Planning a trip to Saint Martin's Island (St. Martin's, or Narikel Jinjira), Bangladesh's only coral island? Here's when it's open, how to get there, the rules on the island and where to stay. We run El Marena Eco Resort near Chera Dip, at the island's quiet southern end, and answer these questions every season.
Quick answers
- Where is it?
- In the Bay of Bengal off the southern tip of Bangladesh, in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar district.
- When can you go?
- Only in the tourist season the government sets. In 2025–26 it was 1 November to 31 January, with day trips only in November.
- How do you get there?
- By tourist ship from Nuniarchhara jetty in Cox's Bazar, about 5 to 6 hours each way.
- Do you need a pass?
- Yes. Last season every ship ticket carried a travel pass with a QR code.
- How many visitors?
- Up to 2,000 a day in 2025–26.
- What does it cost?
- Return ship fares from ৳3,500 per person. Our cottages start at ৳2,000 for the whole cottage.
- How long should you stay?
- One or two nights, when overnight stays are allowed, to see Chera Dip, the sunsets and the night sky.
When to visit
Saint Martin's is a government-declared Ecologically Critical Area, so each year the government decides when tourists can visit and how many can go.
In the 2025–26 season the island was open from 1 November to 31 January. November was for day trips only, overnight stays were allowed in December and January, and no more than 2,000 people could visit each day. From 1 February the island closed to tourists for nine months.
For 2026–27, the government said in October 2026 that it plans to allow more overnight stays, with new rules to follow. We'll update this guide when they're published, and you can always ask us on WhatsApp for the latest.
Weather-wise, the open months are the best time anyway: winter brings dry, sunny days, calmer seas for the crossing and cool evenings.
How to get to Saint Martin's Island
The island is only reachable by sea. This is the usual route from Dhaka or Chattogram.
- 1Get to Cox's BazarTravel to Cox's Bazar by bus, train or plane from Dhaka or Chattogram.
- 2Take the shipTourist ships leave Nuniarchhara jetty in Cox's Bazar at about 7 am and reach the island in about 5 to 6 hours. Last season, tourist ships didn't sail from Teknaf.
- 3From the jetty to the southShips dock at the island's jetty. For Chera Dip and El Marena, take a local van, rickshaw or bike south, or ask us to arrange a ride (paid).
- 4Coming backReturn ships leave the island at about 3 to 3:30 pm, so a day trip gives you only a few hours on the island.
Travel pass and ship tickets
Last season, ship tickets for Saint Martin's were sold through an online portal authorised by the Bangladesh Tourism Board. Each ticket carried a travel pass and a QR code, and a ticket without a QR code was treated as fake.
Buy only from authorised sellers, and keep your ticket with you for the whole trip. Or let us book it: send us your travel date, ship and seat type on WhatsApp, and we'll book your seats along with your stay.
Rules on the island
These were the government's rules for visitors in 2025–26:
- No lights, loud music or barbecue parties on the beach at night.
- No motorbikes, sea bikes or other motor vehicles on the beach.
- Keep out of the keya (screwpine) forest, and don't pick, buy or sell keya fruit.
- Don't harm or collect coral, turtles, birds, crabs, starfish or seaweed.
- No polythene bags. Avoid single-use plastic like chip packets, straws and small plastic bottles, and bring a refillable bottle instead.
At El Marena we grill at the resort's own barbecue spot, not on the beach, and we ask every guest to take their rubbish home.
Chera Dip, the southern tip of Bangladesh
Chera Dip (also written Chhera Dwip or Cheradip) is a cluster of small islets just off the southern end of Saint Martin's, and the southernmost point of Bangladesh. The name means “the island that broke away”.
At low tide you can walk across from the south of the island over sand and rocks; at high tide the sea cuts it off. Boats also go there from the main jetty. Check the tide times before you set out.
There's little shade and only a couple of tea stalls, so bring water, a hat and sunscreen. Staying near Chera Dip means you can go early in the morning, before the day-trippers arrive.
Where to stay on Saint Martin's
The ships come in at the jetty, the busiest part of the island. The south of the island around Chera Dip is quieter, with rocky shores, fewer people and dark, starry skies at night.
El Marena is in the south, near Chera Dip. Choose a duplex cottage for up to 4 guests (৳4,000–৳6,000), a single cottage for 2 (৳2,000–৳3,000) or a tent for 2 near the beach (৳1,000–৳1,500).
What to pack
- Your ship ticket with its QR code, and photo ID
- A refillable water bottle
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
- Sandals or water shoes for the rocky shore
- A light jacket or shawl for cool evenings
- A torch and a power bank
- Cash for vans, boats and small shops
- Any medicines you need
Saint Martin travel blog
Practical, up-to-date articles for planning a trip to Saint Martin's Island, written by the team at El Marena Eco Resort near Chera Dip.
- Chera Dip guide: the low-tide walk, boats and what to bring
- The best time to visit Saint Martin's Island: season, weather and the right days
- What a Saint Martin trip costs: ship, stay, food and ways to save
- Where to stay in Saint Martin: the jetty side or the quiet south, cottage or tent
- What to eat in Saint Martin: seafood, barbecue nights and meals at the resort
- How to go to Saint Martin's Island from Dhaka, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar
- Saint Martin ship tickets: ships, fares, timings and how to book