Not many know that in the northern part of East Kalimantan, Berau regency contained precisely in the most beautiful islands of Archipelago Derawan. Islands consisting of 28 small island boasts beautiful beaches and stunning underwater natural. Some islands are prioritized to be developed as an area of maritime tourism in these islands is the Island Derawan, Maratua Island, Island Sangalaki and Kakaban. Each island has a natural beauty and uniqueness of each and Sangalaki Island offers tourist attractions that you might not find on other islands.
WHAT YOU CAN ENJOY IN Sangalaki?
Sangalaki is a small island covering an area about 13 ha. With a leisurely stroll, you can menglilingi island with the status of Natural Park (TWA) is just 30 minutes. During the trip, you will enjoy the white sandy beaches and charming sea. In the morning and evening, you can also enjoy the natural phenomena of sunrise and sunset are amazing.
Not only that, as long as you surround the island, you can also watch a variety of wildlife that you may have never seen before. Such as coconut crabs, monitor lizards, Scaly-breasted falcon, bird Hirst Filipinos, reef egrets, birds pergam sea and shore birds / other sea. Along the coast, you can also find various types of mollusks (clams) in a variety of shapes and colors.
In addition, the island also has a natural Sangalaki very beautiful underwater, coral reefs in this island is one of the best in the world. Average coral cover was 26.75% Island Sangalaki to hard coral reefs and 42.50% for life. Based on a survey conducted in 2003 Laeden Museum Naturalis, in the waters of the island of Pulau Derawan Sangalaki and found 40 species of coral fungi (mushroom coral). This is the location of water areas with the highest diversity of coral mushrooms in Berau MPA (Wiryawan et al, 2005). In the waters there is also a 1051 Sangalaki Island reef fish species and five species of seagrass.
WHAT IS UNIQUE IN Sangalaki?
All the tourist areas of the Islands Derawan has a beautiful underwater world, white sandy beaches and stunning natural scenery. But there is a special tourist attraction on the island because the island is Sangalaki a turtle landing sites and area waters is the location aggregation manta rays.
TWAL (Marine Park) Sangalaki Island is an island of green turtle nesting is most important in Southeast Asia, maybe even the world. Every night, all year 10-30 turtles nesting on the island of Sangalaki. To meyaksikan this attraction, you have to stay overnight on the island of turtle nesting activity Sangalaki because you can only meet at night. In addition, the island's turtle conservation activities are also conducted by the NGO Fondation Turtle. Every morning, the officer will move the eggs are located too close to the sea to a more secure is to place a semi-natural turtle hatching eggs. This activity is also quite interesting to follow.
The uniqueness of the island is the aggregation Sangalaki manta rays in the waters of this island. Manta ray is a type of rays which form the main food of plankton. Sangalaki waters has an abundance of zooplankton high compared to most other waters in the Berau MPA. The high abundance of zooplankton, it makes this area as a manta ray aggregation of the most high. Manta rays are usually rises to the surface and eat plankton at low tide. And to witness this unique fish, you have to dive.
WHAT CAN BE DONE IN Sangalaki?
a. Diving and snorkelingTo view the underwater world and the various biota that is in it, you can dive or snorkel. These activities do you miss, because they say not to Sangalaki if you do not dive into its waters.
b. Wildlife ObservationThe most interesting wildlife to be observed is the turtle. In addition to observing turtles on the beach, visitors can also watch sea turtles eggs hatch in semi-natural turtle hatching in the island. In addition, if you are interested, you can also do bird watching (Birdwatching) on the island.
c. TrackingThese activities are usually done almost by everyone who visited this island. Objects that can be observed is the scenery, forests, beaches, sunrise and sunset. Sangalaki Island can be surrounded in just 30 minutes, so that tracking can be carried visitors from all age classes.
d. SwimSwimming is one activity that can be performed visitors in the shallow waters along the coast. This activity can be done in groups in a relatively safe beach.
FACILITY THAT CAN YOU GET?
Existing facilities on the island TWAL Sangalaki including 12 units of accommodation facilities in the form of cottages, restaurant / cafetraia, tirta tourist facilities and souvenir kiosks. Each cottage is equipped with two beds and a bathroom. This cottage rental price per night is $ 50. Management of nature tourism on the island Sangalaki also rents tirta tourist facilities of motor boats, diving equipment and snorkeling gear.
HOW TO ACHIEVE Sangalaki?
Sangalaki Travel to the island can be reached by landline and udara.Jarak perjanan traveled overland from the provincial capital of Samarinda to Tanjung Redeb town is about ± 700 km with the condition of road accessibility 'being'. Road connecting Samarinda to Tanjung Redeb ± 90% has been on tarmac, but the roads are hollow, narrow streets and the large section of road damaged by landslides make the rider must be careful. Types of vehicles that can be used is a car rental at a cost of approximately Rp. 3,000,000 for round trips. While public transport available are buses with a capacity of 25 people with ticket price of Rp. 125. 000 per person. Road trip travel time if using a rental car is about ± 15 hours, whereas if you use public transportation can be up to ± 20 hours.
From the capital city of Cape Redeb Berau District, road trip continued to Tanjung Batu. The distance is about 100 Km ditampuh, transport vehicles used are regularly called "taxi". This transport of deer-shaped car to leave at 8 am from Cape Redeb, the cost needed is Rp. 50,000 per person and takes about ± 2.5 hours. Most roads are paved and relatively good condition.
From Tanjung Batu, a trip to the island Sangalaki followed by speed boat or rent a ketinting. Price rent a speedboat with a capacity of up to 5 people this is Rp. 400,000 - Rp. 600,000 for the trip home and away. If the overnight cost of a speedboat can reach Rp. 650000-750000, whereas ketinting rental prices ranging from Rp. 150. 000 - Rp. 200 000 round trip. Although travel costs by ketinting cheaper, but the latency is over four times the travel time of a speedboat. The trip by speedboat to the island of Tanjung Batu Sangalaki applied for 2-3 hours while when using ketinting can reach ± 8-12 hours
The trip to the island of Cape Redeb Sangalaki also be done using a speedboat directly from the Port of Tanjung Redeb. Cost speedboat to the island of Cape Redeb Sangalaki reached Rp. 5 million(not in dolar) round-trip takes about 3-4 hours away. Until now there is no regular water transport to the island Sangalaki, regular transport is available only to the island Derawan. From this island visitors usually want to hire Sangalaki Island wooden fishermen's boats.
Besides land routes, travel to the island Sangalaki can also be reached by air routes. A ride on the aircraft can be done from the airport or from Samarinda Temindung Sepinggan Airport Aberdeen Airport in Tanjung Redeb Kalimarau. The next trip may be in the same way by road.
TOUR PACKAGES OFFERED
In general the hotels in Cape Redeb particular offering tour packages for visitors who are interested to travel to the Islands Derawan. Island Derawan arguably the center of marine tourism in these islands. In addition to its already a regular transport to the island, the island's tourist facilities there are also more complete and supported by other infrastructure such as power grids, telecommunications and water sources clean. Therefore, there are tour packages that are usually centered on the island. From this island visitors can travel to other islands such as Pulau Maratua, Sangalaki Island, Island Semama and Kakaban which lie very close.
For day trips to the island Sangalaki, you really have to spend a little in, but do not worry because you will get an unforgettable travel experience. So what are you waiting?