A day trip to Kusu Island gives you enough time to take in the islands highlights and it’s small enough to explore on foot. Visit the sacred Chinese Da Bo Gong Temple to discover the island’s rich spiritual heritage, then climb up to the three hilltop shrines and drop a coin in the wishing well. Wildlife enthusiasts can watch the island’s namesake animals in their natural environment at the Tortoise Sanctuary, or perhaps spot wild turtles as you swim, snorkel, or kayak around the coast. Don’t forget your swimsuit—the island has a number of swimming lagoons and beaches to enjoy.
Kusu island is located about 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) off the south coast of Singapore. Public ferries run to the island twice daily on weekdays and four times a day on weekends. Ferries leave from Marina South Pier on the mainland and stop at both St John’s Island and Kusu Island; an about 1-hour total journey.
It’s possible to visit the island year-round, but by far the busiest month is during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese year (typically between September and November). Thousands of pilgrims head over to visit the island’s sacred temples as part of the annual Kusu Pilgrimage.
Singapore’s islands offer plenty of ways to escape the crowds and enjoy a day outside the city. Most famous is Sentosa Island, just south of downtown Singapore and packed with attractions such as Universal Studios, the S.E.A Aquarium, and Tanjong Beach. Off the northeast coast, the rocky shores of Pulau Ubin are ideal for trekking and biking; to the south, Pulau Hantu offers excellent snorkeling; while wildlife enthusiasts should head to the remote Pulau Semakau, where sightings include the Great-billed Heron.
