Raja Ampat: West Papua's Ultimate Pristine Paradise

Far from the view-blocking skyscrapers, dense and hectic concrete jungles, congested traffics, flickering electric billboards, endless annoying noises, and all the annoyances of modern cities, you will find a pristine paradise where Mother Nature and warm, friendly people welcome you with all the amazing wonders in Raja Ampat, the islands-regency in West Papua Province. With all of the fantastic treasures above and beyond its waterways, on land, and amidst the dense jungles, this is where adjectives like lovely, captivating, wonderful, and exciting take on physical meaning.

The Emperor of Four

Raja Ampat, or The Four Kings,' is an archipelago consisting of over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool. It is located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on Papua, the most eastern island of the Indonesian Archipelago. The name Raja Ampat is thought to arise from mythology in which a woman found seven eggs, four of which hatched and became the kings of the four main islands, while the other three became a woman, a ghost, and a stone.

Raja Ampat has some of the world's best diving opportunities. The territory within the Four Kings' islands is vast, consisting of 9.8 million acres of land and sea and home to 540 different corals, over 1,000 different types of coral fish, and 700 mollusks. This makes it the most diverse living library for the world's coral reefs and underwater biota.

According to research by The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, almost 75% of the world's species live here! Raja Ampat's abundance and diversity of marine life, as well as its vast unspoiled coral reef systems, make it a scuba diver's dream - and a superb snorkeling destination.

As you begin your dive here, the phrase "attention to detail" takes on new meaning as pigmy seahorses swim around your fingertips. Manta rays and wobbegongs will glide right past you. Schools of tuna, big trevallies, snappers, batfish, and even barracudas round out your underwater "meeting list." Not to mention the dugong's friendly assistant and the turtle's busy coworker. Giant sea clams extending over a meter in length offer a one-of-a-kind close encounter sensation on the sea floor.

There are numerous diving and snorkeling places to select from in these vast waters. Among these are the Kabui Passage (the tiny passage between Waigeo and Gam Island traversed by the great British explorer Alfred Russell Wallace in 1860), the Arborek Island Dock, Sawandarek, Yenbuba, Friwen Wall, and many others.

While the underwater splendors are magnificent, the scenery above the surface is as so. The granite islands in Piaynemo offer some of the most stunning scenery as if they were meticulously constructed and put with such elegance. Looking down from the top of the hill, it nearly appears that Mother Nature created her most OK artwork and offers a glimpse of paradise. Wayag Island also has an impressive rock islet structure on a larger scale.

The magnificent fauna of Raja Ampat does not end underwater. Various bird species, notably the beautiful Cendrawasih or Bird of Paradise, can still be found among the islands' dense jungles. There is also an endemic cuscus species, the Waigeou cuscus or Waigeou spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus papuensis), a marsupial in the Phalangeridae family.

The Local Environment

Aside from its limitless intriguing natural charms, Raja Ampat also offers the particular hospitality of the Papuans. At the Arborek Tourism Village, you can stay in various homestays and mingle with the residents while observing their everyday lives and unique traditions. When a party of visitors arrives, they usually do a traditional welcome dance at the pier and entertain the 'guests' with various Papuan folk music.

Raja Ampat delivers the ultimate experience, with all of its stunning treasures inland, on the shore, and beyond the oceans, and a distinct tranquil ambiance that you rarely encounter anywhere else on the planet.

So, whether you are an avid diver, an occasional snorkeler, or simply someone who appreciates beauty in all forms, Raja Ampat invites you to Heaven on Earth.

Get Here

To go to Raja Ampat, take an aircraft from Jakarta or Makassar to Sorong. There are small planes that will transport you to Waisai, the capital of the Raja Ampat region, or you can take a boat from Sorong port to the islands.

Marinda Airport in Waisai, Raja Ampat Regency's capital town, opened in 2012 and handled flights to and from Sorong. Wings Air operated daily flights between Sorong and Raja Ampat, while Susi Air operated flights twice a week on Monday and Saturday. Please be aware that Marinda Airport is still under construction and somewhat distant from any facilities. Pack some food and drinks as you wait for your return flights to Sorong.

Some ferries run between Sorong and Waisai. The ferry ride will last between two and three hours.

The Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong services flights to a variety of major cities in Papua and Indonesia, including Manokwari, Jayapura, Ambon, Makassar, Manado, and Jakarta.

Garuda Indonesia o

There are daily flights from Jakarta to Sorong, as do Sriwijaya Air and Nam Air, while Batik Air flies twice daily between Jakarta and Sorong.

 

 

Image source :  https://pixabay.com/id/photos/piaynemo-raja-ampat-indonesia-2614341/

Article source : https://www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/destinations/maluku-papua/raja-ampat