it’s better to check by contacting Island Office. The contact numbers are given towards the end of the post.
Beach/Resorts nearby
As mentioned earlier, the island is inhabited. But it’s just a 30 min ferry ride away from Malpe sea coast. there are plenty of Hotels and Resorts in Malpe. Following are some of the hotels and resorts based on preference. Plus there are many activities on Malpe beach for you to try.
1. Paradise Lagoon Resort
2. Aryaan Resort
3. Silver Sands Beach Villa
4. Sai Vishram Beach Resort
5. Malpe Sea Front Cottage
Hotels close to Malpe Beach
1. Samanvay Boutique Hotel
2. Manipal INN
3. Fortune Inn Valley View
If you are looking for a hotel to have lunch in, then I recommend ‘Hotel Thimmappa‘ for seafood lovers and ‘Manipal Inn‘ for Vegetarians. I visited Manipal Inn which is very near Malpe beach road, situated on the Highway and has got nice ambiance and clean washrooms.
While crossing Hotel Thimmappa, I could see a queue outside. The hotel has been serving the best fish meals since 1969. This legendary hotel has been visited by famous vloggers.
Ferry and Miscellaneous charges
Malpe Port entrance : Rs 20
Parking charges for 4-wheeler: Rs 30
Government Ferry Charges: Rs 300 per head.
Private Ferry charges: Rs 400 per head
Baggage counter charges if any: Rs 20
Here is a small video and a short upload that showcases my experience of visiting the island. Hope you enjoy watching it.
Important Contact Numbers
Island office contact number: +91 7204009927
Island Authority: +91 9742507270
Malpe Police Station: +91 820 2537999
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Mary’s Island Malpe open for tourists on Sundays?
Yes, it’s open. Timings are 9:00 am – 5:30 pm. However, more crowds can be expected on weekends.
Are drone cameras allowed on St Mary’s island?
Yes, it’s allowed but with permission. Contact the island office before using any cameras for videography.
Who can visit St Mary’s Island?
It may not be advisable for pregnant women, people with joint pains, or couples with infants since you have to change boats in between, and on the island, there is no medical facility just in case. Sometimes when there is too much crowd on the weekends, you may not get a place to sit. There are tree branches here and there on which people can sit and relax for a while.
How much time can be spent on St Mary’s Island?
If you visit before 3:30 pm, tourists can spend an hour on the island. Post 3:30 pm, tourists can spend only half an hour on the island.
Is food available on St Mary’s Island Malpe?
No hotels or stalls can be found on St Mary’s island Malpe. Only one vendor can be seen serving 1 or 2 snack items and water to drink. There is a tender coconut vendor on the island. Tourists can carry water and snacks only in reusable bottles and containers.
Are there any hotels/resorts on St Mary’s Island?
No, the island is open for tourists only during the daytime for a half-day trip. It’s an inhabited island. However, there are few hotels and beach-facing resorts in Malpe.
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