Snorkeling in Mansinam island of Manokwari city

Mansinam is a small island that is located near Manokwari city (the capital of Papua Barat province) in West Papua. It has been a famous destination among Christian pilgrims because it was the first place in New Guinea where Christianity was preached to the indigenous people. Every year on 5 February, thousands of people gather on the island to celebrate the event.
The tropical island of Mansinam is also surrounded by coral reef that hosts thousands of species of marine animals.
Early this month, I went snorkeling at the southern part of the island. I brought a Canon G1X with its housing to take pictures of the marine life. There were a lot of fish that I saw during my 2 hours snorkeling activity. Some of them were Striped Surgeon Fish, parrotfish, damselfish, convict surgeonfish, butterflyfish, Moorish Idol, Clark's anemone fish, several species of Christmas tree worms, and a lot more. There were blue sea stars and black urchins and sea cucumber too.
Here are some pictures that I made during the trip:

Cross Monument in Mansinam island

Marine Life in Mansinam Island

Underwater World of Mansinam Island

Clark's Anemonefish

Snorkeling Tour and Rainforest Tour
As a tour guide, I can organize a Snorkeling Tour and Rainforest Tour for anybody who is interested in taking a vacation in Manokwari. You can stay at the guesthouse in Mansinam island or at any hotels in Manokwari city.
I suggest that you come here in a group of at least 2 to 4 people. More is better because all of you can share the cost. I can organize such trip for a solo traveler too.

Where is Mansinam Island
Mansinam island is located in Dore bay near Manokwari city.  It is only a ten-minute ride by water taxi.

Manokwari - the capital of Papua Barat province

Mansinam island Dore bay of Manokwari regency

How to get there?

• It is easy to go to Mansinam island or Manokwari city (both are located very close to each other).
• Fly from your country to Jakarta city
• Take a domestic flight to Manokwari city. Garuda, Sriwijaya, Batik, Nam Air, and Wings Air (member of Lion Air group)
• We will meet you at the airport and organize your trip to see coral reef in Mansinam island and other parts in Dore bay and the tropical rainforest in Arfak mountains.

For further information, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180
Also read:
Raja Ampat guided snorkeling tour
Snorkeling Pictures from Raja Ampat
Snorkeling at the beach of Raja Ampat Paradise Resort

Free Diving with Manta in Raja Ampat

I went to Raja Ampat several months ago with some Czech tourists. We enjoyed snorkeling in several coral reef sites of the islands including Friwen, West Mansuar, Cape Kri, Fam islands, Sand Bank and Manta Point. It was a nice trip and I really enjoyed the beauty of the coral reef.
There is one place in the open sea called Manta Point. Here, Manta fish come regularly to clean their bodies. While gliding or "flying around" the point, small fish eat tiny marine organisms that attach on the wings and bodies of manta. When they have been cleaned, Manta will leave the place for the ocean again. With cleaner wings, manta can swim faster in the sea.
Manta point or cleaning station has been a famous tourist attraction particularly for scuba divers and free divers. People who enjoy snorkeling can watch the manta too.

Freediving with Manta in Raja Ampat archipelago

I have just created a vector illustration about the fish. I hope that you like it.

Snorkeling in the coral reef of Manokwari

Manokwari is the capital of West Papua province. The city is located in Dorey bay of New Guinea island. There are plenty of coral reef sites in Manokwari waters whereas in the south and along the northern coast of the city, tropical rainforest cover most of the landscape. Every year, visitors from around the world come to see the beauty of its marine environment and wildlife in tropical rainforest.

Coral Reef Environment in
Manokwari Waters

Snorkeling Tour
As a tourist guide, I can organize a snorkeling tour for you and your friend inside the Dore bay of Manokwari. We will see convict surgeonfish, striped surgeonfish, damselfish, anemonefish, parrotfish, moorish idol, butterflyfish, boxfish, urchin that live in the coral reed of Manokwari.
Don't forget to bring your snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, and fins) if you want to see our marine environment. Your snorkeling experience will be enhanced if you also bring underwater camera which will can capture the images of those beautiful fishes and corals.

Rainforest Trekking and Camping
To further explore the beauty and bio-diversity of Papua's nature, I can bring you to the jungle where you will be able to see such birds as Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Blyth' hornbill, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, and even the Lesser Birds of Paradise.

Spanish tourists were trekking
in the jungle of
Arfak mountains - Manokwari

How to get there?
It is easy to reach Manokwari city,

• Fly from your country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia)
• After that, take a domestic flight (regularly served by Garuda, Sriwijaya, and Express Air) to Manokwari. I will be happy to meet you and organize your trip from this city.

Typical Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Manokwari
City Tour or Jungle Walk
Day 2
Snorkeling inside Dore bay Mansinam
A visit to Mansinam village and museum
Day 3
Snorkeling in Raimuti
Snorkeling in Anggresi
Day 4
Jungle walk in lowland forest of Dopi river or
Jungle walk in Warmarway forest of Arfak mountains
Day 5
Transfer to airport

Prices: 5 million rupiahs/ person
For customized itinerary, the cost of the tour will depend on how many days you want to spend in Manokwari and the number of participants.

Booking
Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email: peace4wp@gmail.com if you are interested in taking this snorkeling tour and rainforest tour. I can prepare a customized itinerary and cost calculation.

Rainforest Trekking and Camping Tour in Tambrauw Regency of West Papua

Tambrauw is a regency in West Papua located between Manokwari and Sorong. Most of its territory is still covered by dense tropical rainforest. The tropical rainforest in Tambrauw regency is the natural habitat of cuscus possum, wallaby, wild pigs, and a lot of colorful birds, beetles and butterflies.

I will conduct a 4-day/ 3-night trekking and camping tour in August from 15 to 18. During the tour, visitors will be able to go trekking in the jungle along the banks of Syuan river. Dome tents will be built for visitors so that they will fully experience how it is like to stay in the jungle for a few days. 

This trip is suitable for birdwatchers, butterflywatchers or anybody who is a nature lover.

Itinerary

Schedule: 15 to 18 August 2016
Activities: multi sport
Reservation is STILL OPEN

Group Size Limit: 4 people (2 spaces available) 

Price: 7 million rupiahs/ person (approximately 481 Euros)

The price includes transportation by 4WD car between Sorong and Tambrauw, camping gear such as tents, food, local guides, cooks, and contribution to local villagers.

The price does not include airfare, travel insurance, alcoholic and soft drinks, and any personal expenses.

Exploring the rainforest along the banks of Syuan river

Itinerary
15 August 2016
We will meet you in Sorong city and transfer you to Tambrauw regency located in the vogelkop region of West Papua. Overnight stay in the jungle tents.

16 August 2016
Trekking/ jungle walk, riverwalk, night walk, wildlife and birdwatching, swimming, camping.
Birds such as sulphur crested cockatoo, blyth's hornbill, and egret can often be seen flying in the sky when we begin walking into the jungle.


17 August 2016
Trekking/ jungle walk, riverwalk, wildlife and birdwatching, swimming, camping. As we walk deeper into the jungle, we may see the beautiful scenery of rainforest. Swallowtail blue mountain butterfly often fly through the forest.


18 August 2016
We still have time to enjoy the scenery of the river and rainforest. After breakfast, we will dismantle our tents and leave the forest.
A short tour around Sausapor town and its surrounding area
Transfer to Sorong city

How to get there?

Fly from your country to Jakarta (the capital city of Indonesia)

After that, take a domestic flight operated by Garuda, or Sriwijaya Air or Express Air or Nam Air to Sorong city.

I will meet you at the airport of Sorong city to organize your trip into the jungle

Booking
To book the tour, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Camping Tour in tropical jungle of Tambrauw Mountains

Trekking in tropical jungle of Tambrauw regency

Bandicoot is one of the marsupial animals that live in New Guinea forest

Snorkeling in Yenbuba Strait of Raja Ampat

Yenbuba Strait (between Kri island and Mansuar island)
 of Raja Ampat archipelago

There are a lot of snorkeling sites in Raja Ampat. One of them is Yenbuba strait. It is located between Kri and Mansuar island and has been one of the most favorite sites among snorkelers and scuba divers. Visitors who go snorkeling in this strait will be able to see thousands of reef fish including Diagonal-banded Sweetlips, Damselfishes, Groupers, Black Tip Reef Shark, Boxfishes, Spadefish, Butterflyfishes, Parrotfishes, Humphead Wrasse, Fusiliers, Anthias, Jacks and a lot more. I also saw hawksbill sea turtle and a lot of colorful corals. From my experience of snorkeling in Yenbuba, I faced strong current when I jumped into the water. I had to return to the boat and asked the driver to drop us in the north of the strait so that we would be able to enjoy snorkeling just by following the current. Marine life is abundant in Yenbuba strait. It is one of the healthiest coral reef environment in the world.

Yenbuba Strait in Raja Ampat islands of West Papua

As a tourist guide, I offer a snorkeling and sightseeing tour for visitors who are interested in visiting Raja Ampat. I can arrange a tour for individual tourist who wants me to be a private guide and snorkeling buddy or a group tour for 4 visitors who want to explore the islands and coral reefs of Raja Ampat.

Rainforest Tour
You could also lengthen the duration of your trip in West Papua by adding a rainforest tour in the mainland of New Guinea. I usually guide visitors to see tropical rainforest in Klasow valley in Sorong regency or Sausapor town in Tambrauw mountains. Tropical rainforest of West Papua is the natural habitat of such birds as Blyth's hornbill, pinon imperial pigeon, sulphur crested cockatoo, large fig parrot and a lot more.

The rainforest is also the natural habitat of colorful butterflies including Blue Mountain Swallowtail, Meadow Argus, Cruiser butterfly and Taenaris Catops butterfly. Birding and wildlife watching is a famous activity which tourists like to do when taking rainforest tour.

How to get there

• Fly from your country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia)
• After that, fly from Jakarta to Sorong city. I will meet you at the airport and arrange your trip both to Raja Ampat and the rainforest of mainland West Papua.

For prices and customized itinerary, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send text to my whatsapp number: +6281332245180 use the contact form at the top right of this blog.