KARNATAKA TRAVEL GUIDE · UPDATED OCTOBER 2026
St Mary’s Island and Malpe Beach Guide: Ferry, Fares, Season and Basalt Columns
A small island group off Malpe with columns of hexagonal rock, reachable only by boat, and closed every monsoon. Here is when it is open, what the ferry costs, and how to plan a half-day from Udupi.
Quick answer: when and how to visit St Mary’s Island
Go between mid-September and mid-May, take a morning ferry from Malpe, and plan on one to two hours on the island. Public access is restricted every year from about 15 May to 15 September for the monsoon. Carry cash, water and a hat, because food and shade are limited, and check on the day that boats are running.
St Mary’s Island is a group of four small islands off the coast of Malpe in Udupi district, also known as Thonsepar, and is known for hexagonal basalt columns that Karnataka Tourism says formed millions of years ago. An Outlook Traveller report in 2025 describes the rock formations as 88 million years old; Lonely Planet says Vasco da Gama is said to have landed here in 1498, and Karnataka Tourism says he named the islands. Treat the 1498 landing as tradition and the 88 million years as one report’s figure.
This is a short trip with a big dependency on sea conditions, so the main skill is timing. The district bans entry and water sports during the monsoon, boats are operated only when enough passengers are available, and fares quoted by blogs differ. This page uses recent news for the season and older visitor guides for the ferry, and says where they conflict. For the wider Udupi trip, see our Udupi district guide and the Udupi Sri Krishna Matha guide.
St Mary’s Island at a glance
| Item | What sources say | Our reading |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Four islets off Malpe, Udupi district; boats leave from Malpe | Agreed |
| Distance | Malpe is 5 to 7 km from Udupi; Udupi station to Malpe port about 10 km; about 65 km from Mangaluru and about 60 km from Mangaluru airport | Allow 15 to 20 minutes from Udupi |
| Crossing time | About 30 minutes (Karnataka Tourism) to 45 minutes (Lonely Planet) | Plan 30 to 45 minutes each way |
| Season | Closed about 15 May to 15 September; reopened on 15 September in 2024 | Open October to early May |
| Facilities | A few coconut palms, tourism-department shelters and makeshift stalls; food is limited | Bring water and snacks |
| Overnight | Daylight visits only; overnight stays not allowed | Return the same day |
The open season and monsoon closure
Closedabout 15 May to 15 SeptemberReopened15 September in 2024AuthorityUdupi district administration
The most reliable fact here is the closure. Udayavani reports that public access to the island is restricted each year from 15 May to 15 September, and that water adventure sports are also prohibited at Malpe beach during this period. In 2025 Outlook Traveller reported a four-month ban on tourist entry that began on 16 May and ran to 15 September, with a note that visitors could wade in shallow water near the beach until 1 June if weather allowed and barricades after that. The authorities cited the safety of tourists, intensifying waves and wind speeds, unpredictable tides, and harbour craft rules that bar boat operations on the West Coast during the rainy season. Officials rejected appeals to extend boat services during the summer rush.
In 2024, the island reopened on 15 September after a cleanup that deployed 12 cutting machines to clear weeds and waste, according to Udayavani. Lonely Planet’s older note that no boats run from June to mid-October reflects the same pattern with a longer margin, and Enidhi’s guide says boats may also be suspended in heavy rain or bad weather. In short: mid-September is the official reopening, late September to early October can still be rough, and November to April is the safest window. Our Karnataka in winter and Karnataka in monsoon guides explain why the coast behaves like this.
Ferry timings, fares and the island visit
| Item | Reported | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Return ferry fare | ₹250 to ₹300 per person | ₹250 on Lonely Planet; ₹300 on a 2022 guide, which says it can reach about ₹500 on festival days and weekends |
| Boat timings | Large boats at 10:30 am and 3:30 pm, with extra trips between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm when demand is high | Udayavani, September 2024; older guides say 9 am to 5 pm |
| Minimum passengers | About 30 per large boat | Udayavani and a 2022 guide agree |
| Time on the island | One hour in 2022; two hours recommended in an older post | The older post calls the hour limit not a hard stop |
| Speed boats and private charters | Available from Malpe beach | Prices not published |
| Parking at Malpe | About ₹50 for a car | 2022 guide |
The boat leaves only when there are enough passengers, so weekends and holidays are easier than quiet weekdays. Udayavani reported that large boats in 2024 carried life jackets, life buoys, first aid kits and trained lifeguards, and that four large boats had been inspected for safety while speed-boat inspections were pending. Ask to see life jackets before you board and wear one for the whole crossing.
On the island, you will find the basalt columns, a few coconut trees, shelters built by the tourism department and a couple of makeshift stalls. A 2022 guide says earlier visitors picnicked with home-cooked food, but this is no longer described as allowed, and adds that jet-ski and boat rides are offered. Food and drink are limited, so bring water and a snack. Our own advice, not a rule from any source: keep to the rocks above the waterline, because waves can be strong, and do not swim.
Malpe beach and how to reach it
| From | How | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Udupi | Road, 5 to 7 km to Malpe | Auto, cab or city bus; confirm bus services locally |
| Udupi railway station | About 10 km to Malpe port | Cab or auto |
| Mangaluru | About 65 km by road | Plan about an hour and a half, which is our estimate |
| Mangaluru airport | About 60 km | Nearest airport |
Malpe is a working fishing harbour as well as a beach, and the ferries start from Malpe beach and the sea walk. We found little reliable detail on facilities at the beach itself, so we do not describe them, but Udayavani reports that the entrance, canteen and toilets were being repaired under the Malpe Beach Development Committee before the 2024 reopening. Water sports at Malpe are prohibited during the monsoon, so treat any water-sport plan as a November to April option and ask on arrival what is running.
If you are building a coast trip, our Mangaluru to Gokarna coastal road trip places Malpe on the route, and the beaches in Karnataka page compares it with the others. Temple travellers can add the Kollur Mookambika guide and the Murudeshwar guide.
A half-day plan and what it costs
| Time | Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Darshan or breakfast in Udupi | See our Udupi Krishna Matha guide for timings |
| 9:00 am | Reach Malpe and buy ferry tickets | Boats fill faster on weekends and mornings are calmer |
| 10:30 am | Large boat to the island | One reported scheduled departure |
| 11:15 am to 12:30 pm | Walk the basalt columns and shoreline | Allow one to two hours |
| 1:00 pm | Back at Malpe; lunch at the harbour | Plan around the return boat |
For two adults, the return ferry is roughly ₹500 to ₹600 at the reported fares, rising on festival days, plus about ₹50 for parking and food, which is our estimate at ₹300 to ₹600. A cab from Udupi will cost more than the tickets, so agree a round-trip price in advance. Add the Udupi temple visit and the trip stays a half-day outing.
Mistakes to avoid
- Planning a visit between mid-May and mid-September. Entry is restricted and boats do not run.
- Arriving on a quiet weekday afternoon and finding the boat waiting for 30 passengers.
- Expecting a beach resort island. Shade, food and facilities are limited.
- Skipping the life jacket on the crossing.
- Assuming the 2022 fare still applies. Ask before paying.
- Going on a weekend or festival day without allowing for crowds and higher fares.
St Mary’s Island: frequently asked questions
When is St Mary’s Island closed?
Public access is restricted each year from about 15 May to 15 September for the monsoon. Water sports at Malpe are also prohibited then, and the island reopened on 15 September in 2024.
How much is the ferry to St Mary’s Island?
Sources quote ₹250 to ₹300 return per person, and a 2022 guide says it can reach about ₹500 on festival days and weekends. Ask at the counter.
How long is the ferry ride?
About 30 to 45 minutes each way, depending on the source and the boat.
What are the ferry timings?
Udayavani reports large boats at 10:30 am and 3:30 pm with extra trips between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm when demand is high. A boat leaves only with about 30 passengers.
How far is St Mary’s Island from Udupi?
Malpe, where the boats leave, is 5 to 7 km from Udupi. Mangaluru is about 65 km from Malpe.
How long can I stay on the island?
A 2022 guide says one hour, while an older post recommends at least two. Ask the boat operator about the return time.
Can I stay overnight?
No. Karnataka Tourism says visits are during daylight hours only and overnight stays are not allowed.
Is food available on the island?
Only a few makeshift stalls selling snacks and drinks. Carry water and food from Malpe.
Keep exploring Karnataka
Plan the rest of the coast with our Udupi district guide, the Mangaluru district guide, the Gokarna beaches guide and the beaches in Karnataka page.
Season dates, ferry fares and timings are approximate and set by the district administration and boat operators, and several figures here come from older guides. Confirm at Malpe before you travel. Updated October 2026.