Papua Paradise Eco Resort Trip Recap
Fam Island Lookout - Raja Ampat, Indonesia - Photos Courtesy of Tina R-M
Immediately after my arrival on Birie Island in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, for my stay at Papua Paradise Eco Resort, I was struck by how calming it was. There is an “a-ha” moment to this special place. Perhaps it’s the water cottages and the sounds of the local exotic birds or the juvenile sharks and small schooling fish you see in the shallow water as you walk the dock to the resort. Whatever it is, I knew I was going to be happy here before I even entered my room.
Transfers to the island are offered daily with a 90-minute afternoon boat ride from Sorong. The afternoon transfer allows you to easily arrive in Papua Paradise the same day as you arrive in Sorong, avoiding an overnight in a Sorong hotel.
The resort offers 3 room types, each different in size, location, price point and amenities, but all are on the water with amazing ocean views. The entry-level superior rooms (nearest to the restaurant, lounge and dive shop) have a fan over the bed (but no a/c). They are the smallest rooms but very comfortable for single occupancy or a couple, with coffee/tea making service, safe, mini-fridge and a deck with sitting area. The mid-level deluxe category is more spacious with 2 beds (one king with a ceiling fan over the bed and a queen in the corner) with oscillating fans, a large deck with seating area, mini-fridge, coffee/tea making service and a large bathroom with open air shower. Premium rooms are even larger, furthest from the restaurant and lounge but offer light and bright interiors, air conditioning, wifi, mini-bar consumption included in your stay and a 30-minute massage for guests. The resort will ultimately have 10 superior, 10 deluxe and 6 premium rooms.
Mealtimes are convenient…
Breakfast at 6:30 AM
Lunch at 1:00 PM
Dinner starting at 6:30 PM
The wait and kitchen staff do an amazing job of being attentive and keeping you fed. If the resort is at mid to full capacity meals are served buffet style. Ala carte is offered when they are less than half capacity. Breakfast is made to order with a selection of pastries, breads and fruits, self-serve coffee/tea and juices. Lunch is ordered in advance from that day’s menu options and same for dinner when offered ala carte. If the resort is near capacity lunch and dinner will be buffet style plus there is always a salad bar, even at breakfast.
The dive loading area and the dive shop are separated by a long deck. At the dock you’ll find hanging space for your wetsuit and assigned spaces for additional hanging of booties, etc. and a basket for smaller items. Bottled water and benches for gearing up are provided but the bathroom is at the dive shop. The air-conditioned camera room is also located at the dive shop.
Boat rides can be over an hour for the high demand sites like Melissa’s Garden and Fam Slope, but other sites are a 10-minute ride. Morning boats are out for 2-tank diving with a surface interval spent on the boat or a land based local site with baked items and fruit, water, coffee/tea or hot chocolate, returning to the resort for lunch. The afternoon dive is typically a close site, departing at 2:00 PM for a single tank dive. Bottom times are 60 minutes, and nitrox is provided free of charge as the closest chamber is in Sorong. Dive sites aren’t typically too deep, about 60 – 80 feet for the deeper dives with shallows in less than 40 feet for later in the day or for your safety stop. There are some upgrade dive sites (Melissa’s Garden and Fam Slope) with an additional cost of about $90 USD per diver.
Some of the highlights I enjoyed seeing on this trip included schooling barracuda, oriental sweetlips, blue spotted stingray, yellowbarred jawfish, signal gobies, enormous schools of glassfish, Bartel’s dragonet, spine cheek clown fish, barramundi, many spotted juvenile sweet lips, harlequin tuskfish, and a variety of nudibranch. The best way I can describe the diving is fishy.
In addition to diving, the resort has a very nice spa with a selection of both massage, facials and local treatments with beautiful treatment rooms. Arrive early and enjoy a cold drink and afterwards drink tea while taking in the amazing ocean views from their oceanfront deck.
Birding is another big draw to the resort, and they offer tours devoted specifically to the local bird life. You might see Red Bird of Paradise, Blyth’s Hornbill, Wilson’s Bird of Paradise, Western Crowned Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, various Kingfishers and more.
It’s the tropics so bugs need to be expected. Fortunately, mosquito netting in all bungalows provides protection while you sleep. Due to insects, I’d suggest one of the premium bungalows if you are prone to insect bites. Bug repellent is provided in all common areas as well as your bungalow.
This part of Raja Ampat is full of wows with rare birds, Fam Island (famous picturesque spot for the area) and fishy dive sites. It’s a winner!