Who does not know the Raja Ampat Islands? This group of islands is like a slice of paradise which is famous for its beautiful underwater scenery. The Raja Ampat Islands are located in the westernmost part of Papua with an area of about 4.6 million hectares. Raja Ampat Regency consists of 4 large islands namely Waigeo Island, Batanta, Salawati and Misool, as well as 1,847 other small islands.
The name Raja Ampat itself is believed to come from a local legend who believes that once upon a time there was a woman who found seven eggs, the four eggs hatched into kings who ruled on the four main islands. There were three others, one became a stone, one became a woman, and the other became a supernatural being or ghost. Apart from the legend believed by the local community, the beauty that is presented by Raja Ampat is a fact that cannot be contested.
For travelers who like diving and snorkeling, the waters of Raja Ampat are one of the best diving destinations in the world. According to a report by the international environmental social organization, The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, about 75% of the world's coral species live in the Raja Ampat islands. This destination has a high species richness and uniqueness with the discovery of 1,318 species of fish, 699 species of molluscs (soft animals), and 537 species of coral reefs. Feel for yourself the sensation of diving and meet various types of unique marine life, such as pygmy seahorses, bat fish, and dugongs that you can find in the waters of Raja Ampat.
Some of the best and most famous dive sites in Raja Ampat include Kabui Passage, around Arborek Island Pier, Sauwandarek, Yenbuba, Friwen Wall, and many more! No wonder many foreign tourists are willing to come all the way to Indonesia to enjoy its charming underwater charm. Don't want to lose, let's Friend Traveler add Raja Ampat to your visit list later!
Not only the underwater beauty is extraordinary, the scenery above the surface is no less captivating. The panorama of the row of stone islands in the middle of the blue water gradation looks so heavenly when viewed from the top of the hill. Prepare to be physically strong and do trekking to the top of the hill to see beautiful scenery like this, yes!
In addition to its stunning natural scenery, Raja Ampat also offers local community hospitality that will make you feel at home. Besides exploring nature, don't forget to dive into the local culture, OK! Traveler's friends can visit and stay at the Arborek Tourism Village.
There are many choices of lodging and tourist attractions that you can enjoy while in this tourist village, such as seeing the making of the famous Arborek woven craft to foreign countries, to tasting various kinds of traditional Papuan dishes, such as papeda. or sinol.
To reach the Raja Ampat islands, a traveler must first take a flight from Jakarta or other big cities to Sorong, Papua. Arriving at Sorong Airport, you can continue your journey to Raja Ampat by sea.
There are three entrances as well as checkpoints to Raja Ampat, namely Falaya Port in Wasai, Yellu Port on Misool Island, and Marindi Airport on Waigeo Island.
Wow, the ease of access provided makes us impatient to immediately greet the wonders of Raja Ampat, Traveler's friend !
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