Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Raja Ampat

Article / 04 January 2018

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Speaking of holiday destinations, we can all agree that Indonesia is one of the countries that offer the most exotic holiday destinations in the world. With thousands of archipelagos from Sabang to Merauke, it’s not hard to find breathtaking views in Indonesia. One of them is Raja Ampat, which has four mountainous main islands: Batanta Island, Salwati Island, Misool Island, and Waigeo Island.

Raja Ampat has become a popular destination among local and international surfers. It’s not exaggerating to say that Raja Ampat is referred to as an underwater paradise. Underneath the clear blue sea, you’ll find the biodiversity of the coral reef as well as other sea species. There are so many things to explore in Raja Ampat. So, before you go there, here are some important things you need to know.

Learn How to Get to Raja Ampat

You can’t go to Raja Ampat by using a direct flight. Wherever you depart from, you need to fly to Sorong first. Once you arrive at the Sorong airport, you’ll have to go to the harbor and continue the journey using a boat to get to Waisai. You can rent a car or ride a public transportation from the airport to the harbor.
There are two types of boats you can choose to get to Raja Ampat: fast boat and slow boat. The slow boat is usually 30,000 IDR cheaper than the fast boat. But if you want to save time, it’s better to ride the fast boat, which costs around 150,000 IDR. The entire journey might make you tired, but it will all be worth it once you see the amazing view at Raja Ampat.

Explore the Sea and the Historical Sites

Raja Ampat is well-known for its spectacular sea creatures and biodiversity. But if you want to have an anti-mainstream experience at Raja Ampat, you can explore its historical sites around the islands. In Misool Island, you’ll find some historical trails in form of a hand stamp. This stamp of hand has existed since 50 years ago. More interestingly, unlike other historical trails that are often found on a cave wall, that hand stamp is found on a rock wall, which location is very close to sea level.

Get to Know the Local Culture

One of many interesting things you must do when traveling to Raja Ampat is learning about its local culture. The best way to do this is by interacting with the local people. Most people in Raja Ampat work as a fisher and they really like areca nut. They usually eat areca nut as a snack while they’re hanging out with each other. So, if you want to get to know them better, you can bring areca nut for them. Don’t be afraid to start a conversation because they are very kind and friendly.

September-April: Best Time to Travel to Raja Ampat

Everyone knows that Raja Ampat is beautiful, but when exactly you should travel there so that you can enjoy as much beauty as possible? September to April is the best period to go to Raja Ampat. During this time, the weather is perfect for traveling. Besides, the tides are relatively safe so you can swim, snorkel, or dive without any worries. If you go to Raja Ampat around September-April instead, the sea wave is usually bigger thus it will be risky to sail the sea from Sorong to Waisai.

If you still want to know more about Raja Ampat, Danamon and Erix Soekamti had made an interactive video Pegang Kendali Raja Ampat. Through this video, you can explore Raja Ampat as much as you want, whether it’s culinary, enjoy the beauty of its coral reef, or go trekking around the islands. Check the video on this link below! #SaatnyaPegangKendali