Karimunjawa

Karimunjawa is a chain of 27 islands north of Semarang, off the coast of Central Java, Indonesia, that has been designated as a national marine park.

Understand
Karimunjawa consists of 27 small islands, the main ones being Karimunjawa, Kemujan, Menjangan Besar and Menjangan Kecil.

Since 2016, there has been 24-hour electricity in most places on Karimunjawa Island, though some other islands may receive as few as six hours per day.

Orientation
Most facilities for travelers are found on the largest island, also called Karimunjawa. The main settlement is at the southern end of that island. It is where ferries dock and most services are to be found. Accommodation is scattered across the island.

Travel out to the furthest islands in the archipelago will take two or more hours depending on the type of boat used.

Climate
Tropical. It is very hot here in the dry season (approximately April to October) and wet and humid in the rainy season (December till March).

History
According to a local legend, Karimun means not clear or obvious, because in clear weather the islands can be seen from the coast of mainland Java, but not clearly.

Karimunjawa was first settled by Sunan Nyamplungan, the son of Sunan Muria, one of the Muslim Saints (Sunan) who introduced Islam to Java.

Karimunjawa is more famous than Bali (who was only a base for pirates for long) since centuries. The island has been known by navigators worldwide as a haven on the trade roads trough java sea to Borneo or Spices Islands and can be found under different names (Tortuga, Chirimao, Carimon jawa...) on all antique portulans and maps of the area.

Historical sources relate the discovery of the Archipelago by Chinese Army sent by emperor Kubhilai Khan in 1293 (they named it CHI-LI-MEN), followed by Ottoman Turkish navigators in 1403, Portuguese, Dutch, French (Bouguinville), and English. Archeological researches have found porcelains from the Ming dynasty.

Many Yachtmen stop now in Karimunjawa on their way from Australia to Thailand or the China sea or back.

Landscape
Mostly low-lying islands with sandy beaches. There is some fringing mangrove around Kemujan. The highest point as Bukit Gajah at 506 meters.

Flora and fauna
One can find various kinds of sea animals, like turtles, sharks, and fishes, in the watery territory of Karimunjawa. On land, there are birds, deer, monkeys and snakes. Entrance to the natural forest requires a National Park guide.

Talk
Javanese is the most common language of communication between local residents, with Indonesian widely used and understood as the national language. English is not widely understood, so knowledge of some Indonesian is recommended.

By boat
There are regular ferries from Jepara, Semarang and Kendal, except during the monsoon season from December to February when the waves may be too high for a day or two. There was a severe case on December 31, 2014 when about 500 tourists could not go back to Java due to 3.5-m-high waves and the ATMs ran out of money after 3 days, because some of the coal cargos also landed to avoid high waves and its crew also used the ATMs. Cash for at least 5 days should be prepared, because vendors still have their merchandise.

See also Weather wave forecast from Indonesia (only available in Indonesian – search “Prakiraan Tinggi Gelombang” (aka “Wave Height Forecast”).

From Jepara


All boats are only operational if the waves are none to medium.

Double-check latest schedule before travel.

From Semarang
The state-owned, PELNI provides two ships to go to Karimunjawa, KM. Lawit and KM. Kelimutu. The cheapest fare is Rp 90,000. You may check the schedule in the PELNI office Semarang Branch or by PELNI app.

There is also a fast boat, ''KMC. Kartini'' from Tanjung Emas Port.

Be aware that PELNI boats are using north island pier.

By plane

 * There are direct flights from Jakarta to Karimunjawa and flights via Semarang. The second option is considered to be cheaper.
 * There are direct flights from Jakarta to Karimunjawa and flights via Semarang. The second option is considered to be cheaper.
 * There are direct flights from Jakarta to Karimunjawa and flights via Semarang. The second option is considered to be cheaper.

Get around
On Karimunjawa and Kemujan islands you can rent cars or motorcycles. Boats are available to get to the other islands. It might be a good idea to book a rental car before you arrive in Karimunjawa because there are few cars.

Fees and permits
Entrance ticket to Karimunjawa National Park to pay on arrival (at pier after boat offboarding, keep ticket):
 * Mancanegara (Wna) Foreign Tourist
 * Weekdays Rp 150,000
 * Weekends Rp 250,000
 * Wisatawan Nusantara (Wni) Domestic Tourist
 * Weekdays Rp 5,000
 * Weekends Rp 7,500

Some charges for natural tourism activities in the National Park:
 * Snorkeling: weekday Rp 15,000/day
 * Scuba diving: weekday Rp 25,000/day
 * Wildlife observations: weekday Rp 10,000/activity
 * Tracking, hiking, climbing: weekday Rp 5,000/day

See
Beaches and beautiful coral reefs.

Diving & snorkelling




Diving and snorkelling. There are many interesting spots for diving like Taka Panyawangan and Gosong Cemara. There are some shipwrecks that attract fish and divers alike.

Hiking
You can also go hiking around the island to find many places where there is a beautiful panorama.

Mangrove trekking
It's unclear if still possible. Some report main site has closed.



Buy
The best known handicrafts in Karimunjawa are its wood carvings, and many shops sell them.

Many people also go to Karimunjawa to find the dewandaru plant, believing it can prolong life.

Karimunjawa cuisine

 * Bakso ikan ekor kuning, a fish ball soup.
 * Lontong krubyuk, a rice cake with chicken, cabbage, tofu, and bean sprout in a brown soup.
 * Tongseng cumi, squid in a sweet and spicy gravy.

Food stalls
Surrounded by sea, Karimunjawa offers lots of seafood. Fresh fish and prawns are staples in the island diet. Restaurants are located within hotels. Other eateries, or warungs, provide decent cheap food like fried rice, fish, or an assortment of veggies. Be flexible and you'll do fine.

Drink
There are no clubs and only one lounge bar, the Cumibar. It is difficult to find alcohol, but it can be found at Breve Azurine (Cumibar & Lumba Beach Snack Bar), the Eat & Meet restaurant and The Happinezz hostel. A beer costs about Rp45,000.

Bottled water can be bought readily. At meals, seasonal fresh fruit juice is a treat (mango, orange, avocado). The whole coconut drink is very common with a reasonable price of Rp10,000-20,000.

Sleep
There are various kinds of accommodation, from four star hotels to homestays and campsites.

Mid-range








Stay safe
For beginner snorkelers, it is recommended to wear a life jacket.

Go next
In practice, the only option is to go back to the mainland of Java: either by ferry to Jepara, Kendal or Semarang, or by plane to Surabaya.

Reference

 * Tempat wisata di Indonesia