Kakaban Island

Kakaban is one of the most famous islands in Derawan Archipelago. What makes it famous is that the island is very unique geographically. This island is an atoll which was lifted up completely and had evolved into an island.

Wooden trail in Kakaban

Since it was originated from an atoll, the island has a salt-lake in the middle part. In this salt-lake, there are, at least, four species of jellyfish. However, these jellyfish had lost their stinging ability from the evolution and adaptation processes. Nowadays, the jellyfish are completely harmless and once can just swim around with them.

Playing with non-stinging jellyfish

Kakaban is an uninhabited island. Although it is uninhabited, the island is not abandoned. It is supported with a wooden trail to make the visit enjoyable including some gazebos for sitting around, a pier for swimming entry point, and garbage bins. One doesn’t need to pay anything to visit this extraordinary island. So, swimming around with non-stinging jellyfish for free seems a very nice offer, right?

Sangalaki Island

Sangalaki Island is located in the sub-district of Derawan. It takes around 2 – 3 hours speed boat ride from Tanjung Redeb. Since it is part of Derawan Sub-district, usually every tour package offers a trip to Derawan Island, Sangalaki Island, and Kakaban Island altogether. It offers a place to stay in Derawan and a day trip to Sangalaki and Kakaban. Both islands can be reached around 45 minutes speed boat ride from Derawan.
Sangalaki is a Marine Tourism Park (Indonesian: Taman Wisata Alam Laut). On this island, there is a Sea Turtle Monitoring and Research Station including a hatchery. One can camp on the island to witness nesting activity of sea turtles. Furthermore, one can also release sea turtles babies after they hatch.
But be careful with the monitor lizard, the natural predator of sea turtles eggs, and the itchy bug (Indonesian: tungau); these could make your camping turns into nightmares. The lizard normally won’t bother human but they might get attracted to your food supply and stealing it. While for the tungau, if you got it, just take a bath in the sea until the itches gone. In general, ask the ranger for advices before start camping.

Nunukan Resort

This resort is located in Maratua Sub-district, on a tiny island called, of course, Nunukan. Most part of the island are consists of stony coral and has no ground water which perhaps considered as ugly or uninteresting. But this is what I admire from the owner/ designer/ investor, he or she can make a beauty out of nothing. What a truly entrepreneur!

The resort is not just beautiful but also expensive. I was so lucky that I can experience its service. I have to host VIP guests of my office from Denmark. And although the trip itself was very mentally exhausting for me, but on a bright side, it’s a very nice opportunity to stay at a high-end resort :)