Green Island: ferries, the seawater hot spring and key tips

Take the ferry from Fugang harbour near Taitung: about 50 minutes, NT$560 to NT$670 one way. Stay at least two nights, so a cancelled boat doesn’t strand you. Rent an electric scooter for the 20 km loop road.

How long have you got?

• Two nights: snorkel, soak in the seawater hot spring at dusk, and visit the Human Rights park and the lighthouse.
• In winter: stay just as long, but plan on the hot spring and trails. The calm-water snorkelling at Chaikou is a summer thing.

When are you going?

• June to August: the best snorkelling at Chaikou, sheltered from the southwest monsoon.1East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
• Winter: rough seas can cancel the ferries, as on 27 January 2025.2Taiwan News (opens in a new tab)taiwannews.com.tw Keep spare days, and plan on the hot spring and trails.

Top things to do

• Zhaori Hot Spring: open-air pools fed by a seawater hot spring, one of only three in the world.Tip Wash first, and soak for no more than 15 minutes at a time.3East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
• Snorkelling: Chaikou is best from June to August, and Dabaisha works all year.Tip Dabaisha has undercurrents, so go with an instructor.4East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw Dive at Shilang only with a licensed local dive business.5East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
• Green Island Human Rights Culture Park: the former White Terror prison, open 08:00 to 17:30.Tip Wrap up in winter; the wind is strong.6East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
• Green Island Lighthouse: a 33 m white tower at Bitou Cape.Tip Keep back from the cliff edge.7East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
• Historic Mountain Trail: 1.85 km of steep steps on the old path across the island, about 90 minutes there and back.8East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw

Hidden gems

• Guanyin Cave: a stalactite cave with a stalagmite said to look like the goddess Guanyin.9East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
• Youzihu: an abandoned fishing village of coral-stone houses, near Wangong Cave and Blue Cave.Tip The lanes are narrow, so walk.10East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw

Getting there and around

• Ferry: four companies sail from Fugang to Nanliao harbour: Triumph, Green Island Star, Uranus and Golden Star. Book by phone.11East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw NT$560 one way, or NT$670 with Uranus since March 2026;12PTS (opens in a new tab)news.pts.org.tw a taxi from Taitung station to Fugang is about NT$300 to NT$350.13East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
• Plane: Daily Air flies from Taitung in 15 minutes, at 07:30, 13:00 and 16:53, returning at 08:15, 13:45 and 17:20.Tip The planes have 19 seats, so book early.14East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
• On the island: a 20 km loop road with a 40 km/h limit; electric scooters are for hire.15East Coast NSA (opens in a new tab)eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw

If it doesn’t go to plan

• Ferry cancelled? Try Daily Air, but seats are few. Typhoons and rough winter seas both stop the ferries.16Focus Taiwan (opens in a new tab)focustaiwan.twTaiwan News (opens in a new tab)taiwannews.com.tw
• Too rough to snorkel? Go to the hot spring, the Human Rights park and the trail.
• Need help? The visitor centre is on +886 89 672 026.