Wondering what to do on this small island located in the Java Sea? In this blog post we are going to share 5 Things to do in Karimunjawa. It is still pretty underdeveloped and the vibes are pretty calm throughout the whole island. Just recently they have began developing their tourist attractions, so get there before it starts booming and buzzing with tourists. There are a couple of resorts and many hostel type places to stay. A handful of Western type restaurants await you as well.
Here are 5 things we recommend you don’t miss if you travel to Karimunjawa Island!
#1. Island Hopping and Snorkeling on a Traditional Boat
This was by far one of our funnest days on the island! We rented a half day tour through the Jiwaquest Breve Azurine Resort. They arranged everything for us. You can also arrange for a whole day tour. We were picked up at the resort and escorted to our boat. The view of the Java Sea was beautiful. Our first stop was to snorkel. I don’t know how long we spent there, but there were tons of fish to admire in the beautiful clear waters! Amazing!!! All the gear was provided. We boarded the boat again and were given water and watermelon to snack on. We then traveled to a small island called Pulau Cemara Kecil “Small pine tree island”. We were given time to explore the island, comb the beach for shells and starfish and take lots of pictures. We boarded the boat again and sailed to another small island where we watched the sunset and of course took lots of pictures.
You can watch our half-day tour here to get a glimpse into what you can expect when you book a tour.
#2. Kayaking
We stayed at the Jiwaquest Breve Azurine Resort, which provided kayaks for its guests to use free of charge. We launched our kayaks right off their own private beach. The water was clear and you can go pretty far before you come to the end of the reef. You can wear life vests that they provide or go without. They have single or double kayaks to choose from. Coasting on the water and soaking up the sun was so relaxing!
Check out our video about the Resort and you will see the kayaks and other swimming gear that they provide.
#3. Rent a Motorcycle (Scooter) for the day
Definitely do this! You will get a better feel for the island as your travel along its small uncrowded roads. The resort arranged for us to rent two motorcycles for the day. Don’t be alarmed, they don’t provide helmets. We were told that there are no police on the island and no one wears them. I don’t know if that is true, but from our observation very few people had helmets on.
Check out our motorcycle ride here which also features the next thing to do on the island!
#4. Visit Bukit Love “Love Hill”
If you love to take pictures, then this is a great place to visit! As they say, it’s very “Instagramable”. At the top there are great views of the sea and the city. It is cheap to enter and you can buy some souvenirs as well.
#5. Go to the Alun-Alun At Night and Buy Souvenirs
If you didn’t find the souvenir you wanted at Bukit Love, then head to the alun-alun in the evening, after 6:00 PM. This is like the city square where the community hangs out in the evenings. The city will come to life now that the temperature is cooler and there will be lots of people selling food and souvenirs. If you buy in bulk you will be offered a cheaper price.
We stayed around and bought some souvenirs at the end of a Barikan Festival. You can see some of those souvenirs plus what the alun-alun looks like by watching to the end of this video.
We hope you enjoy your vacation to Karimunjawa Island as much as we did! Keep Smiling! :)
BONUS INFO:
1. Watch here to see what it’s like to take the fast boat (Bahari Expres) to Karimunjawa Island.
2. Finding Western food can be tricky on Karimunjawa Island. If you’re looking for Burgers and Pizza, we recommend eating at Eat & Meet.
3. Great smoothies, cheap accommodation and cheap tours on Karimunjawa available at the Happinezz Restaurant.