Derawan Islands
A coral archipelago off Borneo's east coast where you can swim with sea turtles, snorkel Kakaban's stingless jellyfish lake and see manta rays off Maratua — one of Indonesia's up-and-coming dive destinations.
The Derawan Islands lie off Berau Regency in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the western edge of the Coral Triangle. The archipelago of about thirty islands and sandbanks — including Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban and Sangalaki — is one of Indonesia's most important green turtle habitats and has been nominated for World Heritage status. Island-hopping is the main activity: stay in a stilt-house guesthouse on Derawan or a water villa resort on Maratua, and charter a boat for day trips to Kakaban's jellyfish lake, Sangalaki's manta rays and snorkelling at Panjang Island. Divers focus on Maratua's outer reefs, where you can see barracuda tornadoes and large pelagics. Further south around Biduk-Biduk are the “mirror lake” of Labuan Cermin, Teluk Sulaiman and the whale sharks of Talisayan; these are farther away, so allow a couple of extra nights. Best time: seas are calmer from March to October; November to February brings occasional big swells and rain, but diving is possible year-round. Getting there: fly from Jakarta or Balikpapan to Kalimarau Airport in Tanjung Redeb, Berau, then drive about 2.5 hours to Tanjung Batu harbour and take a speedboat about 30–40 minutes to Derawan. Getting between islands relies on chartered boats, and sharing with others works out cheaper. Plan to stay 4–6 days. ATMs on the islands are few and electricity and internet are limited, so bring enough cash. Please use reef-safe sunscreen and keep your distance from turtles and manta rays.
Top sights
- Derawan Island – A small island home to a Bajau fishing village with stilt houses over the water. Turtles often graze on the seagrass beds near the pier, ma…
- Kakaban Jellyfish Lake – A closed saltwater lake formed by uplifted coral reef. Visitors can snorkel alongside thousands of jellyfish that do not sting, a rare sigh…
- Maratua Island – A large horseshoe-shaped atoll with overwater resorts and top dive sites. You can see barracuda storms, turtle gatherings and sharks.
- Sangalaki Island – An uninhabited island famous for manta rays. Groups of manta rays often feed in the shallow waters, and it is also a conservation site for…
- Panjang Island – A long, narrow uninhabited island near Derawan, with white sand beaches and coral reefs that are ideal for snorkeling. It is often a stop o…
- Labuan Cermin Lake – The “Mirror Lake,” with fresh water on top and seawater below. It is so clear that it looks like a mirror, and boats seem to float in midai…
- Biduk-Biduk Beach – A coastline of coconut palms, white sand and a Bajau fishing village. It is one of the few laid-back beach villages in eastern Kalimantan.
- Teluk Sulaiman – A fishing village bay near Biduk-Biduk where coral gardens lie just meters from shore. It is good for snorkeling and staying in village hom…
- Museum Batiwakkal (Gunung Tabur Palace) – The former site of the Gunung Tabur Sultanate palace, across the river from Berau's gateway town. It is now a museum displaying royal relic…
- Keraton Sambaliung – A wooden sultan's palace on the Kelay River, belonging to the Sambaliung branch of the Berau sultanate. Together with the Gunung Tabur pala…
Where to eat
- Syagi Overwater Seafood Restaurant – A seafood restaurant built over the water, best known for grilled grouper and live lobster; its terrace faces the sea a…
- Azwar Restaurant – An affordable seafood spot in the fishing village; grilled fish, Pallumara sour fish soup and homemade chili sauce win…
Itineraries
- Derawan Islands & Labuan Cermin Lake – Island hop with Derawan Island as your base, then head south to the two-layered lake and Sulaiman Bay, ending in Berau.