Out of the many, many locations around the world that claim to be a paradise, you can rarely find one that actually stands by its claim. Most will either be overrun by tourists or shops. Located at the most Eastern point of Indonesia in West Papua, Raja Ampat is different. Known as the most remote part of Indonesia, the seclusion helped Raja Ampat remained unspoiled. With pure white sand beaches, turquoise water, and untouched underwater ecosystems, Raja Ampat can rightfully call itself a paradise.
- Best time to visit
- Getting to Raja Ampat
- Where to stay – Raja Ampat Islands
- What to do in Raja Ampat
- Visa, Permits & Entry Fee 2020
- What to know before going to Raja Ampat
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Best time to visit
The best time to plan a trip and go to Raja Ampat is during dry season, which is between October to April. The weather is pleasant year-round but the underwater visibility can be affected in the rainy season (June, July, and August) with much stronger winds which makes some of the diving spots inaccessible. We were there in August and the sea was very rough when traveling by small taxi boat. It made us regret not taking the longer, but more stable ferry.
How to get to Raja Ampat
Getting to Raja Ampat is not an easy task, and perhaps that’s why it’s still not flooded with tourists. There are unfortunately no direct flights from Bali so you will have a mandatory layover of 7 hours in Makassar, before heading to Sorong.
Upon arrival in Sorong, you will either need to find a taxi or have one waiting for you to take you to the harbor. The taxi ride from Sorong airport to the ferry harbor is about 15-20 minutes and the asking price is around 100,000 Rupiah (About USD$10.00)
From there, depending on your accommodations in Raja Ampat, you will either need to take a public ferry to your desired island or have a fast boat waiting for you from your hotel.
Departures by public ferry from Sorong’s public harbor are at 9 am and 2 pm every day. The ride is roughly 2 hours. The resort we stayed at had both the taxi and the fast boat waiting for us upon arrival at the harbor
Where to stay in Raja Ampat
There are different types of accommodation you can pick for your Raja Ampat trip. There are affordable local homestays as well as more luxurious diving resorts. You can even visit these islands by living aboard a ship for a week! Each applies to a different budget and can accommodate any style of adventures you are looking for. Most accommodations in Raja Ampat will include three meals a day as there are no restaurants or shops anywhere around.
Diving Resorts
The first type of accommodation you can find in Raja Ampat are diving resorts. There are numerous resorts to choose from ranging from affordable to luxurious. We personally picked this option and spent a week in paradise at Agusta Eco Resort, located on Agusta Island.
We loved that the resort had its own private island making it even more secluded. There were only about10 people on the island at the same time as us, including the guests and locals. The communication with the owners was so easy! We booked our stay, organized the transfers, and bought our permit from them, all by email.
The beach bungalow was newly renovated and even had air conditioning which is a real luxury in Raja Ampat. The resort even has a saltwater pool on the beach to accommodate every type of traveler. The owners of the resort being Italian, the food was even more incredible and they accommodated our plant-based diet perfectly. The nights on Agusta Island were especially magical, as there was no light pollution we could see the entire galaxy.
What is amazing about Raja Ampat is that everywhere you will stay will have a beautiful underwater landscape. On every island we stopped at, we could simply jump in the water and be amazed by the ecosystems right off the jetty.
Local Homestays
The more affordable type of accommodation in Raja Ampat consists of local homestays. These homestays are usually owned by local families who lived on the island their entire lives. Keep in mind that most of them are not listed on Booking or Airbnb. You can find a list of the homestays on www.stayrajaampat.com, and make a reservation on the website directly. This will secure your booking, and you will give the payment only upon departure.
Liveaboard Trip of Raja Ampat
Many companies offer liveaboard trips in Raja Ampat from basic to luxurious liveaboard boats. These types of trips are mostly available during the dry season from October to April and offer an adventurous way of visiting this hidden gem. You will spend more time on the water, and be the first to arrive at the best diving spots every morning.
What to do in Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat, meaning the Four Kings, is composed of 4 main islands: Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool, as well as 1500 smaller islands. What makes this part of the world so unique, is the dramatic sights of the jungle-covered rocks emerging from the glimmering turquoise water. There are some beautiful hikes and culturally rich villages to visit, but the main reason people come here is for the view below the surface.
Diving/Snorkeling
The West Papua archipelago is a part of the Coral Triangle which is one of the most important and diverse reef systems in the world. This unique place houses such an incredible amount of marine life, it is known to be the equivalent of the Amazon rainforest on land. Many new species have been discovered in Raja Ampat in the past years. There is something special about a place so remote, so untouched by humans yet thriving with wildlife. Some of the best dive spots in Raja Ampat (depending on the weather and season) includes Melissa’s Garden, Manta Ridge, the Passage, and Blue Magic.
Most accommodation in Raja Ampat offers packages for diving and snorkeling. They will organize a boat and leave a couple of times a day to different diving spots bringing whichever guests want to go. You will have the chance of meeting other travelers that share the same passion as you.
Piaynemo Viewpoint
This iconic view is what made Raja Ampat become so popular in the past years. The dock and stairs to reach the viewpoint have been recently renovated making it very convenient to access. It is a must during your visit, and undoubtedly the most beautiful view in all of Raja Ampat.
Arborek Island
Not far from Piaynemo Viewpoint you can find the small Arborek Island. There is a big local community on the island making it the perfect place to learn more about the Papuan culture. There are only about 200 people living on this island permanently. You can choose to come visit Arborek as a day trip from another island or stay in one of the 10 homestays located on the island. You can easily visit Piaynemo Viewpoint from Arborek as a day trip.
Kri Island
Kri is a long narrow island covered in jungle and is also connected to Mansuar Island. Being one of the most popular and ‘busy’ islands in Raja Ampat, it’s the perfect island to meet other travelers. There are multiples homestays on Kri and most of them can be booked on www.stayrajaampat.com/accommodation. Is it one of the only place in Raja Ampat where you could arrive on the island without a reservation and find a room. Kri is known to have beautiful snorkeling right off the island.
Rufus Island
A 30 minutes boat ride from Piaynemo will bring you to Rufus Island. What makes this small island special, is the massive turquoise lagoon in the middle. A small (but steep) 5 minutes hike will lead you to a wooden platform built on the highest point of the island.
From this viewpoint, you can admire the lagoon from a new angle. We had a quick coffee break with our boat and took the occasions to take a couple of pictures. We could have spent a full day relaxing here.
Visa, Permits & Entry Fee
Being such a protected area, everybody who wants to visit Raja Ampat needs to come prepared, and be fully aware of all the costs that come with such a destination.
The ‘Tariff to support environmental services in Raja Ampat ’ costs 700 000 IDR ($50) for international visitors and 425 000 IDR ($30) for Indonesian residents. The permit is valid for a full year, and children under 12 years of age do not need a permit! The plastic card will have your name, nationality, passport number as well as the expiration date on it. This tariff is directed towards community conservation, development programs, and administration. You can purchase it in Sorong and in Waisai at the UPTD office. In our case, our hotel made it for us before our arrival to facilitate the transfers.
The ‘Raja Ampat Entry Visitor Ticket’ is a new ticket that has been put in place in December 2019. The price varies on the destination you choose to visit during your stay. There is a different price associated with each point of interest in Raja Ampat, varying from 20 000 to 200 000 IDR ($2-$20). You can buy this ticket at the Regency Tourism Office Desk in Waisai.
In some locations, you might be asked for the ‘Local Entry Fee’ by local communities. It’s important to know that the local communities do not get a big part of the funds generated by the entry fee. Hence, are not able to improve their infrastructures and lifestyle with it. Perhaps now that the tourism office has updated their prices it will get better, but for the moment we can only pay the local entry fee with a smile!
What to know before going to Raja Ampat
- Consider bringing your own snorkeling gear as some rental places do not offer quality gears. Don’t forget your underwater camera, as the most beautiful sights of Raja Ampat are all below the surface.
- Be mindful about the type of sunscreen you are using. This is always important, but it becomes the number one priority in an untouched paradise like Raja Ampat. The variety of fish and coral found and its water is so diverse we must be mindful about what we put in the water.
- Most places will not accept credit card so don’t forget to bring a lot of cash to cover all your expenses, transfers, and meals. Always keep in mind that the gas is very expensive in Raja Ampat, hence why the boat transfers are expensive.
- You should think about bringing some snacks with you. Your accommodations will provide you with three daily meals but you might get hungry after an afternoon dive.
- The internet connection is very weak. Some islands such as Kri and Arborek do get a minimal connection. For that, we suggest buying a sim card at the airport in Sorong when you arrive as your Bali sim card will not work in Raja Ampat!
Raja Ampat is still not a touristy place but it is becoming more popular every year. Please be respectful to conserve this piece of paradise intact and try to leave the place exactly how you found it. Keeping this special place a paradise is a group effort, but one we should all try to make so generations to come can explore the islands of the Four Kings
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