Raja Ampat in 5 Days: The Richest Reefs on Earth

5 DAYS 1 place by WaTrips

A homestay over the water, snorkelling the reefs, the Piaynemo lookout and birds of paradise.

Raja Ampat, off the western tip of Papua, has more kinds of coral and fish than anywhere else on Earth. Take the ferry from Sorong to Waisai and stay in a family-run homestay on stilts over the water. Spend your days snorkelling or diving among manta rays, sharks and turtles, climb to the Piaynemo lookout above a maze of karst islands, and walk into the forest at dawn to watch birds of paradise display. You'll need a marine park permit. October to April is calmest.

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Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is an archipelago of over 1,500 islands off the western tip of New Guinea. It is thought to have the richest marine life on Earth, with hundreds of species of coral and over 1,500 species of fish. Mushroom-shaped karst islands rise from turquoise lagoons, best seen from viewpoints like Piaynemo and Wayag. Diving and snorkelling are the main attractions.

Heavy rain: Jun – Jul

Seasons from 20 years of NASA POWER climate data.

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