Pulau Derawan Travel Guide

 
by freshia
 
  •   Hotels
    by freshia
  •   Hotels
    by freshia
  • Derawan Pier
      Derawan Pier
    by DidiBeachBum
  • Giant Manta Ray
      Giant Manta Ray
    by DidiBeachBum
  • Kakaban Lake
      Kakaban Lake
    by DidiBeachBum
 

Explore Pulau Derawan

Things to Do  

Gusung-gusung (sand dunes)

Gusung-gusung (sand dunes), Pulau Derawan

 freshia Says:  There are several sand dunes near Derawan Island which you can visit during low tides.A nice place to take pictures :) 

Maratua island

Maratua island, Pulau Derawan

 freshia Says:  There is a nice high end resort there I didn't go in there and only do snorkeling 

sangalaki island

sangalaki island, Pulau Derawan

 freshia Says:  You can visit the sea turtle conservation here and if you're lucky you can see newborn turtles ready to be released to the seaor sunbathing and swimming in the pristine white beachOr snorkel and see manta rays if you're lucky 

Kakaban Island

Kakaban Island, Pulau Derawan

 freshia Says:  Kakaban Island is so special that inside the island is vastly occuppied by a lake which hosts a bunch of stingless jellyfish which you can only find in 2 places: here and in PalauYou can swim in the lake and surrounded by jellyfish :)When you get bored with jellyfish you can... 

Swimming with sea turtles

Swimming with sea turtles, Pulau Derawan

 freshia Says:  You can easily do this if you stay at the cottages over the water run by localsAll you have to do is sit in the jetty or from your verandah and when you see them, jump into the water and discreetly come from behind them. If you manage to catch up just gently rub his shell... 

pulau sangalaki

pulau sangalaki, Pulau Derawan

 aalayaa Says:  don't miss to visit sangalaki island. it's only about 2 hours from derawan by fisherman's boat and take even less time using the speedboat.if you're lucky, you'll meet some mantarays. they will swim around your boat. we met like 10 of them! if you spend a nite on this island... 

Derawan

Derawan, Pulau Derawan

 Lech100 Says:  http:derawanhomestay.comsuper losmen 

Derawan Homestay

Derawan Homestay, Pulau Derawan

 Lech100 Says:  Super homestay!!!http:derawanhomestay.com 

Derawan

Derawan, Pulau Derawan

 DidiBeachBum Says:

Outside the window

Outside the window, Pulau Derawan

 DidiBeachBum Says:

Derawan

Derawan, Pulau Derawan

 DidiBeachBum Says:

Restaurants  

Derawan cafe: restaurant with the best jetty

Derawan cafe: restaurant with the best jetty, Pulau Derawan

 freshia Says:  The restaurant is part of Derawan Cafe resort. The food is so-so and price higher than average. But it has a nice swimming beach in front of it and the jetty extends out the farthest adn there is a nice snorkeling spot at the end of the jetty. So it is a pretty nice place to... 

Mirolis Pelangi: Eating by the sea

Mirolis Pelangi: Eating by the sea, Pulau Derawan

 freshia Says:  The restaurant is part of Mirolis Pelangi Cottage, which is at the far end of the island. We had a nice fried chicken with homemade chilly sauce for lunch and loved it 

warung April: The best in eating place in the island

warung April: The best in eating place in the island, Pulau Derawan

 freshia Says:  Like everything else in Derawan food takes time to prepare so it means they're so fresh :)The choices are: fish, shrimps, chicken and squidGrilled fish with the hot homemade chilly sauce is the best 

Nightlife  

Jetty/beach: To see sunset or turtles?

Jetty/beach: To see sunset or turtles?, Pulau Derawan

 Perucha Says:  In Derawan there's no night life, no bars, no cafes. To spend the night, either u sit around on the jetty/beach to see beautiful sunset and talk over the night with sea breeze, or u see turtles coming to land to procreate! 

Transportation  

fisherman's boat

fisherman's boat, Pulau Derawan

 aalayaa Says:  if you visit derawan, don't forget to visit the other islands nearby: sangalaki, kakaban and maratua. to get there, just rent a boat from fishermen. to get contact with the fisherman, just ask your hotel manager. he'll be more than happy to help you.it takes 2-3 hours to get... 

4 seaters speed boat

4 seaters speed boat, Pulau Derawan

 Perucha Says:  From Berau airport, go by car 20 min to harbour, there find speed boat to take u to Derawan island. The trip takes 2,5 hrs if weather is good. 1,5 hr u go cruising thru Mahakam river then 1 hr thru the ocean. This is the hardest part of the journey since the water is very... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Scuba diving in Sangalaki - world capitol of Manta

Scuba diving in Sangalaki - world capitol of Manta, Pulau Derawan

 Perucha Says:  At Sangalaki the familiar shape of Manta Rays emerges from all directions. Their wing tips breaking the surface at regular intervals. Totally unperturbed by your presence, they swim in eurythmy and sometimes glide right up to you before making a sharp nose-dive into the... 

Favorites  

Nice view, nice sunshine, nice sea breeze!

Nice view, nice sunshine, nice sea breeze!, Pulau Derawan

 Perucha Says:  Just laying on the beach or on the edge of a jetty...looking at the blue ocean with some turtles swimming, bright blue sky, smell and feel of sea breeze...anything more relaxing than this? Sweet water! 

The Place

Plan a Pulau Derawan vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Pulau Derawan locals

Experience Pulau Derawan
  •   35 Tips and Reviews
  •  47 Photos
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Map of Pulau Derawan
 

The People

 
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 Pristine beach! 

 

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Top 3 Pulau Derawan Writers

1

Pulau Derawan - Borneo's most diverse diving

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 Derawan Island is located off the east coast of Indonesian Borneo. Getting there itself is really adventurous. You have to jump on a plane from Jakarta to Balikpapan for 2 hrs flight, continue with a... 

2

Strange but True!

Perucha profile photo

 In the ocean, u'll be swimming with lots of Manta Ray. The best thing to see is just by snorkelling! On the beach, u'll be swimming with lots of giant turtles! In the lake, u'll be swimming with...... 

3

Dreamy Derawan

freshia profile photo

 Derawan is a small charming island where time seems to stop when you were there. It's one of the few places where you can see sea turtle up close as in swimming with them as they often come swimming... 

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