Discover Nautical & Marine Tourism at its best at Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
Raja Ampat (translated literally in English as the “Four Kings”), is a group of majestic islands, located in the northwestern tip of Indonesia’s West Papua Province, near birds head peninsula. Raja Ampat is known as one of the World’s most famous marine tourism places in Indonesia to visit. Apart from Bali, international tourists talk a lot more about Raja Ampat as a very popular place to visit.
The Raja Ampat archipelago consists of hundreds of small islands which are spread everywhere, has an area of about 46,000 km2, with a land area of 6,000 km2 and 40,000 km2 rest is ocean, and consists of 610 islands, of which four large islands are called Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo.
According to Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, the Raja Ampat archipelago is rated as the most comprehensive coral reef in the world. These distinctive green hilly island mounds, flanked by piercing turquoise waters, offer a glimpse of underwater nature that few people are even aware of. In these nutrient-rich bays you’ll find over 70 percent of the world’s coral and waterborne species and a total of 1,397 species of reef fish.
If you are lucky enough, you’ll be able to see manta rays and sea turtles around the place. You do not have to dive into the deep here to be able to enjoy the beauty of the underwater world. Simply use a snorkel and you can start swimming along the coast. The water is so clear that you can even enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery from a boat.
A variety of interesting elements make up the archipelago, such as dense forest, rare plant species, a group of exotic limestone island and turtle nests around the beach. During the breeding season, thousands of turtle appear around the coast to spawn.
Accommodation in Raja Ampat
To get to Raja Ampat’s Sorong Airport from Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia) takes 6 hours by plane.
As Raja Ampat is such a popular tourist destination, there is accomdation which ranges from bungalows to luxury cottage class. Other accommodation is loated closer to certain sights and attractions in Raja Ampat. There are many business operators who rent snorkels and other swimming or diving equipment. So you do not need to bring these items from home.
If you want to travel to Raja Ampat, you can use the services of a travel agency to help you organise your trip. There are many agencies that offer diving packages in Raja Ampat. A popular service is the houseboat. The route is usually determined in accordance with current conditions and water clarity. The peak period to visit the Raja Ampat is usually around October to December. During May to September, the sea is rather bumpy and it often rains. If you visit during June to October, you’ll be able to see groups of whales swimming in the area. You’l also be able to see a very rare species such as the walk shark and carpet shark.
