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 |