Papua Paradise Eco Resort – Golden Triangle
Travel period
Features
Starting at
Papua Paradise Eco Resort
Stay at the Papua Paradise resort, located in the heart of Raja Ampat and experience world-class diving. This resort is a paradise for both diving enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Surrounded by stunning coral reefs and rich flora, this location offers a unique blend of luxury and wild beauty. Raja Ampat tops the list for many divers, thanks in part to its impressive 1,700 fish species, many of which are unique to the region. With more than 600 species of hard corals, Raja Ampat’s reef life is second to none, making it a draw for divers and snorkelers worldwide.
The waterfront bungalows offer fantastic snorkeling opportunities, while the dense jungle is home to numerous exotic bird species. Numerous tropical birds can often be seen in the jungle trees, including Blythes Hornbills, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, Imperial Pied Fruit Pigeon and many more.
Best travel time: Diving and snorkeling can be done year-round. There is no specific season that is particularly dry or rainy. The summer months can be rougher and windier, but do offer the best visibility. A good season is also October to April but then there is less visibility due to plankton.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for Raja Ampat
Our recommendation is a 3mm wetsuit, shorty or skin. What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Day 1 & 2 - The journey to Sorong
Sorong is located in the western part of Papua, a remote island in eastern Indonesia. For travelers from Europe, it is likely that they will first fly to Jakarta before continuing on to Sorong. This stopover may take several hours, depending on the airline and route chosen.
It is possible to arrive at Papua Paradise daily, so you are not tied specifically to an arrival day.
Day 3 - Arrival in Sorong & Check in.
Once you arrive in Sorong, you will be picked up by Papua Paradise at the airport by van and taken to the port. If you arrive early you will first be taken to a hotel for breakfast and have a room to recover for a while before the boat leaves. The boat normally leaves Sorong around 2 p.m., of course we took this into account when picking flights. Should you arrive in Sorong very early, we will arrange a day room at the Fave Hotel until 12:00. Then you will enjoy a delicious lunch between 12:00 and 13:30 and then Papua Paradise will pick you up with a van to go to the port. Verafter, you will sail by boat the last bit to the beautiful Raja Ampat. Welcome to Paradise, Papua Paradise.
On the dock of Papua Paradise, the staff is already waiting for you and you can check into your room after a long journey.
The rest of the day is at your discretion. Perhaps you are very tired after the long trip and want to relax more than anything else. However, it is also possible to go snorkeling or even diving.
Day 4 to 11 - Diving in Raja Ampat
For the next 8 days, you will make 4 boat dives each day (maximum) with the on-site dive school Gangga Divers.
Gangga Divers is one of the few PADI 5-Star dive centers in Raja Ampat. The dive facility operates to the best safety standards, with an emphasis on customer service and professional standards. They maintain a standard of 4 guests for one guide to guarantee divers of the highest quality. The boats are built specifically for diving and are each equipped with emergency oxygen, first aid kits, clean towels, hot drinks, snacks and fruit.
The diving at Raja Ampat is now world famous. This is not without reason, not only is the area particularly pristine but also records are broken around Raja Ampat every time when it comes to the number of fish and coral species. Nowhere else in the world are there so many different species of fish, and nowhere else in the world can you count so many coral species as here. It’s not just the species diversity is great the numbers are overwhelming, manta rays in groups of dozens at manta point and a swirl of life on the reefs. It is particularly difficult to focus the gaze on anything because there is so much to see underwater. From tiny seahorses, to wobbegongs and from manta rays to large schools of jacks.
Day 12 - Excursions and packing up
You can possibly dive today, but keep in mind the no-fly times, as you fly tomorrow. You can use today to explore the island above water. For example, go in search of the red bird of paradise or visit a local village.
The Red Bird of Paradise Tour begins early in the morning and includes a boat ride to a nearby island, followed by a walk through the pristine rainforests with an expert guide providing information about the animal and plant life of the jungle. Upon arrival at the site, one quietly waits and watches the mysterious red bird of paradise from a distance of about 20-25 meters. With a little luck, the beautiful bird can be seen flashing yellow around the head and dark red back and wings. The tour takes about 4 hours and requires moderate fitness and waterproof hiking boots. Binoculars will be provided.
The Arefi Village Tour is a great way to get to know the local people and culture. The village, which is just a 15-minute boat ride from the resort, has about 600 residents and many of the staff come from this village. The tour includes a walk through the village, giving you the opportunity to admire the huge wooden church, rustic cottages and wooden scaffolding. You see the children playing and the residents fishing with bamboo rods. The tour takes about 2 hours.
Other excursions available include Wilson’s bird of paradise tour, batanta island waterfall trip and hornbill island sunset cruise. Be sure to ask us for more information if any of these titles appeal to you.
Day 13 & 14 - Return home
On the day of departure, the boat transfer is between 06:00 and 09:00, depending on the first flight among the departing guests. If you leave the resort at 06:00, the earliest the first flight is feasible is 09:30. We take that into account when booking your flight.
Good to know, there is also a direct connection between Sorong and Manado. So should you want to extend your diving trip you can do so by diving with the smallest special critters in Lembeh, the critter capital of the world. Or you can go to Bunaken, diving along steep drop offs with sea turtles and colorful fish. It’s all possible!
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Papua Paradise Eco Resort
The island is actually divided into two sides. On one side the technical part and on the other side the bungalows for guests. The bungalows at the Papua Paradise Eco Resort are built (half) over the coral and so you not only have a beautiful location but also a very nice view! They are fairly spacious and have a terrace with a hammock to enjoy the sea breeze. All bathrooms have en suite fresh water. The water is heated by the sun so you can enjoy a hot shower after your dive.
Papua Paradise’s restaurant serves delicious Indonesian dishes, with ingredients bought from the local market. So that means sweet bananas, hot peppers, juicy mangoes and daily fresh fish. The small vegetable garden also provides needed additions to the menu. The restaurant also features a library, Internet, TV and bar.
At the Papua Paradise Resort, stay in a superior water bungalow or a deluxe bungalow.
Superior Over-Water Bungalows have ocean views with gently lapping waves below. These sturdy, traditionally built bungalows are spacious and quaint, with natural ventilation and shade from sustainable materials sourced locally. Each bungalow has a private bathroom and a veranda that offers fantastic sea views with beautiful sunsets in the evening. The bungalows measure 70 square meters and have solid wooden furniture. There is also a private bathroom with hot/cold water shower, sun beds and a hammock. There is a queen-size bed with a standing fan.
The Deluxe Bungalows are beautifully designed and elegantly furnished overwater bungalows. They are airy and spacious while maintaining their traditional charm with natural building materials. Each bungalow measures 85 square meters and offers ocean and sunset views. Rooms feature teak furniture, a cozy indoor corner with sofas, a king-size “King Koil” bed with ceiling fan, a private semi-open en-suite bathroom with hot/cold water shower, a sun terrace with sun beds, and a two-level open large veranda with seating and daybed. There is also a minibar, Papuan “Asmat” artwork hanging and a hair dryer.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is €3715 per person based on two people in one room. The trip can be extended as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about the possibilities? Get in touch with us!
Included in this trip, from €3715, - p.p.
- 10 nights in a Superior Over-Water Bungalow
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Return transfers
- 9 days, max 4 boat dives per day
- Free Nitrox Upgrade
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Sorong
- Marine Park Fee of IDR 700,000
- Retribution Fee of IDR 300,000
- from €1200,- p.p.
- approx €43, - p.p.
- approx €19,- p.p.
Optional
- Full diving equipment 9 days
- Dive computer 9 days
- Diving lamp 9 days
- €385, - p.p.
- €70, - p.p.
- €56, - p.p.
Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving general
You will make up to 4 boat dives daily here. Side diving is not possible.
You can make up to 4 dives per day.
Yes indeed, the last boat dive of the day is a sunset dive/night dive.
Only for snorkeling. Not for diving.
Yes definitely, there are several PADI courses:
- Discover Scuba
- Open Water Diver
- Advanced Diver
- Rescue Diver
- EFR
- Nitrox
If you want to learn to scuba dive and get your first scuba certification then take the PADI Open Water course. For this you can start learning at home, ask us about the possibilities.
The diving school is located at the resort.
Diving equipment
There are both DIN and INT tanks.
Yes definitely, and also 8L tanks.
Yes, Nitrox is included as standard in the dive package. Of course, you must be certified. Are you not yet? Then you can take the Nitrox course here for €200 p.p.
Yes indeed, a complete diving equipment including dive computer costs €275 per week or €55 per day. So for 9 days you will spend €385.
Other activities & excursions
You can snorkel beautifully in Raja Ampat. Daily, snorkelers can join the dive boat 3x (morning and afternoon) to snorkel with a guide. The price is €25 per snorkel session, should you wish to join more than 5x the price is €20 per snorkel session.
There is also a house reef on which you can snorkel, unaccompanied and free of charge, between 07:00 and 18:00. Want to snorkel in the dark after 6 p.m.? Then you can do so with a guide for €10 per session.
Besides beautiful snorkeling, you can also do various nature & culture excursions here.
Kampung Arefi € 30.00
Hornbill Island Sunset Cruise € 40.00
Waterfall & Mangroves € 55.00
Mangrove River Bird Cruise € 60.00
Wilson’s Bird of Paradise (max 2 pax) € 110.00
Red Bird of Paradise (price on request)
You can book the excursions below:
Kampung Arefi (the closest local village) € 30.00
Hornbill Island Sunset Cruise € 40.00
Waterfall & Mangroves € 55.00
Mangrove River Bird Cruise € 60.00
Wilson’s Bird of Paradise (max 2 pax) € 110.00
Red Bird of Paradise (Price on request)
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