Samakur Island in Biak Numfor Regency, Papua Province

Only some tourists have recognized Biak Numfor’s tourism potentials. In a nutshell, the region becomes famous these days due to the presence of beautiful islands. One of the most recommended islands to visit is called Samakur Island. The locals call it Pulau Burung or Bird Island. Why is the name? It is not because of the shape of the island. Instead, it is because of the presence of tons of birds that often drop by for foods. This phenomenon indeed makes the island special and becomes a nice vacation spot for everyone, especially nature lovers.

The Nuance
When it comes to size, Samakur Island is smaller than neighboring islands. Despite the fact, the environment is awesome. The first noticeable feature is definitely the sloping shoreline with its white sandy landscape. The texture is quite soft either. The sea is considered calm and features crystal clear blue water! Tourists can enjoy swimming on the shallow water, therefore. Some locals are also seen riding their traditional boat on the shore! What is next? At the special occasion, tons of cranes come to the island for foods! They look both beautiful and majestic!

Exploring Samakur Island
The most common thing to do in Samakur Island is definitely bird watching. Tourists only need to come at the right time in order to witness these birds, actually. For the information, the perfect time is at dusk or when the sky turns redder. The number is a lot! Before approaching the island, these birds usually fly around the sea. Aside from looking for foods, these birds wait for the bats to go out from their home at the rocky cliffs. Once the bats go out, these birds use the spots for resting!

Aside from bird watching, visitors can enjoy other things in Samakur Island. For instance, it is swimming in the sea. Due to calm waves and nice sea environment, everyone can enjoy swimming safely. As long as they do it during the low tide, it would be safe! Next, snorkeling is quite recommended! In this case, tourists should carry their gear as no service is available on the island. Moreover, there is no instructor, so it would be troublesome to find the best spot for snorkeling.

Another thing to do in Samakur Island is to approach local fishermen and gather information regarding their activity. It is even possible to ride the boat and join them fishing in the sea! Tourists only need to do a good negotiation with these people later. Plus, the boat service also helps everyone to enjoy island hopping by visiting nearby islands!

Nearby Attractions

• Insamfursi Island
• Workbondi Island
• Manggwandi Island

How to Get There
It would take some time to reach Samakur Island. First, tourists should reach Biak Numfor from where they are. For outsiders, the best transportation would be an airplane. Those who come from Jakarta City, for example, may spend a flight for about 5 hours and 45 minutes. The starting point is Soekarno – Hatta International Airport and the destination is Frans Kaisiepo Airport at Biak Numfor. After arriving at the destination, they only need to reach Bosnik Port for boat service. This time, their destination is none other than Samakur Island. The voyage usually takes around 4 hours during good weather.

Where to Stay

• Padaido Hotel