Travel & Tourism: Raja Ampat Islands, The Island of The Kings

The name of Raja Ampat comes from local mythology that tells about a woman who finds seven eggs. Four of the seven eggs hatch and become kings that occupy four of Raja Ampat biggest islands whilst the other three become a ghost, a woman, and a stone.

History shows that Raja Ampat was once a part of Tidore Kingdom, an influential kingdom from Maluku. Yet, after the Dutch invaded Maluku, it was shortly claimed by the Netherlands. The main occupation for people around this area is fishing since the area is dominated by the sea. They live in a small colony of tribes that spreads around the area. Although traditional culture still strongly exists, they are very welcoming to visitors. Their religion is dominantly Christian.

Located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, in Indonesia's West Papua province, Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo, and the smaller island of Kofiau.

Raja Ampat Regency is a new regency which separated from Sorong Regency in 2004. It encompasses more than 40,000 km² of land and sea, which also contains Cenderawasih Bay, the largest marine national park in Indonesia. It is a part of the newly named West Papua (province) of Indonesia which was formerly Irian Jaya. Some of the islands are the most northern pieces of land in the Australian continent.

As stunningly beautiful above water as it is below, Raja Ampat (which literally translates as “The Four Kings”) has a startling diversity of habitats to explore. Each of these – from the stark wave-pounded slopes that drop away beneath the karst cliffs of Wayag and Uranie to the deep, nutrient-rich bays of Mayalibit, Kabui and Aljui to the “blue water mangrove” channels of Kofiau and Gam to the plankton-rich upwelling areas of Misool and the Dampier Strait – are home to unique assemblages of species that, when taken together, add to produce the most impressive species lists ever compiled for a coral reef system of this size. Marine tourism, as a sustainable alternative to overfishing, mining, and logging, has the potential to play a key role in the conservation of Raja Ampat’s spectacular underwater realm, while also creating real benefits for the local communities. This website was designed as part of a larger effort to support the growth of sustainable marine tourism in Raja Ampat and the conservation of these magical islands.

Raja Ampat is home to many endemic species, like the ‘walking sharks’. Still today scientists travel here to find new species. Both above and below. However expect to see large numbers of schooling fish, manta rays, various species of pygmy seahorses, wobbegongs, bumphead parrot fish, giant trevally, barracuda and just about every reef fish and critter in the books. All of this is set against a vibrant backdrop of the world’s healthiest hard and soft corals. On land expect a lot of birds and other wildlife like lizards and the Cuscus – a furry marsupial that often can be spotted in the evenings.

TRAVELING TO RAJA AMPAT

The common route chosen by tourists to reach the islands of Raja Ampat is traveling by air to the town of Sorong, West Papua. When this writing is made, the aircraft landing at the airport in city of Sorong (SOQ), the flight from the city of Manado (MDC), Ambon (AMQ), Makassar (UPG), Denpasar (DPS) and direct flights from Jakarta (CKG). The airlines serving flights to Sorong city include: Sriwijaya Air, Merpati, Air Express, and Lion Air. There is no direct international flight routes to the city of Sorong.

For foreign tourists like Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, search can be made from the route connecting flight to Sorong city from Jakarta, Denpasar and Makassar. Please look at flight map carefully. From Sorong, the journey to Raja Ampat Islands is resumed by Marina Express boat, Ave Maria boat or speed boat chartering from the Pelabuhan Rakyat, the city of Sorong. Departure time for Marina Express Ferry is at 14.00 local time and the Ave Maria boat usually departs within 1-2 hours thereafter.

For those wishing to charter speedboat saling over to Raja Ampat Islands, the ideal time to get across is before 12:00 am local time or before the rising of sea water due to tidal waves. The speedboat usually smaller than the Marina Express boat makes it more sensitive to wave shock.

A special note should be obeyed by anyone who wants to sail to the Raja Ampat Islands by speedboat: if your Boat Master decides to postpone the departure of the boat due to inclement weather or a tidal rise or something else. then you must obey him. Never try negotiate or push the departure or you and your group to the boat captain. The ship master and crew operating in the waters of West Papua and the islands of Raja Ampat are professionals growing up by the nature in the waters. They have their own instinct and sensitivity of natural phenomena and weather.

 If you have the opportunity to visit Raja Ampat, you do not have to worry about seeking lodge. There are quite a few rooms for rent with varying prices. For those who travel to the islands of Raja Ampat without joining a tour package and on trip by Marina Express Ferry  from Pelabuhan Rakyat in Sorong, you will arrive at Raja Ampat in the at the city port of Waisai. Then you will just have to find lodge in the city of Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat.

Here is a list of inns, hotels and cottages available in the the city of Waisai:

1. NAJWA INDAH Inn
2. WAISAI INDAH Inn
3. MARCY Inn
4. SURYA Hotel
5. MARAS RISEN Hotel
6. NOVALIN Inn
7. CORMANSIWIN Inn
8. SINAR PALIMA Inn
9. MARANU Inn
10. Cottage ACROPURA
11. Cottage KING DOLPHIN
12. Waisai Beach Hotel
13. Phuyaka Mengge Inn 

General Information :

Name	:	Raja Ampat Regency
City	:	Waisai
Province	:	West Papua
Conutry	:	Indonesia
Time	:	GMT +9
Electricity	:	220 V (Two Pins)
Population	:	41.170 people (2008 Projection)
Number of Island	:	610
Shore Lenght	:	753 km
Major Industry	:	Tourism, Fishing & Agriculture
Language	:	Bahasa Indonesia and Traditional
Work Hour	:	09.00 - 17.00
Bank Opens	:	09.00 - 14.00
Climate and Weather	:	Tropical and Hot
Temperature	:	23,5°C - 31,2°C
Best Visiting Time	:	October - May