Snorkeling Tour in the Islands of Raja Ampat

The Raja Ampat archipelago has got a lot of coral reef sites that are the natural habitat of thousands of species of marine creatures. The easiest and most affordable way to access this coral reef area is by snorkeling. Snorkeling sites that can be explored near Waigeo island include Southern coast of Waigeo, the beach of Lesser and Greater Urai islands, the inner site of Gam island that faces Kabui bay, Friwen Wall and Mioskon, and Five Rocks.

Tropical beach of Raja Ampat

More snorkeling sites could be explored along Yenbuba Strait, Cape Kri, Sawandarek, Arborek and Piaynemo. 

Snorkeling tours to these sites are usually conducted by speedboat. Visitors need to bring their own snorkeling equipment and underwater photographic device. 

Coral reef and tropical fish in Raja Ampat

In the mornings when the sea is still calm and the sunlight could reach the coral reef, the visibility will be perfect for taking pictures and videos of the marine life.

Coral reef in Raja Ampat

Snorkeling tour participants need to avoid standing on the coral while taking photographs or videos of the tropical fish, sea star and the Christmas Tree Worm. More fish and other marine creatures could be seen as the fore reef zone of the coral reef that faces open sea. For snorkeling tour participants who are not experienced enough in sea current, it is better if they wear life jacket and are accompanied by local snorkeling guides.

Marine life in Raja Ampat

If you are interested in taking a snorkeling tour by speedboat in the islands of Raja Ampat and want me (Charles Roring) to organize your tour, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

• Bird Photography Tour in Raja Ampat
• Raja Ampat Snorkeling, Sightseeing and birding tour
• Snorkeling and Watching Birds in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

Snorkeling in Raja Ampat Reef - Birding in its Rainforest

Raja Ampat has got beautiful coral reef which we could explore while snorkeling over it. The snorkeling sites that I highly recommend are Yefkabu island, Tamako reef, Yefnabi island, Sand Bank, Mutus island, Lesser Mutus, Yef Tip, Yet Moi, Piaynemo Karst, and etc. They are located in the west of Waigeo island.

Jousuba Homestay in Raja Ampat

The snorkeling sites that are closer to Waigeo island are the southern coast of Waigeo, Saporkren beach, Friwen wall, Urai island, Yenbuba Strait, Mioskon, and etc. A lot of fish could be seen in coral reef. There are striped-surgeonfish, diagonal sweetlips, butterflyfish, anemonefish, moorish idol and etc. We could also see christmas tree worm, sea cucumber, nudibranch, turtle and etc. 

Coral reef in Raja Ampat

Stonefish in Waigeo island

Island Hopping

Islands that could be chosen as the sites for snorkeling include Kri, Mansuar, Gam, and Waigeo. The snorkeling tour to remote places could be conducted by speed boat. Traveling with 2 or 4 participants will allow every participant of the tour to share the cost.

Birding/ Wildlife Watching

The activity of watching wild animals in the rainforest of Raja Ampat is also interesting. Usually, Waigeo island is the most recommended destination. The main target of observation include Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Blyth's Hornbill, Beach Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Red-cheeked Parrot, Papuan Eclectus, Great-billes Parrot and Violet-necked Lory. 

Pinon Imperial Pigeon

There are also Waigeo-spotted Cuscus, Fruit Bats and soa-soa which we could watch in the forest.

Binoculars such as the Swarovski, Leica or Nikon Monarch 10×42 mm will greatly enhance the birding experience of tour participants who bring them. Camera for bird or wildlife photography is usually the d-slr or mirrorless one with a 150-600 mm telephoto lens.

A beach in Kri island of Raja Ampat

Equipment

There are some snorkeling device that tour participants need to bring such as snorkeling mask, fins. Some beach resorts provide them for free or for rent. To take underwater picture and videos, a digital camera will be needed. The famous one is Olympus TG-7 or Nikon W300. 

If you are interested in taking a snorkeling tour that is combined with birding/ wildlife watching tour in Raja Ampat islands, and want me to organize your trip, please, contact us by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Related Posts

• Adventure Tour in the Islands of Raja Ampat
• Raja Ampat Adventure Snorkeling and Birding

Birdwatching,  Butterfly watching and Farm Tour in Sonder Town of Minahasa Highland

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa Highland. It is a beautiful destination for visitors who love to see nature, farmland, do birdwatching and insect watching. 

Sulawesi Scops Owl

Birds in Subdistrict Sonder

A lot of species of birds could be watched there. Here are some of them:

• Sooty-headed Bulbul
• Sahul Sunbird
• Brown-throated Sunbird
• Black Sunbird 
• Crimson Sunbird
• Sulawesi Hanging Parrot
• Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo
• Pygmy Hanging Parrot
• Gray-sided Flowerpecker
• Yellow-sided Flowerpecker
• Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker
• Sulawesi Hanging Parrot
• Sulawesi Pygmy Hanging Parrot
• Sulawesi Myzomela
• Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker
• Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove
• Sulawesi Crow
• Citrine Canary Flycatcher
• Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher
• Warbling White-eye (also called Japanese White-eye)
• Black-crowned White-eye
• Little Egret
• Cattle Egret
• Purple Heron
• White-breasted Woodswallow
• Collared Kingfisher
• Sulawesi Drongo 
• Hair-crested Drongo 
• Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove
• White-faced Cuckoo-dove
• Green Imperial Pigeon
• Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon
• Sulawesi-crested Myna
• Chestnut Munia
• Black-faced Munia
• Scaly-breasted Munia
• Sulawesi Scops Owl
• Pale Blue Monarch
• Sulawesi-crested Myna
• Yellow-billed Malkoha
• White-browed Crake
• Isabelline Bush-hen
• Buff-banded Rail
• Barred Rail
• and etc. 

Birdwatching activity is usually carried out by walking through farm forest where local villagers grow fruiting trees such as clove, coconut, avocado, rambutan, jackfruit, durian, duku. There is tropical rainforest on the top of the hill in the south of Sonder. Birding along its edge will allow visitors to see Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Yellow-billed Malkoha, and other endemic species of birds of Sulawesi.

Pale Blue Monarch

Birdwatching Equipment

Most birdwatchers bring a good pair of 10×42 mm or 10× 50 mm binoculars from such brands as Nikon Monarch, Leica, Swarovski, Olympus. As a birding guide, I usually bring my SVBONY 20-60×80 mm spotting scope. All participants could share the use of this scope when observing birds in tall or distant trees. 

Sonder town and its surrounding farmland

Accommodation

Visitors who are interested in taking a birding tour can stay in homestays of local villagers. The rooms are basic/ simple. For more comfortable accommodation, visitors could stay in the nearby Tomohon town. 

How to get there?

It is easy to reach Sonder town. Visitors can combine the marine tour in Raja Ampat with the birding tour in Minahasa highland. They can fly from Sorong city to Manado city. There are daily flight services between these cities that are served by TransNusa and Lion Air. 

For international travelers, they could fly from Singapore to Manado city by Scoot Air or from Guangzhou in China to Manado city by TransNusa or China Southern Airlines.

Flight routes to Manado city

Car route to Sonder

Booking

The duration of snorkeling tour in Raja Ampat can be as short as 4 days-3 nights to 1 week. The duration for birding in Sonder and other areas of Minahasa Peninsula can be 1 week. You could book this combined trip of snorkeling and birding in Raja Ampat and birwatching trip in Sonder of Minahasa highland by sending your message to our e-mail: peace4wp@gmail.com or whatsapp:+6281332245180. 

Also read:

• Birding in Minahasa Peninsula
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Sonder's Birdwatching and Butterflywatching Sites
• North Sulawesi Tour Package

Bird Photography Tour in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is not only famous for its marine environment but also its rainforest wildlife. There are Red Bird of Paradise, and Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, and etc.

In my recent trips with photographers from the USA and India, we saw the Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise in the forest of Waigeo.

Wilson's Bird of Paradise

We had to wake up at 04:00, made preparation and had some breakfast before leaving for the forest by car at 04:30. It took around 30 minutes to reach the entrance site of the forest. When we arrived, we still had to continue our trip on foot for around 30 minutes to reach the lek of Red Bird of Paradise and then another 30 minutes to the Wilson's Bird of Paradise. 

Although we experienced heavy rain, we were able to see the paradise birds as well as other birds such as Blyth's Hornbill, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Papuan Eclectus, and Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Hooded Butcherbird, Red-cheeked Parrot and etc. 

In my last trip with the Indian photographer, we went to a small island in Kabui bay by boat. There, we saw Violet-necked Lory, Beautiful Fruit-dove, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Great-billed Parrot, Dusky Scrubfowl, Palm Cockatoo and Helmetted Friarbird and Black-naped Tern.

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving

During the tour, participants will stay at a beach resort. So, in addition to birding or wildlife watching, participants could enjoy snorkeling at the house reef of the resort. For scuba diving, we could arrange it with the dive center of the resort. 

Marine Life in Raja Ampat

If you are interested in visiting Raja Ampat to enjoy snorkeling and birding, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Wildlife Tour in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

Waigeo is the largest island in Raja Ampat, located in the western part of Papua, Indonesia. This island is known for its rich biodiversity, both on land and in the sea. Wildlife watching tours on Waigeo offer visitors the chance to see unique and rare species in their natural habitats.

Tropical birds and marine life are natural attractions of Raja Ampat for tourism

One of the main highlights of a wildlife tour in Waigeo is birdwatching. The island is home to two spectacular species of birds-of-paradise: the Red Bird-of-Paradise and Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise. These birds are best seen early in the morning from forest hides, where they perform their courtship displays. Other bird species that can be seen include the Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Hooded Butcherbird, Blyth’s Hornbill, Papuan Pitta, and Red-cheeked Parrot.

Tiger Orchid Flower in Waigeo island

Besides birds, Waigeo also offers the chance to observe terrestrial and nocturnal wildlife. At dusk, visitors may spot the Waigeo spotted cuscus and sugar gliders around forest edges or eco-resorts. Night walks can reveal tree frogs, monitor lizards, snakes, coconut crabs, and even rare bats like the flying fox. During the day, it is common to see birds such as the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, White-breasted Woodswallow, and Osprey around the coastal areas.

Wildlife watching in Waigeo also includes exploring the underwater world. The coral reefs around southern Waigeo are full of life. While snorkeling, visitors can see colorful fish like parrotfish, butterflyfish, groupers, and damselfish. There is also a chance to spot reef sharks, including black-tip and white-tip sharks. Nearby islands like Kri, Friwen, Mioskon, and Mansuar are often included in snorkeling and wildlife tours.

Wobbegong

Coconut Crab

A typical wildlife tour in Waigeo lasts three to five days. On the first day, travelers usually arrive from Sorong by ferry and stay in a beachside homestay. A short walk along the coast in the afternoon can already provide sightings of parrots and other tropical birds. On the second day, a pre-dawn trek into the forest gives visitors the chance to watch the birds-of-paradise. After breakfast, a guided jungle tour may reveal reptiles and amphibians. The third day may include a boat trip to a small town tropical island in Kabui bay to watch Osprey, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Great-billed Parrot, and other wildlife, followed by island hopping and snorkeling in the afternoon. On the last day, guests often enjoy a final snorkeling session and a morning birdwatching walk before returning to Waisai for departure.

To enjoy this experience, it is important to bring good binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a flashlight for night walks. A snorkel and mask are useful for exploring the reefs. Visitors are encouraged to use local guides who are experienced in wildlife tracking and who work closely with local communities. The best time to see birds is in the early morning or late afternoon, when they are most active.

Tours on Waigeo support local villages and conservation efforts. Responsible tourism contributes to these efforts and helps preserve the island’s natural beauty.

Waigeo is a unique place where travelers can experience the rainforest, the mangroves, and the coral reefs all in one trip. It is a destination for those who love nature, adventure, and cultural discovery. Whether you are watching the birds-of-paradise dance at dawn or snorkeling with reef fish in crystal-clear waters, a wildlife tour in Waigeo of Raja Ampat promises unforgettable memories.

If you are interested in visiting Waigeo island for wildlife watching and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Village Trip and Waisai Town Tour in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

I am now guiding two tourists in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. They are from Australia. In the past few days, we have been doing sightseeing and birdwatching tour. 

This morning we went by car to the northeast area of Waisai town to have a tour around traditional market of Waisai and Warsambin village. We were accompanied by a boy from the village who showed us interesting things about his village. We took pictures about the village, its houses and alleyways, flowers, and its unique people. 

Tour from Waisai town to Warsambin village in Waigeo

Warsambin was a small coastal village. Villagers had been working as fishermen but now more of them were getting involved in tourism business. They used their motorized boats to transport visitors to Blue River. 

The landscape or the seascape of Warsambin was beautiful if we saw it from one of the jettys. It took around 1 hour for us to explore the village. We had some light but interesting conversations with the villagers. There were elementary school children and their mothers who went to school carrying foods for celebrating their graduation party. There was also a man who was making traditional wooden drum. He used simple tools such as small chisel and hammer. He could only make 1 wooden drum per week. 

Snowy Orchid-Tree

While passing by the houses of the villagers along the coast of Warsambin, I saw a shrub plant whose white flowers looked very beautiful. I stopped to make some photographs. Later when I asked Google Lens to identify it, it replied with description about Dwarf White Bauhinia or  Snowy Orchid Tree (Bauhinia acuminata).

On the way back to the resort where we were staying, we stopped at a waterfall near the road to enjoy the view. After that we stopped at a place where people were making bricks using adobe which they digged from the hill at the roadside. We also visited WTC (Waisai Torang Cinta) beach and had a car tour around Waisai town to see housing areas of the town dwellers, and government buildings. At the WTC beach, we had lunch that we took in lunch boxes from our resort. We watched Beach Kingfisher, tern and coconut lorikeet there. 

Swimming and Snorkeling

During the tour, we stayed at a beach resort in southern Waigeo. Its waters has got beautiful coral reef. It is suitable for swimming and snorkeling. So, we combined swimming, snorkeling and sightseeing during the 3 days 2 nights trip in Raja Ampat.

A wooden jetty of a beach resort on the seawater allows easy and safe access to the coral reef for snorkelers

Anemonefish in Raja Ampat

If you are interested in traveling to Indonesia to enjoy your holiday in Raja Ampat, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Related Posts:

• Things to do in Raja Ampat
• Snorkeling, Island Hopping and Birdwatching Trip in Raja Ampat
• Raja Ampat Coral Reef Snorkeling and Rainforest Wildlife Tour
• Bird Tour in Raja Ampat

Also read:

• Sonder's Birdwatching and Butterflywatching Site
• North Sulawesi Tour Package
• Nature Tour in North Sulawesi