Jakaré Itinerary

Raja Ampat Central

Day 1:
We will pick you up early morning at Sorong Airport or Hotel. Boarding and departure are expected around 10am after boat clearance. Welcome drinks and snacks will be served while the cruise director briefs us on safety, onboard organization, and the overall
itinerary, and introduces the crew.

We will then settle into our cabins, refresh, and prepare for the beginning of the cruise. Jakaré will sail toward Central Raja Ampat and Pulau Waigeo, approximately 40NM away. This crossing will usually provide a pleasant time to rest and receive briefings on the upcoming activities. A check or discovery dive will be organized upon arrival at Saonek Kecil or nearby.

A night dive will be organized at Saonek Kecil. Overnight: Anchorage in Saporkren.

Day 2:
An early wake-up call will be proposed for those willing to adventure further in search of the Bird of Paradise, one of West Papua’s rare and iconic endemic species. The trek will consist of approximately 30 minutes of uphill hiking through tropical forest accompanied by a local guide. As the Bird of Paradise can only be observed at sunrise, departure from the boat will usually take place around 5am. Breakfast will be served after the early morning trek.

For those preferring a slower morning, we may snorkel or dive at Friwen Wall. Friwen offers access to multiple activities, including swimming, beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling, and village discovery. SUP and kayak activities will also be available. After breakfast, we will dive to the famous Central Raja Ampat dive sites: Blue Magic and Sardine Reef.

Dive Blue Magic, a non-emergent pinnacle located northwest of Dampier Strait, offers dynamic current dives directly exposed to nutrient-rich waters. The entire food chain can often be observed there, from reef fish feeding in rich currents to large pelagic species, including occasional oceanic manta rays. Overnight: Batu Lima near Friwen.

Day 3:
Jakare will sail southwest and stop on the way at Pulau Mioskon, known for its beautiful beach and bats. We will dive or snorkel Mioskon, where the reef offers an easy and rewarding experience. Schools of yellow snapper, Napoleon wrasse, large groupers, and wobbegong sharks can often be encountered.

Jakare will then continue toward Cape Kri. We will dive the beautiful Cape Kri, a drift dive where schools of yellow sweetlips, silver trevallies, dogtooth tuna, mackerels, barracudas, and reef sharks can often be observed. More than 374 species have been recorded in the area, making it one of the world’s most famous dive sites for marine biodiversity. The site features a steep slope covered with vast gardens of colourful hard and soft corals.

We will then sail westward toward Pulau Mansuar and stop at Yanbuba Village for a visit. The beautiful Yanbuba sandbank will be perfect for relaxing, kayaking, and SUP activities. A night dive will be organized at Yanbuba. Overnight: Yanbuba.

Day 4:
We will enjoy Yanbuba Bay in the early morning under a different light, with the possibility to swim or snorkel at the famous jetty.

Dive Yanbuba, a highly rewarding dive site rich in marine life including turtles, schools of barracudas, snappers, giant trevallies, sharks, and remarkable coral formations, including stunning staghorn and cabbage corals.

A short one-hour sail will then bring us to nearby Saunderek. We may dive or snorkel along Saunderek slope and jetty, surrounded by beautiful coral gardens and abundant fish life, including schools of yellow snappers and barracudas. This may be followed by a village or beach walk. We will then continue toward the famous island of Arborek in the middle of Dampier Strait, exposed to dynamic tidal currents.

Arborek offers something for every pace of adventure: diving, snorkeling, beach relaxation, and village exploration. Manta Sandy and Manta Ridge are two manta ray cleaning stations located close to Pulau Arborek.

We will dive to the manta cleaning station, a truly unforgettable experience with excellent opportunities to observe graceful reef mantas being cleaned in less than 15 meters of water. Manta Ridge, another cleaning station, is more suitable for advanced divers due to its stronger and more dynamic currents. Overnight: Pulau Yangeffo, approximately two hours sailing from Arborek.

Day 5:
Yangeffo offers exceptional snorkelling and diving opportunities, including Mayhem, Gam Ridge, and Citrus Ridge. We will dive or snorkel the beautiful Gam Ridge before breakfast. We will then dive Mayhem, a vast underwater reef featuring beautiful coral formations and abundant marine life, including large schools of surgeonfish and snappers. Alternatively, we may snorkel the western coral reef of Yangeffo before lunch.

After lunch, we will dive into the spectacular Citrus Ridge. Visibility can be exceptional there, and marine life may include schools of barracudas and, if we are lucky, manta rays. Following the snorkelling and diving activities, Jakare will sail westward toward Yeben Island, where we will enjoy a BBQ under the stars. The crew will prepare a beach BBQ with many surprises. After the BBQ, Jakare will continue sailing toward Piaynemo, where we will spend the night, approximately 8NM away.

Day 6:
Pulau Piaynemu offers remarkable experiences both above and below the water, with its famous blue lagoon, limestone viewpoints, and colourful dive sites full of life.

We will start early at Batu Rufus, located in front of the famous lagoon. The underwater scenery there is exceptional, making both snorkelling and diving particularly rewarding. After breakfast, we will walk to the top of one of the limestone hills to discover the breathtaking scenery of the Piaynemo limestone islands. A tour of the turquoise lagoon will then be organized.

After lunch, Jakare will move southward toward the famous Melissa Garden dive site. Melissa Garden is a current dive and, weather permitting, also an excellent snorkelling site. It is composed of magnificent pinnacles covered with soft corals and colourful anemones. The pinnacles are home to large schools of fusiliers, jackfish, and batfish. Giant trevallies, snappers, and rainbow runners are also frequently observed. In the shallower areas, larger groups of sweetlips, lionfish, and numerous reef fish can be found.

For non-divers, beautiful beaches and excellent snorkelling will also be available around Jakare’s anchorage area and Keruo Channel. Overnight: Pulau Piaynemo.

Day 7:
We will dive at My Reef Today before breakfast.

We will then dive or snorkel at Keruo Channel. Beautiful beaches nearby will also offer ideal conditions for kayaking and paddleboarding for those wishing to explore the area at a slower pace.
Keruo Channel is an easy wall drift dive with slopes covered in beautiful untouched soft and hard corals. Numerous crabs, sea spiders, clams, shrimps, sea urchins, and a wide variety of reef fish can be found among the corals, together with schools of barracudas, snappers, and many other species.

After the diving and snorkelling activities, Jakare will begin the return journey toward Sorong and stop at Pulau Tapok for sunset drinks before continuing overnight.

Day 8:
We will arrive in Sorong overnight. In the morning, we will enjoy breakfast onboard, complete packing, and prepare for disembarkation. Check-out will take place in the morning, with drop-off in town or at the airport by 10am at the latest.

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.