June is Erau International Folk Arts Festival (EIFAF) — Tenggarong — Kutai Kartanegara sultan.
Derawan
Sea turtles, stingless jellyfish, and East Kalimantan's quiet magic
Take your Derawan trip with Indahnesia
1 curated experiences vetted by our team. Every operator is safety-checked, eco-aligned, and recently visited.
Festivals happening soon
Cultural events overlapping the next 60 days in Derawan.
- 15 Jun – 15 Julfestival
Erau International Folk Arts Festival (EIFAF)
Tenggarong — Kutai Kartanegara sultan.
Book popular activities in Derawan
Meet the Operators
Getting to Derawan
From the major hubs.
From jakarta · flight
~3 hours + 2 hour speedboat · 3-5 daily via Balikpapan
Rp 1.8M – Rp 3.0M
From balikpapan · flight
~1 hour + 2 hour speedboat · 3-5 daily Balikpapan-Berau
Rp 800k – Rp 1.5M
From bali · flight
~5 hours via Balikpapan · daily via BPN
Rp 2.0M – Rp 3.5M
Practical Information
- Visa
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival for 90+ nationalities (USD 35, 30 days, extendable once)
- Currency
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). ATMs in Berau and Tanjung Redeb; carry cash on the islands.
- Power Plug
- Type C/F, 220V/50Hz
- SIM / Data
- Telkomsel at Berau airport. Island coverage is patchy — expect slower data than mainland.
- Local Transport
- Fly to Berau (BEJ) via Balikpapan. 2-hour speedboat from Tanjung Batu to Derawan; inter-island boats run daily between Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban, and Sangalaki.
- Language
- Bahasa Indonesia + Bajau coastal dialect
- Tipping
- Not expected; tip dive crew and boat guides
- Emergency Numbers
- Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Tourist police 1500-771
Derawan on the map
Derawan and beyond
Things to know before you visit Derawan
When is the best time to visit Derawan?
March to June and September to November are the sweet spots with calm seas and peak turtle nesting activity. Kakaban's jellyfish lake is swimmable year-round, but visibility is best in the dry months.
How long should I plan to stay in Derawan?
5-7 days ideal — 1 day arrival via Berau, 2-3 days Derawan island base, 1-2 day-trips to Kakaban (jellyfish lake), Sangalaki (manta point), and Maratua (lagoons).
How do I get to Derawan?
Fly to Berau (BEJ) via Balikpapan, then take a 2-hour speedboat to Derawan Island. Some resorts arrange private transfers from Berau airport.
What are the must-do experiences in Derawan?
Three signature experiences in Derawan:
• Swimming with stingless jellyfish in Kakaban Lake
• Sea turtle nesting beaches on Derawan Island
• Manta ray encounters at Sangalaki Island
Where should I stay in Derawan?
Derawan Island has budget homestays and mid-range dive lodges; Maratua offers higher-end overwater villas. Range: homestay from Rp 300K, overwater villa from Rp 3M per night.
What food and dishes are worth trying in Derawan?
Fresh-caught seafood is the headline: grilled grouper, kepiting soka (soft-shell crab), lobster, sambal kecap at every warung. Try kepiting kenari and ikan asar smoked fish at Derawan village.
What should I prepare before traveling to Derawan?
Before traveling to Derawan: Visa-free or visa-on-arrival for 90+ nationalities (USD 35, 30 days, extendable once). Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). ATMs in Berau and Tanjung Redeb; carry cash on the islands. Plug: Type C/F, 220V/50Hz. SIM: Telkomsel at Berau airport. Island coverage is patchy — expect slower data than mainland.. Tipping: Not expected; tip dive crew and boat guides. Emergency: Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Tourist police 1500-771
What people keep booking in Derawan
We're curating the top experiences for this destination. Worth checking back soon.