{"ok":true,"data":{"id":1296,"slug":"derawan-island-beach-berau","name":"Derawan Island Beach","country":"Indonesia","state":"East Kalimantan","city":"Berau","coords":{"lat":2.286,"lng":118.242},"beachType":null,"tags":["famous","snorkeling","diving","scenic","white_sand","turquoise_water","island"],"article":{"hero":"You step off the wooden jetty onto sand the colour of ground clamshells, fine enough to squeak underfoot, and within three strokes you're finning alongside hawksbill turtles grazing the shallow reef. Derawan sits in the Coral Triangle's heart, a low-slung island barely two kilometres long where traditional Bajau stilthouse villages share the coastline with modest guesthouses. The reef edge drops a stone's throw from shore, close enough that you leave your towel on the beach and return twenty minutes later breathless from chasing schools of fusiliers.\n\nThe island wears its fame lightly. Fishermen paddle dugout canoes at dawn while you sip thick Sumatran coffee on a sun-bleached dock, planning your third snorkel of the day. The west coast offers the calmest entry points, where the sand slopes gently and brain corals the size of dining tables anchor gardens of staghorn and leather coral. Between dives to nearby Sangalaki and Kakaban, you'll find that Derawan's house reef delivers more marine encounters per hour than destinations ten times its size.\n\nEvening brings a ritual: wade knee-deep as the tide recedes, headlamp scanning the shallows for juvenile blacktip reef sharks and blue-spotted stingrays hunting in the tidal pools. The Makassar Strait current keeps visibility sharp year-round, though September through November offers the glassiest conditions and the heaviest manta aggregations at neighbouring sites.","teaser":"Your feet dangle off the pier planks as remoras glide beneath in water so translucent you count the sand ripples four metres below. Derawan's shoreline wraps a compact island where villagers mend nets beside dive shops, and every swim delivers stingrays ghosting over seagrass meadows.","uniqueAngle":"Nesting green turtles surface nightly along the beach, so close to shore you hear them exhale before submerging again.","accessType":"Boat only","thingsToDo":[{"icon":"snorkel","title":"Turtle Corridor Drift","subtitle":"House reef teems at dawn"},{"icon":"camera","title":"Stilthouse Golden Hour","subtitle":"Bajau village warms in backlight"},{"icon":"kayak","title":"Mangrove Channel Paddle","subtitle":"Island perimeter at high tide"},{"icon":"food","title":"Night Warung Grilled Fish","subtitle":"Morning catch, sambal matah spiked"}],"audience":{"surfer":"Derawan offers no rideable waves—the Coral Triangle swell dissipates across hundreds of reef-fringed islands before reaching this sheltered anchorage. The house reef break you see from shore is boat traffic, not swell lines. If you've come for barrels, charter a flight to Nias or the Mentawais; if you're chasing underwater topography as complex as any reef break, stay. The current-swept channels between Derawan and Sangalaki deliver drift conditions that require the same wave-reading instincts you use in the lineup.","couples":"Book a water cottage at Derawan Dive Resort where your private deck becomes a sunset stage, the stilts creaking as the tide shifts beneath you. Arrange a late-afternoon boat to the sandbar that emerges between Derawan and Maratua at low tide—you'll wade ankle-deep a kilometre from any shore, entirely alone. The island's compact size means candlelit seafood dinners happen steps from your room, often featuring the day's catch grilled over coconut husks. Skip the full-moon nights; sea turtle nesting activity draws crowds even to remote stretches.","backpacker":"Homestays along the village waterfront run sixty thousand rupiah with fan and shared mandi; Pak Amir's place near the police post offers the cleanest squat toilets. You'll snorkel the house reef free, unlimited, all day—rent fins at the dive shack for twenty thousand. Nasi campur at Warung Lestari costs fifteen thousand and includes enough sambal to numb your lips. The twice-weekly public ferry from Tarakan saves you the speedboat fare, though you'll spend six hours on wooden benches with live chickens and sacks of rice; bring dramamine and embrace it.","local":"The northwest beach, past the last guesthouse beyond the turtle hatchery, sees no foot traffic after four p.m. when the day-trippers motor back to Tarakan. Low tide exposes tide pools where octopuses hunt in water warm as bathwater—bring a red-lens torch to avoid spooking them. Villagers favour the south pier for late-night fishing when the current runs strong; join them with a handline and you'll hook squirrelfish and small grouper while learning which reefs still hold giant trevally. September's new moons bring the year's lowest tides and the widest intertidal zone.","family":null,"party":null,"diver":null,"explorer":null},"faqs":[{"a":"Derawan Island Beach is generally safe for swimming and snorkeling, with calm, shallow waters protected by surrounding reefs. The beach features gentle currents ideal for beginners. Visibility is excellent most of the year, making it perfect for observing marine life including sea turtles and manta rays. However, always check local conditions before entering the water, wear reef-safe sunscreen to protect the ecosystem, and consider hiring a local guide for snorkeling trips to less familiar areas. Life jackets are available for rent at most dive shops.","q":"Is Derawan Island Beach safe for swimming and snorkeling?"},{"a":"Derawan Island Beach can be visited year-round due to its equatorial location, with water temperatures consistently warm at 27-30°C. The dry season from April to October offers the best conditions with calmer seas, ideal for diving and snorkeling. March to June is particularly excellent for spotting manta rays. The wet season (November to March) brings occasional rain showers but rarely disrupts activities for extended periods. Water visibility remains good throughout the year, though slightly better during dry months.","q":"What is the best time to visit Derawan Island Beach?"},{"a":"Reaching Derawan Island requires multiple transport connections. Fly to Berau (Kalimarau Airport) from Jakarta, Balikpapan, or Surabaya. From Berau, take a 2-3 hour taxi or minivan to Tanjung Batu port (approximately 110km). Then board a speedboat to Derawan Island, which takes 30-45 minutes. Boat schedules depend on weather and passenger numbers; morning departures are most common. Many visitors arrange transportation packages through resorts or tour operators. Once on the small island, no vehicles are needed as it's easily walkable.","q":"How do you get to Derawan Island Beach?"},{"a":"Derawan Island offers accommodation ranging from budget homestays to mid-range resorts, most located near the beach with ocean views. Popular options include waterfront bungalows and guesthouses with basic amenities. Advanced booking is recommended, especially during peak season. Dining options consist mainly of small local warungs (eateries) and resort restaurants serving fresh seafood and Indonesian cuisine. Many accommodations include meal packages. The island has limited shops, so bring essentials from the mainland. ATMs are scarce; carry sufficient cash for your stay.","q":"What accommodation and dining options are available on Derawan Island?"},{"a":"Yes, Derawan Island is renowned for frequent sea turtle sightings, particularly green and hawksbill turtles. You can often spot them while snorkeling right off the beach, especially during early morning or late afternoon. The island hosts a turtle conservation project, and nesting females come ashore at night to lay eggs. Some resorts offer guided night turtle-watching tours. The calm waters and healthy seagrass beds attract turtles year-round, making Derawan one of Indonesia's most reliable locations for observing these endangered creatures in their natural habitat.","q":"Can you see sea turtles at Derawan Island Beach?"}]},"seo":{"title":"Derawan Island Beach: Turquoise Waters in East Kalimantan","description":"Powdery white sand meets crystalline turquoise shallows where sea turtles glide past your fins. Derawan Island offers world-class diving in Borneo's remote east.","ogImage":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2197/2055440074_d24c5cb196_b.jpg"},"images":[{"id":"499971","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2197/2055440074_d24c5cb196_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2197/2055440074_d24c5cb196.jpg","alt":"My Dream House"},{"id":"499973","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2274/1941566358_9c5ca9a791_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2274/1941566358_9c5ca9a791.jpg","alt":"A Quiet Morning"},{"id":"499975","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49326401542_2a1b164b42_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49326401542_2a1b164b42.jpg","alt":"borneo-indonesia-derTropical resort near Derawan Island in Borneoawan-island-resort-hotel-tropical-exotic-turquoise-holiday-bungalow-tiket2"},{"id":"499977","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51868346720_d4a741738d_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51868346720_d4a741738d.jpg","alt":"Derawan island at night, Kalimantan Timur"},{"id":"499979","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51868304550_50145e11ce_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51868304550_50145e11ce.jpg","alt":"Happy kids at Derawan island on wooden boat"},{"id":"499981","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2687/4172256519_9fb2dcc64e_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2687/4172256519_9fb2dcc64e.jpg","alt":"derawan island"},{"id":"499983","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51868006809_73fae185ef_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51868006809_73fae185ef.jpg","alt":"Derawan island, East Borneo"},{"id":"499985","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51866692547_0ce76460f7_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51866692547_0ce76460f7.jpg","alt":"Hammock by the beach, Derawan island"},{"id":"499987","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51867116184_2f78da92b6_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51867116184_2f78da92b6.jpg","alt":"A wooden dock at Derawan island"},{"id":"499989","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51867736028_eb75ffbbdd_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51867736028_eb75ffbbdd.jpg","alt":"Crab at tropical beach of Derawan, Borneo"}]}}