Cinque Islands

Cinque Islands are a pair of uninhabited islands — North Cinque and South Cinque — in the Rutland Archipelago of the Andaman Islands, about 26 km southwest of Port Blair in South Andaman district. Connected by a sandbar at low tide, they lie within the Cinque Island Sanctuary and are known for clear waters, coral reefs and white sandy beaches. The islands are uninhabited, have no permanent facilities and are accessed only by boat with forest department permission.

Visitors can expect two uninhabited forested islands separated by a narrow channel and connected by a white sandbar visible at low tide. The setting is pristine with clear turquoise water, coral reefs, sandy beaches and dense tropical vegetation. There are no settlements, shops or jetties. Access is by chartered boat only with prior permission. Visitors can walk on the beach and sandbar, view coral and marine life from the boat, and snorkel or dive in designated areas where permitted.

Cinque Islands are notified as Cinque Island Sanctuary and form part of the protected island network around Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, established to protect coral reefs, marine fauna and island ecosystems. The islands have remained uninhabited and preserved as a protected natural area.