Xiaoliuqiu may be the best tropical island vacation getaway in Taiwan. Despite this, the only way for tourists to get to Xiaoliuqiu (Lamay Island) is via a 15 to 30-minute ferry ride. Many ferries travel to and from the island daily, and there are two ports to choose from. The whole process may seem complicated, but in this guide, we will make traveling to Xiaoliuqiu via ferry easy for you.
I have travelled to Xiaoliuqiu over ten times (over 20 ferry trips) and I have spent over a month on the island. There are a few things I wished I had known earlier in regards to taking the ferry that would have made the trips easier, which is why I have created this guide.
Taiwan to Xiaoliuqiu 台灣到小琉球
There are only two choices when traveling to Xiaoliuqiu:
Ferry from Donggang Harbor (東港漁港) to Baishawei Harbor (白沙尾漁港) on Xiaoliuqiu:
- Price: 450 NT
- Total travel time: 25 minute trip
- Boats leave about every 30 minutes
- The first boat leaves at about 7:00 AM and the last boat leaves at about 4:30 PM.
Ferry from Yanpu Harbor (鹽埔漁港) in Pingtung to Dafu Harbor (大福漁港) on Xiaoliuqiu:
- Price: 450 NT
- Total travel time: 25 minutes
- Boats leave about every two hours
- The first boat leaves at about 8:00 AM and the last boat leaves at about 4:50 PM.
For both routes, sometimes additional ferries are added during holidays, sometimes ferries are cancelled due to Typhoons or bad weather, and sometimes the ferry schedules will change.
Map
The map above shows the four ferry harbors in this blog: Yanpu Harbor (鹽埔漁港) in Pingtung to Dafu Harbor (大福漁港) in Red and Donggang Harbor (東港漁港) to Baishawei Harbor (白沙尾漁港) in blue.
How to Buy Ferry Tickets to Xiaoliuqiu (怎麼買傳票去小琉球):
There are a few ways to buy ferry tickets:
- Klook: (Click here for Yanpu to Dafu, Click here for Donggang to Baishawei)
- KKday: (Click here for Yanpu to Dafu, Click here for Donggang to Baishawei)
- Trip.com: (Click here for Donggang to Baishawei)
- Dongliu Company’s Website: (Donggang to Baishawei). The website has an English version.
- Leuco Sapphire Shipping: (Donggang to Baishawei). The website has an English version.
- TF Express Website: (Donggang to Baishawei). The website is in Chinese only.
- Liuxin Website (Public Ferry): (Donggang to Baishawei). The website is in Chinese only.
- Dafu Company’s Website: (Yanpu to Dafu). The website is in Chinese only.
- Book through your Hotel/Hostel owner
- Buy tickets in person at the counter (credit cards are accepted)
We recommend buying through Klook and KKday because they sell tickets at a discount, for quite a bit cheaper than buying through the company website or the counter. The biggest discount, or cheapest ticket, is the Yanpu to Dafu route via Klook or KKday.
Xiaoliuqiu Ferry Schedules
Once you have bought your tickets, you can use it for any time that a boat leaves for the particular company you bought it from. Here is a rough guide to Ferry times to Xiaoliuqiu:
Donggang Harbor 東港漁港
- Boats leave about every 30 minutes until 4:30 PM. There are four companies that operate here, so there are lots of options.
- The first boat leaves at about 7:00 AM and the last boats leave at about 4:30 PM. After that, the public Ferry has one boat that leaves at about 6:45 PM.
- For current ferry schedules and exact times, please check the following websites: Dongliu Company’s Website,
- Leuco Sapphire Shipping, TF Express Website and Liuxin Website (Public Ferry).
Yanpu Harbor 鹽埔漁港
- Boats leave about every two hours.
There is only one ferry company so if you miss the boat, you will have to wait a long time and it may be faster to go over to Donggang Harbor which is only about a 30 minute walk. - The first boat leaves at about 8:00 AM and the last boat leaves at about 4:50 PM.
- For current ferry schedules and exact times, please check Dafu Company’s Website.
Ferry schedules change all the time, so I will not be posting current Ferry Scheudles for fear that the info will become outdated and therefore giving you all the wrong info.
For the lastest ferry schedules, check out the websites of each of the ferry companies listed above.
Donggang Harbor 東港漁港
Donggang Harbor is the busiest harbor and has four ferry companies, meaning that there is usually a boat leaving every couple of minutes. Lots of times I have gone to buy a ticket without booking in advance and have been able to get on a boat in less than 15 minutes. Also nearby there are lots of food options such as Huaqiao Seafood Market. However, if you are driving a car, traffic is a nightmare and there is no overnight parking at the peir. The nearest parking is about 120 NT per day and can get full on holidays and weekends.
How to get to Donggang:
By Car/Scooter: Take Provincial Highway 17 south to Donggang and turn into the city center. The harbor is in the western part of the city. There is free scooter parking and paid car parking at the fishing harbor (30 NT per car), but the fishing harbor does not allow overnight parking.
You can also send your scooter there and back for about 300 NT.
Looking for scooter rental in Pingtung? Click here or here to search for options.
You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By TRA/bus: From Nanzhou TRA station, you can take bus 519 about 20 minutes to the seafood market. You can book book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. You can book tickets to travel to Pingtung via inter-city bus on Klook here.
By HSR/bus: The fastest way to get to Xiaoliuqiu from Taipei is via HSR. However the closest HSR station is in Zuoying, Kahosiung, so you need to take a shuttle bus or taxi to get to the ferry terminal.
You can book tickets to Kaohsiung via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, and then take a shuttle bus.
You can book a shuttle bus from Zuoying HSR Station to Donggang on Klook here or KKday here. The ride takes about an hour.
By Taxi: From Zuoying HSR Station, there are many taxis available that can take you to Dongang. Per my experience, sometimes they give you a discount if you can share a taxi with some other strangers. You can also charter a private vehicel on Klook here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy.
You can ship a bicycle to Xiaoliuqiu for about 100 NT per round trip on the ferry.
There are not many bicycle rental options on Xiaoliuqiu besides electric scooters, so it may be easier to rent a bike in Donggang and ship it over. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.
Map
More Photos of Donggang Harbor:
The fastest boat to Xiaoliuqiu is the Feima No. 3, which is a catamaran. It only runs throng Dongliu. The ride only takes 15 minutes on this thing, and it is smooth. It’s really the best way to get to Xiaoliuqiu. You can book it on Klook here.
I have also taken TF express before which is a good company and has lots of options. Their boats are yellow.
Leuco is a new company that just opened recently. Their boats are blue.
Another view of the front entrance to the Donggang Harbor.
Right next to TF, you can find Liuxing which is the public ferry that has the latest trip to Xiaoliuqiu at about 6:45 PM. If the boat gets full on a holiday, they may add an extra boat, but no guarentees there.
After you get a ticket from the counter, you need to walk onto the peir and get on a boat.
Donggang Huaqiao Seafood Market 東港華僑魚市場
Donggang’s Huaqiao Seafood Market is a popular place to shop and eat in Dongang Township of Pingtung. It is also right next to the ferry terminal to Xiaoliuqiu (Lamay Island) which is just a few kilometers offshore. Because of this, the seafood market is usually packed with people. Popular foods here include sashimi, fried fish balls, oyster omelets, and crab cakes. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Pingtung, or on the way to Xiaoliuqiu. Check out our full blog on this market here.
Yanpu Harbor 鹽埔漁港
Yanpu sits opposite Donggang just across the river. The harbor here is more spacious and less busy, but there are less boats. There is only one company here: Dafu, and it connects with Dafu Harbor in Xiaoliuqiu which is also a less busy harbor. Besides 7-11 there are not many food options around. However the best part about this harbor is there is tons of free parking nearby which is great if you are driving a car (parking can cost 100-200 NT a day near Donggang harbor).
How to get to Yanpu Harbor:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 17 south to Donggang and turn into the city center. The harbor is in the western part of the city. There is free scooter parking and paid car parking at the fishing harbor (30 NT per car), but the fishing harbor does not allow overnight parking.
Yanpu Harbor does not allow you to ship scooters.
Looking for scooter rental in Pingtung? Click here or here to search for options.
You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By TRA/bus: From Nanzhou TRA station, you can take bus 519 about 20 minutes to the seafood market. You can book book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. You can book tickets to travel to Pingtung via inter-city bus on Klook here.
By HSR/bus: The fastest way to get to Xiaoliuqiu from Taipei is via HSR. However the closest HSR station is in Zuoying, Kahosiung, so you need to take a shuttle bus or taxi to get to the ferry terminal.
You can book tickets to Kaohsiung via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, and then take a shuttle bus.
You can book a shuttle bus from Zuoying HSR Station to Donggang on Klook here or KKday here. The ride takes about an hour.
By Taxi: From Zuoying HSR Station, there are many taxis available that can take you to Dongang. Per my experience, sometimes they give you a discount if you can share a taxi with some other strangers. You can also charter a private vehicel on Klook here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy.
You can ship a bicycle to Xiaoliuqiu for about 100 NT per round trip on the ferry.
There are not many bicycle rental options on Xiaoliuqiu besides electric scooters, so it may be easier to rent a bike in Donggang and ship it over. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.
Map
Photos of Yanpu Harbor:
The main service area inside is beatiful. The building is newly contstructed and very spacious.
There is a small parking lot in front of the peir that can fill up quckly. However, there is also plenty of free parking nearby on the side of the road.
You can buy your tickets here or exchange tickets that you bought on Klook or KKday.
There is also a 7-11 here which is pretty much the only place to buy food.
Map of the area.
The new peir building is beautiful and you can walk to the top and enjoy the views.
You can go to the roof here and enjoy views of Xiaoliuqiu and the surrounding area.
View toward Xiaoliuqiu.
View from Yanpu Harbor looking toward Donggang.
There is also a sand pit and a coffee shop on the second floor here.
This is a photo of the old Dafu Peir on the north side of the harbor. Do not go to this side of the harbor; it has shut down. Go to the new place. However, there is plenty of free parking on this side of the harbor.
You can check out more photos of Yanpu Harbor in the gallery below.
Which is Better the better harbor, Donggang or Yanpu? 東港或鹽埔，哪個比較好？
There are benefits to both. It all depends on you travel needs.
| Donggang 東港 | Yanpu 鹽埔 | |
| Car Parking | There is no overnight parking at Donggang. | There is a lot of parking nearby that is overnight. |
| Scooter Rental | More scooter rental options over at Baishawei. | Only one scooter rental place at Dafu. |
| Public Transportation | More | Less |
| Food Options | Lots of food options such as Donggang Huaqiao Seafood Market | Just 7-11 |
| Close to hostel | Depends. If your hostel is close to Baishawei Harbor in Xiaoliuqiu, then this is a good option. | Depends. If your hostel is close to Dafu Harbor in Xiaoliuqiu, then this is a good option. |
| Ferry Options | There are four ferry companies that leave every few minutes, and the last ship leaves at 6:45 PM. | There is only one ferry company and ferries leave about every two hours. |
My opinion: Personally I prefer Yanpu Harbor because I always drive a car and I like the free parking. It is also nice to avoid the traffic and the crowds. However I wish there were more food options there. If you are not driving a car there, just go to Donggang because it is better in almost every other way.
Scooter Rental in Xiaoliuqiu 在小琉球租機車
Shipping Your Scooter:
If you have your own scooter or rented a scooter in Taiwan, you can ship your scooter to Xiaoliuqiu for about 300 NT per round trip on the Dongliu (eastern Donggang – Baishawei) Line. You can’t ship a scooter using Dafu (Yanpu to Dafu).
Looking for scooter rental in Pingtung? Check out Klook here or KKday here to search for options.
You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
Gas Scooters:
Price: expect 300-400 NT per day.
You can book a scooter for a discount through Klook here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
In general you will need a local scooter license or international driving permit (IDP), however if you don’t have these it may still be possible to rent a gas scooter from a friendly scooter rental shop.
Be sure to book your rental in advance, especially during summer weekends. Ask for help from your hostel owner if needed.
Helmet wearing is not very much enforced, but it’s still the law, and you should definitely wear one for your own safety.
Electric Scooters:
If you do not have a local scooter license or international driving permit (IDP), then you can still rent an electric scooter to get yourself around the island. Electric scooters do not require a license in Taiwan.
You can book an electric scooter on Klook here or KKday here and here.
Where to rent scooters:
Most of the scooter rental shops are located in front of Baishawei Harbor. However there is also one scooter shop in front of Dafu Harbor.
Bicycle Rental in Xiaoliuqiu 在小琉球租自行車:
Riding a bike can be a great way to circle Xiaoliuqiu. You can circle the entire island is less than an hour.
You can ship a bicycle to Xiaoliuqiu for about 100 NT per round trip on the ferry.
There are not many bicycle rental options on Xiaoliuqiu besides electric scooters, so it may be easier to rent a bike in Donggang and ship it over. Usually bicycle rentals are only about 100-200 NT per day. You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here.
You can book an electric scooter on Klook here or KKday here and here.
You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.
Where to stay in Xiaoliuqiu 小琉球應要訂哪個住宿
Booking accommodation on the island can be difficult in summer months and on weekends, when rooms can be fully booked for months in advance.
Some places we have stayed at that I recommend are Yujing 6.8, which is a four story house near Dafu Harbor (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), Boliu B&B (柏琉民宿) which is also a nice newly renovated hostel right on the main street near lots of restaurants (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), Haichan Hostel which is a traditional three-sided Taiwanese mansion near the beach (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), and Baisha Bay B&B which is a great place near the main harbor that is only one story so there are no stairs (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). All of the owners of these places were very helpful, and even helped me to move my luggage and rent scooters.
Some hostels require that you pay for my room in advance via bank wire transfer (this may not be an option if you are a foreign traveler, so make sure they accept credit cards if you do not have a Taiwan bank account), but you should not have to do this if you book through Agoda or another hotel booking site.
Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
Getting from Xiaoliuqiu to Taiwan 小琉球到台灣
Getting to Xiaoliuqiu is fast. The ride takes only 25 minutes, or 15 minutes on a fast ship. There is really not enough time to get seasick no matter how bad the waves are. That is what makes Xiaoliuqiu the best and most convenient island getaway in Taiwan.
Baishawei Harbor 白沙尾漁港
If you took a boat from Donggang, you will arrive at Baishawei Harbor, which is the busiest harbor on Xiaoliuqiu. Here you can find the most food options, hostels, and scooter rentals.
How to get there
Baishawei Harbor is hard to miss. It is the busiest harbor on the island and near where most of the food options are. I suggest renting a scooter to get around the island and get back to the peir in time.
There are lots of scooter rental shops right in front of the harbor.
Map
360 Panorama
A 360 degree view of Zhong’ao Beach in Xiaoliuqiu, it’s the most accessible and largest sandy beach on the island. It’s…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Check out our panorama of the area above Zhong Ao Beach on the south side of the harbor.
More Photos of Baishawei Harbor
This is where most people get off the boat.
Depending on which company you chose, you may have to line up here for the journey back.
For Dongliu, this is where you line up to get back. There are public bathrooms here and on the boats.
Here you line up to get on the boat or ride you scooter onto the boat.
Dafu Harbor (大福漁港)
Dafu Harbor is a more spacious and less busy harbor than Baishawei. There is only one scooter rental place here and limited food options. However this can be a good spot for travel if your hostel is nearby.
How to get there
Again, Dafu Harbor is hard to miss. It is the biggest harbor on the island and near the only gas station. I suggest renting a scooter to get around the island and get back to the peir in time.
There is one scooter rental shop up the hill right in front of the harbor.
Map
360 Panorama
360 degree aerial view from the Feixing Coast 飛行海灘 on Xiaoliuqiu near Dafu Harbor. This is a secret spot with some of the best snorkeling and clearest water near the island. 🏝️ 🤿
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Sunday, August 18, 2024
You can check out our 360 degree panorama to the east of the harbor here.
More photos of Dafu Harbor
There is one scooter rental place just up this hill, which makes renting a scooter easy. However, be sure to book in adance on weekends and holidays.
The interior of the ferry hub is large, spacious, and free of people. There is also a small library and play area for kids on the second floor.
You can buy your tickets here or exchange tickets that you bought on Klook or KKday.
There is also a small duty free shop here.
Dafu Harbor is also beautiful and includes these newly painted murals.
View of a ferry coming in to Dafu Harbor.
Aerial view of Dafu Harbor.
Right near the harbor are also some awesome snorkeling spots.
I found this herd of sea turtles right next to the harbor.
Which is the better Harbor, Dafu or Baishawei? 白沙尾或大福哪個比較好？
| Baishawei 白沙尾 | Dafu 大福 | |
| Car Parking | Limited scooter parking, and you can get a ticket if you park on a red line. | Lots of parking. |
| Scooter Rental | More scooter rental options over at Baishawei. | Only one scooter rental place at Dafu. |
| Fun Activities Nearby | There are lots of fun places nearby such as Zhong Ao Beach and Flower Vase Rock. | Nearby you can find secret snorkeling spots and Xiaoliuqiu’s natural swimming pool. |
| Food Options | Lots of food options such as Donggang Huaqiao Seafood Market | Just 7-11 |
| Close to hostel | Depends. If your hostel is close to Baishawei Harbor in Xiaoliuqiu, then this is a good option. | Depends. If your hostel is close to Dafu Harbor in Xiaoliuqiu, then this is a good option. |
Other Activities in Xiaoliuqiu 小琉球的其他活動
Snorkeling: about 300 NT per hour
Scuba diving: around 2500 NT for 2-3 hours
SUP experience: About 1000 NT for half a day.
Kayak Sailing experience: about 2000 NT for 2 hours.
Submarine adventure: about 2000 NT.
You can purchase a tickets at through your hostel or through a tour agency such as Klook here or here, or KKday.
Frequently Asked Questions 常見問題:
Q: When should I arrive at the harbor:
A: 30 minutes before your desired departure.
Q: What if a typhoon is approaching?
A: Please check the ferry websites above to see if there are any cancellations or call them.
Q: Can you pick seats on the ferry?
A: Seats are first-come, first served.
Q: How can I prevent seasickness?
A: The trip is short so you should not get seasick. However you can take seasick pills, or if you have kids you can give them oranges or ginger which can help. Standing on the back of the open in the open air can also help prevent seasickness. I prefer to stand at the back of the boat and enjoy the scenery.
You can also check out Freedive Nomad’s Xiaoliuqiu Ferry Guide here.
You can check out our full guide to Xiaoliuqiu here.
Best time to go?
The best time to go is either in the spring or fall. The weather is great year round. The summer will be warmer but there will also be more crowds. The winter may be too cold to enjoy the water.