Health and Safety
Medical facilities on most of the islands are very limited, with the most reliable hospital located in Port Blair. We request that you follow sensible practices in your choice of places to stay, food and drink and the appropriate and timely use of medication, insect repellant, etc.
Tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are no more prevalent in the Andaman Islands as they are in other similar destinations in South-east Asia. We recommend that you follow the advice of your doctor with regards to any vaccinations and medication you might require for the duration of your travels. Please bring these and any other medicinal products you might require with you, as availability on the islands cannot be guaranteed.
Barefoot at Havelock Resort has a well stocked first aid kit and Barefoot Scuba has oxygen for emergency use. On excursion, we carry limited field dressing and first aid kit. Please note that the Andaman Islands are cut off and distances from some of our eco-tour locations to Port Blair are long, so please be sensible in your conduct while on excursion and follow safe practices and respect the knowledge and guidance of our staff.
There is very little crime on the islands. However, the general rules of safety apply to all travelers, and we request that you exercise caution in your interactions with strangers and with the storing of your valuables. Our resort provides lockers to guests staying at Café del Mar.
Although the islands are developing as a tourist destination, certain conveniences are still to come. We recommend that you bring the essentials for your travels with you when you visit.
ATMs are not available on Havelock Island, with the nearest money changing and withdrawal facilities located in Port Blair. Some of the larger resorts (including Barefoot) accept credit card payments, foreign currency and traveler’s cheques, but we recommend that you bring enough Indian Rupees for the duration of your stay.
Being a tropical island, the days are generally warm and sunny, while the evenings can be cool, especially in the winter months. Bring appropriate sun protection, especially for the boat rides to the dive sites, and adequate clothing, insect repellant and a small flashlight for the evenings. We also recommend bringing your own small medical kit with any prescription items you might require, including disinfectants and dressings, anti-diarrheal, motion-sickness and pain medication.
Lastly, we request you to be mindful of the dogs and the sand flies that share some of the beaches with tourists. The dogs can be aggressive on occasion, and carrying a stick with you is enough of a deterrent. For protection from the sand flies we suggest liberal amounts of insect repellant (with Deet) and lots of luck.