South Waigeo around the Dampier Strait (Saonek-Gam-Mansuar)
Waigeo is the largest island in Raja Ampat. The central part is covered by forest across the lower foot hills and mountains below 1,000 m. The island is consis to flime stone, magma and volcanic. There are three endemic species living in Raja Ampat, they are: Maleo Waigeo (Aepypodius Bruijnii), Cendrawasih Merah (Paradisea Rubra) and cendrawasih Botak (Cicinnurus Respublica). Capital region of Raja Ampat is Waisai, as a center of various tourism supporting infrastructure such asaccommodation, meals, transportation, banks and others. Tourism is growing rapidly, especially for diving tourism In the southern part of Waigeo at around Dampier Strait, including on the island of Gamand Mansuar. However, this regional so presents a variety of tourist attractions for non-diving activities. The various locations are as follows:
Saonek Island
Small islands with clean and beautiful white sand, has a neatly arranged little village. The tourists will find the home industry of salted fish, snorkeling and enjoying the sunrise and sunset. Saonek Island can be reached in 10 minutes from Waiwo or Waisai by boat consist of two 40 HP engine. Facilities of hotels and resorts can be found on the island of Waigeo, butif you want to stay in Saonek, there are several homestay owned by the local community.
Mioskon Island
This small island has beautiful scenery and often fulfilled by big bats that flying at dusk. There is no settlement on this island, it can be reached in 30 minutes from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine.
Friwen Island
Small island with its beautiful white sand and a place to see the endemic birds of red paradise (cendrawasih Merah). Friwen can be reached in 15 minutes from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine.
Yenbeser
Located on the island of Gam, can be reached in 15 minutes from Waisai by boat consist of two 40 HP engine. The tourists can see beautiful scenery, mangrove and do snorkeling.
Teluk Kabui (Kabui Bay)
It is aquite wide bay located between the island and of Gam and Waigeo, filled with coral islands of varioussizes. In the shallow parts, clear sea will be seen when sunlight shine on it. Kayaking is suitable to be closer enjoying the natural atmosphere. Nearby Kabui, there is acave in the cliff and when low tide it will expose several human skulls scattered there. In the western part of the bay, a narrow canal like ariver flow splitting between the islands of Gamand Waigeo presents its own uniqueness. Kabui bay can be reached within 30 minutes from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine.
Arborek Island
Besides the beautiful white sand beach, there is atourist village, Arborek, which is famous with its handcraft that produce hatsor the noken bag. There are several homestay shere that allow tourists to stay. Arborek can be reached within 45 minutes from Waisai by boat consists of 40 HP engine.
Sawinggrai
Sawinggrai Tourism Village is located on the island of Gam with the main attraction is to feed the fish by hand from the village jetty and bird watching of cendrawasih merah in Bukit Manjai. Bird watching is carried outin the morning between of 7 a.m. to 9a.m. or in the afternoon from 4p.m. to 5p.m. Tourists can stay in the village because there are homestay facilities. It can be reached within 30 minutes from Waisai by boat consists of 40 HP engine.
Yenwaubnor
Other tourist village on the island of Gam with the beautiful white sand beach. There is also bird watching of cenderawasih merah. The village can be reached within 30 minutes from Waisai by boat consists of 40 HP engine.
Sauwandarek
A Tourist village in Mansuar island with its white sand Beach and beautiful clear blue sea. How people making woven hats and bags can be seen in this village, visitors can also feeding fish in the sea from the jetty or visit the small salty water lake named Yenauwyau. It can be reached in 30 minutes from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine. Embossed Sand, Kri Island (Pasir Timbul Pulau Kri) The spread out of beautiful white sand can be found near the island of Kri as if emerging from the clear blue sea at low tide. Besides its beautiful scenery, also can be seen groups of sea birds playing on the sand. This place is also an excellent snorkeling location with various kinds of fish that can be found. It can be reached in 15 minutes from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine. There are near by accommodation facilities such as diving-resorts.
Pianemo
Pianemo, also known as Panemu is a place name in Fam archipelago, acluster of small coral islands surrounded by clear water and its hills covered by green vegetation. Travelers can do trekking at one of the hills and enjoying a very spectacular scenery. Swimming in clear water of Pianemo also provide its own sensation. It can be reached in 1 hour from Waisai by boat consist of two 40 HP engine.
West Waigeo (Waigeo Barat)
Western area of Waigeo island vast spread of beautiful coral islands in Wayag through the clear seain the Aljui Bay. Landscape above sea level served by this area is the same interesting as the beauty of undersea. A private company has been operating since the mid-1990’s, cultivation of large sea pearl Pinctada Maxima, because of the sea water quality is so good. Here are the locations of the travel pattern:
Hidden Bay and PEF
A beautiful small bay in Gam island, hidden cause covered by luxuriant vegetation. Its clear sea with coral reef under neath, suitable for snorkeling also kayaking. Tourist can continue the trip from Hidden Bay to PEF Island, a beautiful white sand island, its clear blue sea and the land still covered by green plants.
Visitors can climb the hill to enjoy ing a beautiful scenery of the island. Besides that, there is an ancient painting of palms on acliff wall in this island. PEF also a favorite routes for kayaking. It can be reached in 45 minutes from Waisai by boat consist of two 40 HP engine and needs 15 minutes to reach PEF from this island that has a diving resort.
Yeben Island
The island lies between Pef islands and a group of Fam islands, famous with its beautiful land scape and clear sea water. Snorkeling is ideal in this island. It can be reached in 45 minutes from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine.
Wayag
A cluster of coral lime stone islands wide spread over the clear seawater. Wayag is an icon of Raja Ampat. The scenery is verys pectacular, especially ona good weather when the sunshines the sea. The tourists will get amazing landscape after Climbing the hill for 20-30 minutes. Wayag is located quite far away so it takes 3 hours from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine.
Mayalibit Bay (Teluk Mayalibit)
Mayalibit Bay is quite unique, it is a fairly large bay and almost split the Waigeo Island into two parts. Many attraction scan be seen. Tribal life and unique in digenous cultures, a traditional fishing methods, a cave place to store human skull, mountain, and frame air craft that could be used as a dive site.
Other tourist attraction found in Mayalibit bay are woven hand crafts (snat/mats, hats and the noken/bag) ands culpture hand craft (sculptures of humans and animals). Also famous with Yako dance, a kind of war dance performed by men with machetes (cracked) and a small shield/deterrent (milled) as dance accessories, it can be reached in 3 hours from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine.
Batanta Island and surroundings
Batanta is the smallest island of the four major islands in Raja Ampat. Its Middle area is mountainous to 1,000 meter swhile the northern coast full of small bays. This island is a home oftwo species endemic bird of Raja Ampat, they are Cendrawasih Merah (Paradisea Rubra) and Cendrawasi Botak (Cicinnurus Respublica). Some interesting places on this island are:
Dayan Island
Small island with a beautiful scenery and its good sea water for snorkeling also a place to see walnuts crabs. it can be reached within 1 hours from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine.
Wailebet
Located in the southern island of Batanta, here is the place to do bird swatching of Cendrawasih Botak (Cicinnurus Respublica). It takes 1 hour from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine.
Arefi
Arefi island lies in the northern of Batanta, has a history site of Fort Yenbekaki, located not far from the village of Arefi as a long large stone look like for tress, abeautiful water falls also found, reached by walking on food through the jungle for about 30 minutes. It takes 1 hour from Waisai by boat consists of two 40 HP engine.