Karimunjawa Island: The Paradise of Java

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.

In addition to pay attention to the time of departure, if you are planning a vacation to Karimun, there are some things that need to be prepared because of the lack of facilities there. 

Related articles : Tips Travelling to Karimunjawa Island 

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:

KURA - KURA RESORT

ARYS LAGOON  BUNGALOW & HOTEL

KARIMUNJAWA INN

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