Derawan Islands: Compare Island Experiences and Transfer Costs
Contents
The Derawan Archipelago lies off Berau in East Kalimantan and has 31 islands, of which Derawan, Maratua, Sangalaki and Kakaban are the best known.[1] They are separate island destinations, not stops on a walkable circuit, and the archipelago is one of Indonesia's largest nesting sites for green turtles.[2] Choose an overnight base first, then arrange boat outings to the others.
Match the island to your interests
On Derawan you can rent a bicycle, relax on the white-sand beach, watch the sunset from the long pier and snorkel. At low tide a speedboat of about 20 minutes takes you to the Gusung Pasir Sanggalau sandbank, and at night you can watch turtles lay their eggs.[3]
Maratua is a large island that curves around a lagoon, with white-sand beaches, mangrove forest and more than 20 dive spots. Green turtles return each year to lay eggs there, which is why it is sometimes called the Turtle Capital of Indonesia. Visit one of the four Bajau villages to learn about life among the sea people.[2]
Kakaban holds a landlocked brackish lake that covers almost two thirds of the island, and in it live millions of stingless jellyfish, a species found in only one other place, Palau. You can swim among them. Nobody lives on Kakaban, so boats come from the neighbouring islands: it is about 20 minutes from Sangalaki, 30 minutes from Maratua and 45 minutes from Derawan.[4]
Sangalaki is the diving and snorkeling island, known for manta rays. Dive sites include Channel Entrance, Coral Gardens, Manta Run and Sandy Ridge, and turtles also nest on the island during breeding season.[5]
Things to Do
Offers are only loaded from GetYourGuide after you click. GetYourGuide can then process your IP address and set cookies. Privacy Policy
GetYourGuide partner offers. GoAsia may earn a commission if you book through these offers. Check whether tickets or transfers are included, and follow the attraction's official booking and admission rules.
Compare transfer offers by their actual inclusions
Berau's Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) is the usual gateway. Batik Air flies from Jakarta to Berau every day, leaving at 04:45 and landing at 08:15.[6] Scuba Junkie, a dive resort on Derawan, quotes a taxi-plus-boat transfer from Berau airport to its resort that takes about 3 to 3.5 hours and costs Rp900,000, shareable between up to three people, plus a Tanjung Batu Harbour entry fee of IDR 10,000 per person. To make the same-day transfer, your flight must land in Berau by 13:00. These details are as of September 2026.[6]
From Tarakan, a speedboat to Derawan takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. Scuba Junkie quotes IDR 3,500,000 for up to two passengers on a small boat and IDR 6,000,000 for one to seven passengers on a larger one.[6] When you compare providers, ask which airport and harbor are used, which island the boat serves, where the return pickup is and whether the price is per person or per boat. Leave a buffer before an independently booked onward flight.
For wider trip planning, see our Indonesia travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Indonesia Travel: Derawan Islands. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [2] Indonesia Travel: Maratua Island, the Turtle Capital of Indonesia. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [3] Portal Kaltim, East Kalimantan Provincial Government: Pulau Derawan. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [4] Indonesia Travel: Kakaban Island: Come Swim among Stingless Jellyfish. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [5] Indonesia Travel: Sangalaki Island, the Underwater Paradise. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [6] Scuba Junkie Sangalaki: Getting Here. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Derawan suits beach, pier and snorkeling days; Maratua has a lagoon and more than 20 dive spots; Sangalaki is the diving and manta island; Kakaban has the jellyfish lake but no accommodation. Choose by the experience you want, then arrange boat outings to the others.
Rent a bicycle, relax on the beach, watch the sunset from the long pier, snorkel, and watch turtles lay eggs at night. At low tide a speedboat of about 20 minutes goes to the Gusung Pasir Sanggalau sandbank.
Maratua is a large island that curves around a lagoon, with white-sand beaches, mangrove forest and more than 20 dive spots. Green turtles return there each year to lay eggs, and you can visit one of four Bajau villages.
Kakaban has a landlocked brackish lake that covers almost two thirds of the island, full of stingless jellyfish you can swim among. There is no accommodation on the island. By boat it is about 20 minutes from Sangalaki, 30 from Maratua and 45 from Derawan.
Yes. Sangalaki is known for manta rays, and dive sites include Channel Entrance, Coral Gardens, Manta Run and Sandy Ridge.
Scuba Junkie quotes Rp900,000 for a taxi-plus-boat transfer from Berau airport to its Derawan resort, about 3 to 3.5 hours, shareable between up to three people, plus a Tanjung Batu Harbour entry fee of IDR 10,000 per person. Your flight must land in Berau by 13:00 for the same-day transfer. These details are as of September 2026.
Ask the provider which airport, harbor, island and meeting point it uses, where the return pickup is and whether each price is per person or per boat. Check which admission or conservation charges are separate, and leave a buffer before an onward flight.
Turtles nest on Derawan, Maratua and Sangalaki, and watching them lay eggs at night is a listed activity on Derawan. Sightings depend on the season, so ask your host which beaches are active during your dates.
