Derawan Islands
Swim with rays, chase turtles, sleep over turquoise jungle seas
Highlights
Drift over Sangalaki’s cleaning stations and watch manta rays gliding just meters beneath you.
Snorkel Kakaban’s otherworldly lake, floating among thousands of harmless jellyfish in emerald water.
Join rangers after dark to spot green turtles nesting and tiny hatchlings making their first dash to the sea.
Wake up in a stilted bungalow over crystal-clear shallows on Maratua, with reef just steps from your deck.
Swim in karst caves and inland pools like Halo Tabung and Labuan Cermin, framed by dense jungle foliage.
Wander Derawan’s sandy lanes, mingle with friendly locals, and snack on simple fresh seafood warungs.
Where to Stay
3 picks
Derawan Dive Lodge
Small, laid-back beachfront lodge with wooden rooms just steps from the sand, a dive center on-site, and easy access to village warungs and the jetty.
Maratua Paradise Resort
Iconic overwater and beachfront bungalows built on stilts above clear turquoise water, surrounded by palms and dense greenery, with an in-house dive center and full-board meal options.
Borneo Cottage Maratua (or Similar Mid-Range Maratua Guesthouse)
Cluster of simple wooden cottages near the shore, surrounded by greenery and village life, with direct access to the sea and boat trips but a slightly more homely, local feel than large resorts.
Where to Eat
5 picks
Derawan Dive Lodge Restaurant
Simple open-air beachfront restaurant attached to the lodge, under palms right by the sand. Halal options: Indonesian-style breakfast of nasi goreng (request no pork, no alcohol – they typically cook halal-friendly seafood/chicken), mie goreng, eggs with toast, fresh tropical fruit, tea and coffee.
Homestay / Lodge Breakfast on Derawan
Most mid-range lodges and homestays around the west-beach strip provide simple in-house breakfast. Halal options: fried rice or noodles with vegetables and egg, or bread, jam and omelette, all prepared halal as the islands are majority-Muslim.
Boat Lunch on Kakaban Day Trip
Your operator will typically serve a simple halal-friendly buffet or lunch box on the boat: rice, grilled or fried fish, chicken, vegetables, sometimes tempeh or tofu. Confirm when booking that all food is halal and request no pork or non-halal sausages.
Maratua Paradise Resort Restaurant (or Similar Resort Dining Hall)
Buffet or set-menu meals in an open-sided, timbered dining hall surrounded by palms. Halal options: rice, fish, chicken dishes, vegetable stir-fries, soups; given the local context, food is typically halal but confirm ‘semua halal, tidak ada babi, tidak pakai alkohol’ at check-in.
Final Grilled Fish Lunch on Derawan
Return to a trusted warung by the jetty for one last halal grilled fish or chicken meal with rice and vegetables, confirming again no pork or alcohol in preparation.
What to Do
4 picks
Derawan House Reef Snorkeling
Snorkel right off the main jetty or shallow reef patches along the west beach; expect turtles grazing on seagrass, small reef fish, and clear, shallow water. Many homestays and dive shops can rent mask, snorkel, and fins on the spot.
Green Turtle Hatchery Visit on Sangalaki
Walk inland a few minutes from the beach to the ranger station, where staff often show the hatchery pools and explain conservation efforts. With luck, you might see baby turtles awaiting release or fresh nesting tracks on the sand.
Maratua Paradise Overwater Walk & Swim
Once you check in, walk the wooden boardwalks between overwater bungalows, then descend the resort’s ladder directly into the lagoon for an easy swim or snorkel over shallow coral and seagrass frequented by turtles.
Transfer from Derawan to Tanjung Batu & Berau
Take a local boat back to Tanjung Batu (about 30–60 minutes) and then a car or shared taxi to Berau Airport (around 2–2.5 hours), passing forests and small villages along the way.
Good to Know
8 picks
How to Reach Derawan from CAI
From Cairo, route via a hub (often Dubai, Doha, or Istanbul) to Jakarta or Balikpapan, then fly to Berau (Kalimarau Airport). From Berau, take a pre-arranged car (2–2.5 hours) to Tanjung Batu and a boat (30–60 minutes) to Derawan; your lodge can help coordinate this chain so you don’t juggle each step yourself.
Choosing a Base Island
Derawan Island is best as an initial base thanks to easier connections and more budget options, while Maratua offers quieter, more remote overwater stays. For a week, combining 3–4 nights on Derawan with 3–4 nights on Maratua provides both social village energy and wild seclusion without constant packing.
Booking Dive & Snorkel Trips
Mid-range lodges and dive centers can bundle your Sangalaki, Kakaban, and Maratua trips into simple packages that include gear, guiding, and halal-friendly meals. Given your reluctant-planner style, it’s worth emailing 1–2 operators in advance to reserve a 2–3 day dive/snorkel package rather than piecing together day trips on arrival.
Cash, Costs, and Tipping
There are no big supermarkets or reliable ATMs on the smaller islands, and card payments are rare. Bring sufficient rupiah for 7 days of food, tips, and extra trips (estimate at least $40–60/day in cash) and small bills for porters or boat crews; tips are not mandatory but appreciated for good service.
Staying Connected Offline
With limited connectivity, download offline maps, translation packs (Bahasa Indonesia), and your booking confirmations before leaving Berau. Carry paper or screenshot copies of key contacts (lodges, boat operators) so you can show them to drivers and boatmen even if your phone has no signal.
Halal Food Strategy on Remote Islands
Because the local population is mostly Muslim, everyday food is typically halal, but resort owners or cooks may not automatically mention it. When checking in or booking tours, clearly state you need halal food and no pork or alcohol in cooking; ask specifically about sausages, stock cubes, and marinades, and stick to fresh fish, chicken, eggs, and vegetables when in doubt.
Protecting Reefs and Wildlife
Wear a buoyant snorkel vest if you’re not fully confident in the water to avoid accidentally standing on coral. Never touch turtles, mantas, or jellyfish, and keep your fins clear of the reef; also bring your own refillable water bottle to reduce plastic waste on islands with limited rubbish collection.
Weather, Seas, and Flexibility
Even in the dry season, squalls can kick up choppy seas, delaying boats or making some sites uncomfortable. Build at least one flexible “buffer” day with lighter activities near your base and avoid planning your most important trip (like Sangalaki mantas) on your arrival or departure day.
Map
Best For
Start planning your trip with this itinerary in Takeoff.
Don't have the app? Download it free on the App Store.