Moyo Island off Sumbawa: how to reach the turquoise Mata Jitu waterfall, what else to see on the protected reserve, snorkeling, and the best time to go.
By Asik Travel Editorial6/5/20266 мин чтенияMoyo Island is the easiest Sumbawa side trip to understand: cross by boat, visit Mata Jitu waterfall, add a snorkel stop if conditions are good, then decide whether to return the same day or sleep on the island. The logistics are simple once you are in Sumbawa Besar, but not casual enough to leave unplanned. Boats, waterfall transport, and tide/weather all shape the day.
Moyo is the prettiest stop in our Sumbawa travel guide, and an easy add-on to a wider trip through the island.
The star of Moyo Island is Mata Jitu, a series of low cascades and pale pools inside the island. You can swim in the calmer sections when local conditions allow, and the place is much better early than in the middle of the day. It sits inland from the coast, usually reached by local motorbike transport from Labuan Aji followed by a short walk, so account for the island transfer after the boat crossing.
Moyo is more than one stop if you give it time. Diwu Mbai is a smaller waterfall with a natural pool, and boat trips often add snorkeling around nearby reef or sandbank areas when the sea is calm. The island also has a protected interior with wildlife, though sightings are not guaranteed. For most independent travelers, the best version is a slow day that combines Mata Jitu, lunch in or near Labuan Aji, and one water stop rather than a rushed checklist.
Moyo lies off the north coast of Sumbawa, usually visited from the Sumbawa Besar area. First get to Sumbawa Besar by flight or overland from Lombok, then arrange a boat to Labuan Aji or the relevant island landing. Independent public-boat options can be slow and irregular, so most travelers use a private or organized day boat. Confirm what is included: hotel transfer, boat, life jackets, waterfall transport, entrance fees, lunch, and snorkeling gear.
The dry months are easiest for boat crossings, waterfall access, and snorkeling visibility. A day trip is enough for Mata Jitu and one water stop if you start early, but an overnight makes the visit feel less transactional and gives you a better shot at reaching the waterfall before day-trippers. Avoid tight plans in rough-sea periods; a small-island boat day needs weather margin.
Go to the falls early
Mata Jitu is busiest with day-trippers in the middle of the day. Stay nearby or set out at first light, and you can have the turquoise pools to yourself before the boats arrive from the mainland.
Most people fold Moyo into a wider Sumbawa trip rather than visiting it alone, pairing it with the surf coast or the whale sharks of Saleh Bay. It is the gentle, scenic counterpoint to those more active draws. For the full island and how to reach it, see our Sumbawa travel guide, and plan a trip with us.
Written by
Asik Travel Editorial
Local travel editors
We write from the islands we sell, with first-hand notes from our guides and operators.
