As your plane slowly descends for its approach to Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, you can see a large number of large and small islands dotting the sea in the Bay of Jakarta. These are known as the Thousand Islands, or Kepulauan Seribu (Seribu Archipelago). In fact they are a cluster of 76 coral islands with more appearing and disappearing with the tide.
Located 45 km north from the city, this part of Jakarta offers a huge change in pace and experience from the hustle and bustle of the city, but is near enough for residents and visitors to enjoy the exhilarating marine environment within just one day excursion. Here are diving, snorkeling and fishing opportunities, or just good for lazing in the sun with nothing to disturb one’s mind except the chirping of birds amidst the gentle lapping of the waves.
Get Around
Some resorts in the Thousand Islands provide transportation for tourists. In addition, the government also provides speed boats called Transjakarta Lumba-Lumba and Transjakarta Kerapu.
Get There
To reach the Thousand Islands, you can go to the Jaya Ancol Marina from Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Boats leave daily from there and the journey takes between one to two hours.
Experience Seribu Archipelago
Tidung Island, Small Getaway from The City with Lots of Activities
Pulau Tidung is located relatively close to the capital city of Jakarta, that you wouldn’t have to spend unnecessary time just trying to get there. Tidung offers secluded beaches, starry nights and an amiable community. Pulau Tidung is divided into two islands, which are Pulau Tidung Besar and Pulau Tidung Kecil. It is only about 200 meter wide and 5 kilometer long, and is home to about 4,000 inhabitants.
The slim width of the land gives Tidung an interestingly unique shape. A sliver of an island, split by a single, small road with nothing to your left or right but beautiful stretches of sandy, white beaches and clear blue waters surrounding the entire coast of the island. Tidung waters are quite shallow, and almost overgrown with coral reefs which are in excellent condition and are teeming with a colourful collection of tropical fish and exotic sea creatures.
Tidung is not as developed as some of the other islands in the district, meaning that it is less commercial and noticeably cheaper. Tourism on Tidung island prides itself in being extremely community-based and is operated solely by the locals of the island with people’s homes that have been decorated and air-conditioned and transformed into a sort of homestay with a simple, clean and comfortable rooms. he smaller Tidung Island is for the most part, a breeding area for mangroves. The mangroves are planted once a year, and in time are destined to be part of a “mangrove tour.”
Get There
Tidung is about a 3-hour ride away from Muara Angke, the port in North Jakarta via a slower, wooden boat or ferry. The ferry departs from Muara Angke to Tidung only once a day at 7:00 am, so make sure you wake up early enough to get there on time! Alternatively, you can catch a speed boat from Ancol Marina Harbor, in which case Tidung would be just 1.5 hours away. Lodgings and amenities are found on the main island of Tidung Besar, while the smaller island is almost uninhabited and is mostly mangrove forest.
Bidadari Island, Petite Natural Beauty with Exotic Beach
Bidadari Island (the Island of Angels) is one of the many charming islands in the Kepulauan Seribu Marine National Park in the Bay of Jakarta, which also comprise Pulau Tidung and Pulau Pramuka. This beautiful island, formerly known as Pulau Sakit, is located close to the capital city, approximately 15 kilometers (20 minutes) away by speedboat. With only six hectares in area, Pulau Bidadari is a small island. Because of its natural beauty as well as its historic attractions, Pulau Bidadari is at present being developed as a tourist destination. The beaches of Pulau Bidadari display beautiful, white, sand, and crystal clear sea water.
There are also several mangrove forests where you will have the opportunity to see many rare and exotic plants, such as, the tree of peace (Baringtonia exelsa), Willows, Pempis Acidula, Ebony trees (Diospyros maritama), and Glodokan trees. Around the forests are also several fruit orchards which are lovely and colorful, especially when in season. Approximately 60% of plants on this island are rare, protected species. Another interesing fact about Pulau Bidadari is that half of it remains lush, green forest. You can walk along paths and see monitor lizards lurking about tree branches. Up to 50 monitor lizards inhabit the area, some growing to as long as 2 meters.
Get There
The main departure point to Pulau Bidadari is at the Ancol Marina, where further infromation on travel arrangements can be found. You can reach Pulau Bidadari in approximately 30-45 minutes from Pier 17 Marina Jaya Ancol, by a small speedboat or ferry.
Marina Ancol: 021-6401140
KM Kerapu, is a ferry company very well known and used by most tourists to and from the islands. They have smaller speedboats which can seat up to 25 people, while another option would be to take the traditional boat they offer as well, with a maximum capacity of 100 people. Ticket prices are Rp 32,000 per person. (This is not including the entrance ticket into the Ancol area.) There are daily departures from Ancol Marina from between 8-9 am. And return, between 1:30-2 pm.
KM Kerapu Operational Manager : Ibu Yati , Mobile: 08561636724
Source : indonesia.travel
