A long blue lagoon, overwater bungalows, and reef walls off a horseshoe island.
Maratua is the largest island in the group, a long horseshoe wrapped around a wide turquoise lagoon. A few resorts have built overwater bungalows on stilts here, the kind you can step off straight into the water, and the reef walls just offshore draw divers for schooling barracuda and the chance of a passing turtle or shark. It is the most comfortable place to stay in the archipelago.
Beyond the resorts there are local villages, jetties, and quiet stretches of coast you can reach by motorbike or boat.
This fits travelers who want a few slow days of swimming, snorkeling, and diving with a real bed and a view, and who do not mind the cost and effort of getting somewhere genuinely remote.
Getting there
As of late 2025 Wings Air flies the short hop from Berau (Kalimarau, BEJ) directly to Maratua Airport (RTU) a few times a week, which is the fastest route. Otherwise take a speedboat from the Berau or Tanjung Batu area, around two to two and a half hours across open water. Resorts and homestays usually coordinate the transfer, so book the boat or flight through them.
Best time
The dry season, roughly April to October, means calmer seas, better diving visibility, and easier transfers. Flights and boats are limited, so reserve accommodation and transport together well in advance, especially around holidays.
Good to know
Bring enough cash for your whole stay, as card payment and ATMs are unreliable out here. Overwater bungalows book up early and are not cheap, so plan ahead. If you dive, arrange it with your resort, since currents on the outer walls can be strong and are best done with local guides.
Yes, a few resorts have built bungalows on stilts over the lagoon, with steps down into the water. They are limited in number and popular, so book well ahead, particularly in the dry season.
Since late 2025 Wings Air flies from Berau to Maratua's small airport, which is quickest when seats are available. The speedboat from the mainland takes around two to two and a half hours and runs more frequently.
Snorkeling and diving the reef walls are the main draw, with schooling barracuda, turtles, and reef sharks offshore. You can also explore the lagoon, visit local villages, and day-trip to Kakaban and Sangalaki.
Add it to a route across Indonesia and we will work out the travel time and cost between every stop.
Build your trip
