Karimunjawa – A Hidden Island Gem in Indonesia
4–5 minute read
The final stop of our three-week adventure through Indonesia was a small and lesser-known gem: Karimunjawa. This island group in the Java Sea is known for its national park, mangrove forests, stunning coral reefs, and vibrant marine life. The archipelago consists of 27 islands, the largest of which is Karimunjawa itself. We had originally planned to stay for only two nights, but the island turned out to be so captivating that we stayed until the very last possible hours before returning to Europe.
Karimunjawa lies around 80 kilometers off the coast of Java. It can be reached either by a slower ferry that takes about four hours or by a speed boat that takes roughly two. In windy weather, the crossing can be slightly uncomfortable, especially on the speed boat. Still, the final twenty minutes make up for everything: slicing through turquoise water, passing smaller islands, and slowly arriving into one of the most beautiful corners of the trip. The harbor itself is tiny, and upon arrival visitors need to pay an entrance fee to the national park. Our host, Tomo, was already waiting for us, and after a short 15-minute drive we arrived at our first accommodation, Floating Paradise.
Located on the eastern side of the island, down a quiet dead-end road, Floating Paradise felt wonderfully remote. It was just us and nature - only two bungalows extending above the water. Wrapped in turquoise sea and green hills, we spent our first hours simply slowing down. Life felt peaceful and relaxed here, especially after the intensity and movement of Java.
One of the best ways to experience Karimunjawa is not on land, but out on the water. The day after arriving, we arranged a full-day island hopping trip for ourselves. Despite the strong wind, we still made it to Gleyang Island on a small local boat. The massive coral reef surrounding the island was absolutely mesmerizing - probably the most beautiful we had seen anywhere in Indonesia. We came across only one other boat, and for hours it felt as though the island was ours alone. Our guides prepared drinks and refreshments for us, and our only task was to relax, take photos, and fly the drone whenever the weather allowed.
We spent the second half of the day near a larger island, close to Melinda Beach. We did not go ashore there, but instead snorkeled along the coral reefs while slowly heading north. The highlight of the trip came during golden hour, when everything under the water turned warm and glowing. Marine life was especially active at that time of day. We fed the fish and tried to absorb every single moment. Back on the boat, we ate fresh fruit, watched the sunset, and slowly made our way home.
On our third day, the wind was still not in our favor, so we visited the nearby turtle sanctuary at Pantai Kanjen instead. Here, turtle eggs found by locals are collected and hatched in a safer environment, protecting them from predators. Once the turtles hatch, they are released back into the wild. Locals are encouraged to bring in eggs they find and are rewarded for doing so. The sanctuary can only be reached by boat. Entry itself is free, but if you would like to take part in releasing the turtles, a small fee is paid per turtle. We released six turtles in total, all from different age groups.
After the turtle experience, it was time to say goodbye to our beautiful overwater stay and move to a second accommodation. Since we had originally only planned for two nights, our third night was spent at Eco Casa on the northern side of the island. Hidden away in the northeastern corner of Karimunjawa, these eco-friendly apartments offered a beautiful connection to the beach and a completely different atmosphere from our first stay. Our host, Ester, was incredible — warm, attentive, and exceptionally well prepared to help with everything. From answering all our questions, to arranging food, snorkeling equipment, and transport, she made the final part of our stay feel effortless and welcoming.
The food at Eco Casa was also unforgettable. In fact, we had the best mie goreng of the entire trip there. Late that afternoon, before we started packing, we took one last dip in the sea, glowing in the most intense turquoise tones. The warm evening air, the salty breeze, and the quiet rhythm of the island created a bittersweet feeling — that particular kind of stillness that comes when you know a journey is about to end. Karimunjawa gave us exactly the kind of ending we did not know we needed: soft, beautiful, and impossible to leave without already missing it.
The next morning we left around 5 a.m. to catch the 7 a.m. speed boat back to Java. From there, a long journey home was waiting for us: Semarang, Jakarta, Abu Dhabi, and finally Amsterdam. Karimunjawa exceeded all our expectations, and we did not regret changing our travel plans to stay longer, not even for a second. We only hope we will one day return.