If you’re familiar with Kalimantan Island that’s rich in biodiversity, you must have heard about the beauty of Derawan Island. Located in Berau District, East Kalimantan, this archipelago consisting of 31 islands is called a hidden tropical paradise by many tourists. Among its popular islands are Derawan, Maratua, Sangalaki, and Kakaban. When you visit this archipelago, you’ll get to enjoy the exotic white sandy beaches with clear blue waters in different shades. Plus, you can see turtles around the shore or go snorkeling and swim with turtles in the ocean.
Derawan Archipelago itself is known to be home to turtles, especially the giant green sea turtles and the rare and endangered hawksbill turtles in Indonesia. The waters of this archipelago are also categorized as a conservation area for various marine species, including giant turtles, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs, barracudas, stingless jellyfish, and even whales. There are 460 species of corals and 870 species of fish that you can find here. That’s why this destination is considered the second-best marine tourism spot after Raja Ampat, West Papua.
History
The origin of the names of the four most famous islands in the Derawan Archipelago comes from local folklore passed down through generations. Long ago, there were two families living on different islands who wanted to hold a wedding for their children on Long Island. Both the groom’s and bride’s families sailed there, but before they could reach Long Island, both ships were wrecked, and all passengers drowned. It is said that each person turned into an island. Derawan Island was named after the bride-to-be, who was still a virgin, while Kakaban Island was named after the older sibling. Sangalaki Island was named after the groom-to-be, and Maratua Island was said to be the manifestation of the bride's parents-in-law.
In 2005, the local government registered this destination with UNESCO as a potential World Heritage site. Since then, the island has been nicknamed Pristine Island due to its well-preserved natural beauty. The village here was previously an administrative village, but it was later converted into a tourism village so the villagers would become more aware of the importance of maintaining cleanliness and conserving their natural environment.
Tourist Destinations
After learning about the origins and exploring Derawan Island, you can also explore other islands to discover their unique features, from Kakaban Island, Maratua Island, to Sangalaki Island. Your first adventure could be exploring marine tourism on Kakaban Island. While you’re there, you can check out the lake formed by seawater seeping through the soil and rainfall, which is why this lake has a variety of marine life. If you’re curious, you can even go diving and discover different types of jellyfish like the Jellyfish and Moon Jellyfish.
Next, head over to Maratua Island, where you can stroll along the beach while spotting cute turtles on the shore. Besides that, in Maratua, you can also dive to enjoy the stunning underwater beauty. By the way, Maratua is one of Indonesia’s outermost islands, located near the border with Malaysia. After Maratua, you can head to Sangalaki Island to see even more unique and different marine life. It's in Sangalaki where you can find a shallow lagoon covered with coral, manta rays, as well as green and hawksbill turtles. Some of the famous dive spots around the island include Coral Gardens, Channel Entrance, Turtle Town, Sandy Ridge, Manta Run, and Manta Parade.
Food Destinations
There are several local dishes you can try when visiting the Derawan Archipelago. Since this archipelago is rich in marine life, it’s no surprise that this influences the local cuisine as well. The first dish you should try is called Kima-kima. This is a large sea shell served in a similar way to salted fish. Before being cooked, the shell is dried just like salted fish and then seasoned with spicy seasoning. The savoury taste of this dish goes perfectly with a warm bowl of rice.
Next, there’s Kulabutan, which is a type of large squid that’s dried. You’ll usually find this dish in local eateries, though some places also sell the raw version before it’s cooked. For dessert, don’t forget to try the special durian that only grows in Kalimantan, including Derawan. The flesh, which is orange in colour, offers a sweeter taste with a more tender texture.
How to Get to Derawan Archipelago
To visit Derawan, you can take the main route via air or land travel. The air route is typically through a direct flight from Jakarta to Balikpapan or by sea from Surabaya.
Air Route: You can land at Sepinggan Airport or Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport in Balikpapan, which is a 2-hour flight from Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta. After that, take a flight to Berau District, then continue to Tanjung Batu Port by speedboat and finally head to Derawan Island by sea for about 30-45 minutes.
Land Route: The land route can be taken from Tarakan, followed by a trip to Tengkayu Port, and then another speedboat ride to the island area. You can first fly to Tarakan, where you’ll land at Juwata International Airport.
