Going on vacation to an island can be very exciting; it’s even more exciting when you are going to explore one that’s uninhabited. This type of island has few or no man-made structures, and is often part of a national park. Trips to them are considered a side activity while on a vacation on a neighboring island, for example, vacationing on Grand Cayman and visiting Owen Island in the Cayman Islands. You would still need to go through customs and immigration to get to the main island (or country). You must also have valid travel documents and any required vaccinations. To travel to a deserted island, you should:
Secure transportation — You will need to secure transportation to these islands via a small plane or boat. It can be arranged by the hotel you are staying or by the travel agency used to book the trip. Be aware that rates for seaplanes vary and the schedules can be unpredictable.
Bring Food — Many have lunch while relaxing on the beach. While some islands do not permit certain foods to be brought to the main island, the uninhabited ones have even more strict restrictions because they are home to various species or are used for farming (e.g. the Maldives). The food that is allowed would be from your hotel. That said, there are also strict cleanup regulations to keep the island pristine.
Check the Local Laws — Depending on the government that owns the uninhabited island, you will need to abide by the local laws, such as wearing the proper clothing (e.g. no bikinis in the Maldives), what areas are restricted (e.g. climbing Ball’s Pyramid) and what plants you can touch. The flora and fauna of these uninhabited islands are very delicate and are not to be trampled on or removed, so as not to disturb the habitat. Many of the popular islands do not permit travelers to bring live plants or plant cuttings for this very reason.
Visiting these islands is a wonderful opportunity to experience nature in its purest form. What you often don’t need anymore is a restricted area permit (RAP). RAPs were once required to visit 11 islands in the Andamans, an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. The removal of the permit requirement by the Indian government was intended to boost tourism, and the threat to the Andaman habitats was deemed minimal.
