Kepulauan Seribu, a Thousand Wonders in the Capital

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Not to be mistaken with a salad dressing, Kepulauan Seribu literally means a Thousand Island. It’s the name of the archipelago located in Jakarta Bay, just north of the capital city of Indonesia. The name is an exaggeration as there are only 110 islands within this archipelago. All are small enough to not be visible on the Indonesia or Java Island map. It’s an important place, being one of the National Marine Parks in Indonesia.

Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia, August 2013
Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia, August 2013. (c) Shutterstock

For Jakartans, Pulau Seribu is an escape getaway from the stressful work in a city. Jakarta can be ruthlessly stressful for professional, not only because of the works, but also from the traffic congestions. That is why, a quick vacation to beautiful beaches is a great way to fully recharge. Here are several best spots you can visit in Kepulauan Seribu.

Exploring ruins at Pulau Onrust

Ruins in a deserted island. (c) Shutterstock
Ruins in a deserted island. (c) Shutterstock

During the colonial era, Onrust Island was being used as temporary transit port before entering Batavia. The Dutch Colonial Government even built a fort on this island that sadly doesn’t survive today, though you can still see the ruins.

There are many scary stories and myths about this island, including a ghost of a young bride named Maria, still in her wedding dress. Getting to Onrust Island is easy, you just need to go to either Marina Ancol or Muara Kamal in north Jakarta and take a tour to Onrust. It is usually included in a package with nearby islands too.

Turtles’ sanctuary at Pramuka Island

Turtle conservation on Pramuka Island. (c) Shutterstock
Turtle conservation on Pramuka Island. (c) Shutterstock

Pramuka Island is a sanctuary for greenback turtles. Pramuka Island is the natural habitat of this the turtles and the government set the area as a nature reserve. The conservation effort includes nurturing the eggs and baby turtles.

Tourists are encouraged to help those babies to take their first steps into their habitat, and release them to the ocean. Pramuka Island also has a beautiful underwater scene, with colorful coral reefs, some species of fish, and of course greenback turtles. Getting to Pramuka Island should be easy with a boat from North Jakarta ports.

Love Bridge at Tidung Island

love bridge location island Tidung. (c) Shutterstock
love bridge location island Tidung. (c) Shutterstock

Tidung is one of the few inhabited islands in Kepulauan Seribu. Tidung is an elongated shape and comprised from two islands: Tidung Besar and Tidung Kecil. Both islands are connected by a 800 meter long bridge, called Jembatan Cinta or Love Bridge.

According to the legend, this bridge is the symbol of hope to find your true love on this path. With blue water underneath, it’s really tempting to just jump into the clear water when you walk on a hot sunny day. Tidung Island also has some great spots for snorkeling.

Finding the Princess at Pulau Putri

Pulau Putri.
Pulau Putri. via Instagram/rustanto.abe

Putri Island is one of the furthest island from mainland Java. Putri has beautiful beaches combined with world class resort, as well as wonderful underwater. There are many facilities like Tunnel Aquarium, Swimming Pool, Display Aquarium, Terrarium, Tennis Court, Glass Bottom Boat, Sunset Cruise, and many more. Tourism to this resort island is managed by Putri Island Management, offering several interesting packages for tourist of all ages.

How to get There and What to do in Kepulauan Seribu

Stones as Beach Barrier at Kelor Island of Seribu Island Jakarta Indonesia. (c) Shutterstock
Stones as Beach Barrier at Kelor Island of Seribu Island Jakarta Indonesia. (c) Shutterstock

Most islands in this archipelago are accessible via boat from some ports on North Jakarta, mainly Marina Ancol. Ticket ride to the islands are ranging from IDR15000 to IDR270,000, depending on the distance. Island hopping can be arranged via tour agencies. Otherwise, you would have to rent a bot to go from one island to another.

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Jakarta Kepulauan Seribu Pulau Onrust Pulau Pramuka pulau Putri pulau tidung
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