Karimunjawa National
Park is often called the paradise of Java because of its natural beauty. White
sand and crystal clear water is a sight you'll enjoy. Natural atmosphere,
beautiful and quiet still deeply felt and will make you feel comfort to linger
here.
This tourist spot has
more than 90 types of coral reefs, and more than 240 species of fish. In some
island you can see mangrove forest and coastal forest. In addition you can also
find several species on the mainland, such as deer, various species of birds,
monkeys, turtles and others. Many tourist spots that can be visit while in
Karimunjawa.
The beauty of coral
reefs and colorful fish will be an attraction to play with. The sea in
Karimunjawa is very clear, so you can clearly see the bottom of the sea. For
those of you who like fishing, you can also do it in couple islands in
Karimunjawa.
To visit islands in
Karimunjawa, you can use a boat. The time required is not too long to visit
some of islands as well because it was not far away. There is also a boat that
is equipped with glass (glass bottom boat) which is suitable for those who do
not want to dive but still able to see the coral reef or fish in the sea.
Location
Karimunjawa National
Park is located in the north of Java island. Karimunjawa is a group of small
islands which amount about 27 islands. Not all inhabited islands, only a few
islands are already inhabited, such as Genting Island, Kemujan Island, Karimun
Island, Nyamuk Island and Parang Island.
How to get to karimunjawa?
There are two ways if
you want to travel to karimunjawa, by sea with ferry or by plane.
By Ferry:
Trip to Karimunjawa
will be served from two piers, namely Tanjung Mas Semarang port and Kartini Jepara
Port.
There is a fast boat
Kartini 1 sailing route Semarang - Karimujawa. Travel time approximately 4
hours, while the departure schedule is every Thursday and Saturday.
While from Kartini Jepara
Port there are two fast boats available, Express Bahari and Kartini 1 long
latency of less than 2 hours. The departure schedule every Monday, Tuesday,
Friday, and Saturday.
Beside fast boats,
departure from Port of Jepara, can also use Siginjai ferry with travel time
approximately 6 hours. This ship can carry goods, motorcycles and cars.
This schedule may
change according to weather or height of waves in Java Sea. And if this happen,
schedule will be changed following of weather.
Here's schedule of boats
that serves trip to Karimunjawa:
By Plane:
If you decide to use
air service, you can depart from Ahmad Yani Airport or Juanda airport using
pioneering aircraft to Dewa Daru Airport in Kemujan Island (one of islands in
Karimunjawa).
By plane, you can see
the beauty of Karimunjawa from above before landing at airfield in Karimun. The
aircraft serve only cost as much as two times a week, on Thursday and Friday.
What you can do in Karimunjawa?
There are so many
interesting activities you can do in Karimunjawa, ranging from water activities
to enjoy the nature. Almost all islands in Karimunjawa present beautiful spots
that you should visit.
Swimming & Sunbathing
Just
as you visit Tourism spot in Bali, Karimunjawa also have attractive spot for
swimming and sunbathing. White sand, sun, blue sea, all belong to you. You can
enjoy the sun exposure on the white sand while watching the beautiful scenery
and stunning.
You
can feel it when visiting “Besar Island” and “Menjangan Kecil Island” which has
white sand beach which is very clean.
Snorkeling
If
you afraid of diving, snorkeling is an alternative that you can do in Karimunjawa.
You will see fascinate view from the surface, which would be a special
sensation during your vacation.
You
do not need advance skill to do snorkel. You just need a little courage to look
into depths and you’ll see the beauty of underwater life and it all yours.
Diving
Who
does not love this activity, and I am sure you also love it right?
Many
diving spots, but Karimunjawa has more advantages. Karimunjawa waters rich with
diversity of rare species and a shipwreck which was overgrown with beautiful
coral reefs.
Fishing
For
you who love to fishing, Karimunjawa is a great place. These places are rich in
various species of fish. There are several boat service providers that you can
use to be able to get to the middle of sea.
Swimming with Sharks
Hear
word “shark” may sound scary, because this fish is known to be very wild and
creepy but not at karimunjawa. Menjangan Besar Island known as sharks breeding
place.
If
you have courage, try your adrenaline to swim with the shark. Don’t worry; there
are guides who will accompany you. For a while you could be shark’s best friend.
It will be unforgettable experience swimming with sharks.
Play Jet ski and Banana boat
For
those of you who like a challenge activity, you can play Jet ski and Banana
Boat in Karimunjawa which will boost your adrenaline in the middle of sea.
Glass Bottom Boat
To
be able to enjoy the beauty of the sea in Karimunjawa, you do not have to know
how to swim, because with Glass Bottom Boat you can enjoy the underwater beauty
from boat.
You
can rent a Glass Bottom Boat, namely a boat that has a floor of transparent
glass material, so you can enjoy the beauty of the coral reefs. Rental prices
range from Rp. 350,000. Prices are usually adjusted with distance.
Hunting Photos
Many
opportunities to capture the beauty of Karimunjawa island with your camera to
show to friends or family. There are lots of beautiful places that you can make
as an object.
I
recommend you to bring a camera that can take pictures / videos in water. If
you do not have it, you can rent an underwater digital camera in Karimunjawa.
The price varies from Rp. 150,000 - Rp. 350,000 per day, including transfer to
the Compact Disc.
Enjoy the Sunset
Towards
sunset is when the silhouette of this natural beauty radiates with beauty.
Great fun if you enjoy the beauty of sun on afternoon in karimunjawa.
Tracking
In
Karimunjawa island there is a mountain that is not too high. On the mountain
there are tropical rain forest that is habitat for deer, birds, long-tailed
monkeys, and various kinds of animals.
If
you are tired all day playing in water, you can try alternatives activity
exploring this mountain. Use the services of local guides who can guide you
because in this mountain there are still some dangerous animals.
Exploring
On
Karimunjawa Island, there are quite beautiful sights. This tourist attraction
presents the beauty of natural landscape that is mangrove forest. You can reach
mangrove forest by walking 1.3 kilometers.
Interesting Places in Karimunjawa
1.
Karimunjawa
Island
Karimunjawa
Island is the main island of the archipelago tour. On this island there is the
main port as a welcome entrance for tourist in Karimunjawa. The island offers
an interesting tour ranging from shore excursions to natural attractions.
Tanjung
Gelam Beach and Batu Topeng beach are the mainstay beach resort. While Love Hill
and Joko Tuo Hill serve beautiful view.
Ø Tanjung Gelam beach
This
beach is located in the west of Karimunjawa Island. Tanjung Gelam’s beach sand that
jutting into sea will make you satisfied to play around the beach. What makes
interesting in Tanjung Gelam are coconut trees that sloping down to the sea as
if tumble sown, so it is suitable for photo background for those who are love
photo hunting.
If
you are still not satisfied, wait at dusk came. Tanjung Gelam have a very
beautiful view of sunset. From here, tourists can see the golden light of the
sun began to sink slowly.
Ø Batu Topeng Beach
Batu
Topeng Beach located beside Tanjung Gelam Beach. This beach became one of popular
spot for tourists to visit. The beach has beautiful panorama and some even call
it a paradise beach. Beache have white sand that has become the hallmark of
every beach in this Karimunjawa islands.
You
can enhance the beauty of this beach by snorkeling from the beach out to sea.
Ø Joko Tuo Hill
You
can visit this hill by walk, because the location is quite close to residential
and lodging in Karimunjawa Island or you can rent a bike to be able to climb this
hill.
In
addition to stunning natural scenery, you will be presented with Whale skeleton
that reaches 10 feet founded by fishermen on the beach in 1992.
In this
place you will found other amazing object that is giant prayer beads made of
stones weighing up to 1000kg, you will be amazed with the beads as big and
heavy as it was. This rosary was found by a resident of Karimunjawa. That is amazing huge Prayer Beads isn't it?
Ø Love Hill
There
is a unique hill in Karimunjawa namely LOVE hill. You can see beautiful view on
top of the hill, clear sea and blue cloud clearly defined from the top of hill.
This hill called “LOVE hill” because there is great love writing on the hill. You
and your spouse shall come to this hill to capture a beautiful moment in Karimunjawa.
Love
hill become best spot to see sunset in karimunjawa beside Joko Tuo hill.
Ø Trekking on Mangrove Forest
For
those of you who like mangrove, you must come to mangroves tracking on island
of Karimunjawa. This mangrove forest serves as one of mangrove conservation in indonesia.
Mangrove
forest locates not so far from the pier, which is only about 2 km and can be
reached by motorcycle. Lane track made of wooden planks along approximately 2
km to the beauty of mangrove forests along. You would walk along mangrove
forest through trekking path of winding wooden planks that add the beauty of
this mangrove forest.
Lush
of mangrove and beautiful mangrove flowers will spoil your eyes and free
ourselves from all stress that we feel with the dense daily routine.
2. Menjangan
Besar Island
Menjangan
Besar Island located closest to Karimunjawa island. Menjangan Besar Island can
be taken approximately 15 minutes from Karimunjawa Island by boat.
Unlike
most other islands that offer beautiful beaches to attract tourists. Menjangan Besar
Island offers interesting wildlife tours. There are three breeding animals on
this island, namely shark breeding, turtle breeding and falcon breeding.
In
this Island, tourists have the opportunity to test their courage to swim with
bunch of sharks. It is sound scary to play around with sharks, but you don’t
have to worry, there are skilled guide that will help you. To maintain your
safety, before going into the pool make sure there were no injuries on your
body, because sharks are very sensitive to the smell of blood which can make them
aggressive.
Besides
sharks breeding, Menjangan Besar Island also has turtles breeding. In this
breeding place, they take care of baby turtles and after grow up in several
months, baby turtles will be released into the sea. Species of sea turtles that
bred in this place is green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill sea turtle
(Eretmochelys imbricata) and both are fairly rare animals.
Menjangan
Besar Island also has breeding of Javanese eagle whose existence has also been
scarce.
3.
Menjangan
Kecil Island
Menjangan
Kecil Island is attractive spot for snorkeling. This spot usually called Spot
MAER. When you visit this spot for the first time, you will be presented with
crystal clear waters.
The
number of ornamental fish and coral reefs make this place become favorite tourists
spot for snorkeling when visiting Karimunjawa. Ornamental fish competing for
bread when we threw it into water and swarm approaching our hands is a
sensation on the spot MAER.
Access
to MAER Spot is quite close, about 15 to 20 minutes from Karimunjawa Island.
4.
Gosong
Island
Located
at east of Cemara Besar Island, Gosong Island has a very beautiful white sand.
This island is uninhabited and being the smallest island in Karimunjawa. The
island is only measuring approximately 5x8 meters has white sand that will be
visible when the tide is low and when the sea began to tide the island will be invisible.
You will look like standing on the sea.
You
can visit Gosong Island about 1 hour from Karimunjawa island using tourist
boats.
5.
Tengah
Island
This
island located east of Karimunjawa Island, it takes approximately 2 hours trip using
boat. On left and right side of the island there are snorkeling spots with
coral reefs and marine life that beautiful. If you're lucky you'll see dolphins
swim chasing each others on the way to island.
Tengah
Island beach has extensive white sand. The interesting is Tengah Island Beach
has quite and calm atmosphere. Travelers can play sand or swimming around beach.
Holiday atmosphere really feels at this beach.
6.
Cilik
Island
Cilik
Island means little island located on east side of Karimunjawa island and it’s
a part of buffer zone of Karimunjawa National Park.
Fresh
sea water and clear sea attract us to immediately jump in and snorkel to enjoy
the underwater scenery. Colorful coral reefs are everywhere when we look down,
colorful fish popping to add the atmosphere fun.
7.
Geleang
Island
Exploring
the islands in Karimunjawa is very fascinated. Moreover, we can choose which
islands that can be visited. There are many islands are recommended, and one of
them is Geleang island which has a natural destination favored by tourists, an
island that provides comfort for tourists to sunbathe, play water, swimming and
snorkeling.
Natural
scenery that will spoil your eyes, white soft sand that accompanies you sunbathing
is the main attraction for tourists who come to this island.
8.
Kemujan
Island
Kemujan
Island has a unique beach name Batu Putih Beach. Why, because there are many white
big rocks and may only found on this beach. Batu Putih beach has clean and white
sand. Unspoiled atmosphere will make tourists forget to come home.
9.
Cemara
Kecil Island
Cemara
Kecil Island is one of the charming islands in Karimunjawa. It has beautiful view
of coral around the beach.
Cemara
Kecil Island usually well suited for doing Barbecue. While waiting for grilled
fish cooked, you can take pictures around the shoreline of the island; on west
side you can see the beauty of Karimunjawa mountain which still green and
leafy. White sand around the island becomes a cool place for you who want to
play with sand and water.
10.
Cemara
Besar Island
Cemara
Besar Island located on east side of Karimunjawa Island, uninhabited Island
with white sand and blue water around the island.
Doing
BBQ or grilled fish is a must if you visit this island. While waiting for the
BBQ you can take pictures around the island, with the east side is Karimunjawa
island with its green mountains and on west side you will see some beautiful
open sea plains.
11.
Genting
Island
One
of the islands in eastern part of Karimunjawa is located near Sambangan Island
and Seruni Island. Genting Island is a paradise for clown fish or often called
nemo fish.
When
you perform diving activities in these waters, you will find a wreck from China
containing antiques in it when it sank. On the hull of this wreck is found pieces
of ancient ceramics. Besides ships from China, there is also a wreck of Panama
Indono that sank in tahun1955 in Kemujan Island. However, the wreck is now
becomes a place to live various species of fish, and is one of the favorite
locations for wreck diving.
Best time to Karimunjawa
Many tourists are
afraid and think twice when planning vacation to Karimunjawa. The reason is
because the weather in the Java Sea is often changes that make ship depart
frequently canceled. Not least also tourists were reluctant to come back
because once trapped on Karimunjawa island due to bad weather.
The right time for a
vacation to the island of Karimunjawa is from March to October. In that months usually
the waves in Java Sea fairly calm so that trip schedule to Karimunjawa Island
usually normal.
Accommodation
If you are planning
vacation in Karimunjawa, you do not have to worry about lodging because here
are many lodging options presenting a wide range of facilities that will spoil
you. Some hotels and resorts that we recommend are:
