Misool Travel Guide For Raja Ampat, Indonesia

The island of Misool has some of the most amazing sights in the Raja Ampat archipelago, and because of its remoteness, it’s still kind of a hidden gem in Indonesia.

I spent a week in Misool recently and this place has it all: stunning scenery, great snorkeling, heart-shaped lagoons, limestone caves, and even a lake where you can swim with stingless jellyfish.

Misool looks like an alien planet! Even though most of the accommodation there is very basic, that keeps the crowds away, and it’s worth it for the experience.

This travel guide will explain how to get to Misool, where to stay, and what to see and do there!

The incredible Balbulol rocks in Misool

How To Get To Misool

Misool is located in southern Raja Ampat, off the coast of West Papua, and the only way to get there is by public ferry, private speedboat, or liveaboard boat. Most people use the ferry.

There’s no airport in Misool, so the closest airport is the one in Sorong (SOQ), which has direct flights from Bali, Jakarta, Makassar, or Manado. I flew with Garuda from Bali and it was a comfortable 3 hour journey. You can shop for flights on Skyscanner.

Once you arrive in Sorong, you’ll need a taxi for the 15 minute drive to the harbor (map here). There are always plenty of taxi drivers at the airport, or you can use the Grab or GoJek apps to order one.

Ferry

Cabin

The ferry ride to Misool is overnight and it’s supposed to take 8 hours, but because of ‘Indonesian time’ it can be delayed anywhere from 1 to 4 hours, which is what happened to me. A bunch of us almost missed our flight out of Sorong.

I wouldn’t say the ferry is comfortable, but it’s not terrible either. You can pay extra to rent a private cabin and get some sleep during the night, which is what I did. The waves were a bit bumpy in my experience, but never got scary.

Your homestay in Misool can send you the current ferry schedule and they can book tickets for you in advance, or you can do it yourself by contacting the ferry captain, Meidy Mirawan. His WhatsApp number is ☎ +62 822-4582-8899.

Once you arrive at the Yellu harbor in Misool (map here), you’ll need a transfer to wherever you’re staying. The homestays are all on separate islands and reefs.

Your homestay can arrange a small boat to pick you up, and depending on where you’re staying, this last leg of the journey will only take 30 to 60 minutes.

Welcome to Misool!

The Yapap rocks are a great spot to see

Aside from the ferry, another way you can get to Misool is with an expensive private boat, such as the one used by the all-inclusive Misool Eco Resort. A speedboat like that can bring you directly to Misool from Sorong in 5 hours.

Last but not least, a third option for visiting Misool that you might want to consider is a liveaboard boat. These are popular with scuba divers.

The liveaboards typically sail around the area for 9 to 12 days, starting and ending in Sorong, and you sleep on the boat the whole time while it explores the islands.

Swimming with stingless jellyfish

Best Things To Do In Misool

• Balbulol Lagoon

The most amazing place we saw in Misool was probably the Balbulol lagoon.

It’s located on the remote eastern edge of the Misool islands, so it takes about 1.5 hours to get there by boat if you’re starting from one of the homestays in the Yapap area.

Balbulol looks like something out of an alien world, with giant vertical rocks rising out of a turquoise lagoon.

How is this a real place?

Drone pic of Balbulol

Epic rock formations

After enjoying the crazy scenery and swimming in the lagoon, if you’re still feeling adventurous, there’s also a little-known viewpoint above Balbulol.

You can reach the viewpoint in 15 minutes, but it’s a steep climb with exposure, and a fall could be dangerous, so it’s not for everyone.

In American terms, it’s basically Class 4 rock climbing, so be very careful! There’s a rope to climb, but I didn’t trust it. I was also wearing flip flops, so shoes would be much safer if you have them.

At the top of the Balbulol viewpoint, you can see the whole lagoon and the surrounding mountains. It’s an epic view!

This was my favorite spot

• Yapap Rocks

Yapap is one of the easiest spots to reach in Misool, and the scenery is wonderful.

The rock formations here look a little bit like Seychelles with a twist. It’s a very unique landscape.

There’s also a viewpoint where you can climb a few minutes and see this area from above.

Yapap rocks

A turquoise lagoon

Jagged rocks and clear water

• Lenmakana Jellyfish Lake

Another famous site in Misool is the jellyfish lake, where you can swim with thousands of stingless jellyfish!

There are actually a bunch of jellyfish lakes like this scattered across Indonesia, but this was my first time going to one of them and I have to say it was really cool.

The lake at Lenmakana has three different species of jellyfish, and none of them are able to sting, so they’re completely harmless to humans.

You still might want to wear a rash guard so you don’t have to feel the sensation of jellyfishes brushing your bare skin. It’s a little creepy.

The jellyfish are the size of your hand

The worst part about visiting the jellyfish lake is the path to get there. It’s steep and muddy, and the last section near the lake is especially treacherous, with a ladder of skinny tree branches.

The hike only takes about 10 minutes, but they really need to build a proper path and add a jetty on the edge of the lake, that way it’s easier to get in without hurting yourself. For now, be careful.

Is it still worth going to the lake? Yeah, totally! Swimming with jellies was a special experience.

Thousands of jellyfish

• Karawapop Love Lake

There are two different heart-shaped lakes in Misool: one at Karawapop and one at Dafalen.

Karawapop is located at the far south end of the Misool area, but it’s spectacular and worth seeing. The boat ride takes about 1.5 hours from the Yapap area.

It’s a bright blue lagoon in the shape of a heart, and you can do a short 10 minute hike to a viewpoint above the lake.

Love lagoon

Drone pic of Karawapop

• Dafalen Peak

This is the other heart-shaped lagoon in Misool, near the Yapap area, and you can see it by climbing a karst mountain.

There’s a stairway up to the viewpoint and you can reach the top in 10 or 15 minutes, but a bunch of the wooden boards are rotting or broken, so that makes it a bit harder. Step carefully!

This heart lake has a big limestone mountain next to it, making it even more impressive.

Dafalen viewpoint

Drone pic of the love lagoon at Dafalen

• Harfat / Dapunlol Peak

This is another small peak you can climb for views of the whole Misool area.

It takes about 10 or 15 minutes to reach the top, and then you can see lots of islands and lagoons all around you.

We watched boats passing by, and people kayaking in the lagoons, which looked fun.

Taking photos at the peak

The stairway at Harfat has lots of broken and rotting boards, so watch your step!

One of the members of our group fell through a board and sliced herself on a rusty nail, leaving a big bloody gash on her leg.

Thankfully she didn’t fall very far or get seriously hurt, but you still don’t want an accident like this, so tread lightly.

Drone pic of the stairway & peak

View at the top of Harfat

More Things To See In Misool

• Namlol Beach & Lagoon

Namlol is a nice beach with a blue lagoon where you can swim.

We had lunch here one day on our way back from touring Balbulol, and the guides climbed the palm trees to grab some fresh coconuts.

Our lunch spot

Namlol beach

• Olobi Island

This is an island with two beaches inhabited by friendly locals.

We stopped here to eat our lunch during a tour to Karawapop, and then I flew my drone while the local kids gathered around and watched.

It was funny watching the kids go crazy over the drone, so I made sure to get a drone selfie with them before I left.

Olobi beach

Drone selfie with the local kids

Olobi island from above

• Gua Keramat Cave

This cave is a hidden gem in western Misool, about 1.5 hours by boat from the Yapap area. It’s one of the most remote spots in the area, but it’s still worth a visit if you have time.

After docking the boat and walking 3 minutes, you get to see a cool water cave with jagged limestone rocks sticking out of the ceiling.

You can go swimming in the shallow water here, and if you’re feeling brave you can even swim into the cave itself, which is pretty big and dark on the inside.

• Gua Putri Termenung Cave

This is another limestone cave you can see in Misool, but it’s a dry one entirely on land. The name means ‘daydreaming princess cave’ in Indonesian, and it comes from a rock in the middle of the cave that looks like a woman staring at the ground.

Walking through this cave requires a bit of ducking in places, and you can see some nice stalactites, plus the occasional bats. We even saw some tiny bird nests in the ceilings, with baby birds sleeping in them.

I didn’t think Gua Putri was as good as the cave at Gua Keramat, but it’s much easier to reach, and it’s worth a quick walk through.

Gua Putri Termenung cave

• Sunmalelen Rock Art

This is a limestone rock wall covered with ancient paintings near the water. There’s a small floating jetty where you can park the boat and get a closer look.

You can see drawings of fish, whales, dolphins, and some human hand prints similar to the ones that have been found in places across Indonesia like Sombori island and Rammang Rammang in Sulawesi.

Don’t expect anything too spectacular, but this one is a freebie since you’ll probably be near it anyway if you go to Harfat peak or Keramat cave.

Sunmalelen rock art

Snorkeling In Misool

Raja Ampat is known for great snorkeling, and the Misool area is no exception.

Aside from the jellyfish lake, there are also awesome snorkeling spots in the ocean. My favorite was Gamfi, which has a strong current but lots of pristine coral.

During our time in Misool, we snorkeled almost every day and saw lots of nice fish and coral, plus some oddities like squids, lobsters, pufferfish, stingrays, and baby sharks.

Snorkeling in Misool never gets old!

Coral formations at Gamfi

Map Of Sights In Misool

Here’s a map of all the main sights and accommodation in the Misool area. You can use this to plan your boat tours and overall itinerary.

Tourist sights are marked with blue icons, and homestays with orange. You can click on the icons for more info.

How Long To Stay

You can see the highlights of Misool in 3 or 4 full days, but it’s good to have extra time in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.

I spent 6 days in Misool, including the day I arrived and the day I left on the ferry. That turned out to be perfect in my case, because I was unlucky with the weather and had several rainy days.

Here’s an example itinerary you can follow for a 3 day trip to Misool:

• Day 1 – Start the day at Yapap lagoon, seeing the rock formations and doing the short climb up the viewpoint. Next, head over to Harfat peak, stopping to see the rock art along the way, and then hike to the top of Harfat for views of the whole area. If you still have energy, finish the day by going to Gua Keramat cave.
• Day 2 – Hop in a boat and head over to Balbulol. Cruise around the lagoon at Balbulol and then go snorkeling at nearby Gamfi. Grab lunch on the beach at Namlol, and then go swim with thousands of jellyfish at Lenmakana. Finish the day by seeing the cave at Gua Putri Termenung.
• Day 3 – Take a boat to Karawapop, where you can climb the viewpoint to see a big heart lake. Afterwards, go snorkeling near the lagoon and then grab lunch at the beach on Olobi island. If you still have time, finish the day by climbing Dafalen peak to see another heart lake.

Karst rocks at Namlol

Another side of Balbulol

Homestays In Misool: What To Expect

Most of the hotels in Misool are very basic homestays. Don’t expect Bali standards, but they’re comfortable enough.

Even though the rooms are private, the homestays have a communal vibe kind of like a hostel and you can meet other travelers from around the world, and share boat tours with them. I made some new friends from Canada.

The price includes 3 meals per day, plus unlimited clean drinking water, tea, and coffee. For amenities you’ll usually have a bed with a mosquito net, fan, mirror, sink, toilet, wash bucket and dipper, and maybe a weak shower head if you’re lucky.

Yamnini homestay

The homestays turn a generator on from 6 PM to 6 AM every day, and this is the only time you’ll have electricity in Misool, so you’ll want to use this time to recharge batteries and such.

Even the most basic homestays have Starlink WiFi now, which seemed to work well for browsing the internet and even uploading pictures. I was able to back up my photos every day after finishing the tours.

The food I had at the homestays was good, but not great. There was fish, rice, noodles, veggies, fried bananas, the occasional chicken or lobster, and more fish. The main things are fish and rice, so you’ll probably get tired of those after awhile. Did I mention they serve fish?

That’s okay, because the real reason you’re here is to enjoy nature!

Yalapale homestay

Where To Stay In Misool

This isn’t a complete list of all accommodation in Misool, but these are some of the top choices at the moment:

• Yapap Homestay – Overwater bungalows on the edge of a lagoon, near the Yapap rock formations. This homestay would’ve been my first choice, but sadly it was full booked for my dates.
• Yamnini Homestay – Overwater bungalows near the Dafalen peak. This is where I spent most of my nights in Misool. They speak English but frequently overbook their rooms by accident, so watch out for that. The manager lady was friendly and helped with tours, ferry details, and other things.
• Yalapale Homestay – The last 2 nights of my stay at Yamnini were accidentally double booked, so they moved me to this homestay for the rest of the time. Yalapale has mostly overwater bungalows, or one big private room on the edge of the jungle. The staff were nice, but this homestay wouldn’t be my first choice. It’s more buggy than the others.
• Nut Tonton Homestay – Midrange overwater bungalows near the jellyfish lake. I didn’t stay here since the prices were higher than some of the other homestays, but I talked to them and they were helpful with answering my questions.
• Panun Paradise Homestay – Private island with 3 beaches, and it’s one of the most remote homestays in Misool, located near Balbulol.
• Misool Eco Resort – This is a 4 star hotel and it’s the nicest accommodation in Misool, but it’s also pricey. People who stay here rave about the food, rooms, spa, excursions, and the house reef.
• Wayaplyan Homestay – Overwater bungalows with bigger rooms. The location wouldn’t be my first choice since it’s not very close to any of the main sights in Misool.
• Harfat Jaya Homestay – This is on the same island as Yalapale homestay, but it’s on the other side of the island. It’s close to the main harbor in Yellu.

Yapap homestay

My Travel Costs

Here’s a breakdown of all my travel costs at Misool.

As of 2025, these are the current costs you can expect:

• Ferry ticket from Sorong with private cabin — 750k IDR per person, one way
• Ferry ticket with no cabin — 250k IDR per person, one way
• Boat transfer between Yellu harbor & Misool homestay — 250k IDR per boat, one way
• Boat tour (shared) — 500k to 800k IDR per person per day, depending on how many people join
• Boat tour (private) — 1.5 million IDR per boat per day
• Marine conservation card for Raja Ampat — 700k IDR per person (lasts 12 months)
• Entrance fees at jellyfish lake & some other places — 75k IDR per person at each location
• Homestay including 3 meals & drinking water — 550k IDR per person per night

The otherworldly scenery of Raja Ampat

Best Time To Visit

Most travel guides recommend visiting Misool from October to April for the best weather. The locals we talked to agreed with this advice.

The only time to avoid is mid-June to mid-September because of heavy wind, making it hard for boats to go there. A lot of places close during these months. This is also when they have the heaviest rainfall.

I went to Misool in February, which is supposed to be a great time to go, but I have to say the weather was poor for most of my trip, with thick clouds and rain almost every day. There were several big storms too.

If I went back to Misool, I think I would try a different month, like November or March. But maybe I was just unlucky. There were still moments of sun, so I was able to enjoy the trip anyway.

Another view of the Yapap rocks

Coral formations

Other Tips For Misool

• What To Bring: For the boat tours, a waterproof bag or phone pouch is a good idea to protect your electronics. A power bank is also handy if you need to charge things when the electricity is off.
• Cell Service: Most of Misool has no phone reception, and I was only able to use data when I was near the main harbor in Yellu. That makes the Starlink WiFi even more helpful if you need to talk to anyone.
• Conservation Card: All adults visiting Raja Ampat need to buy a conservation card for the marine park, which is valid for 12 months. Your homestay can arrange this for you, or you can buy it online at the official website.
• Entrance Fees: Some of the places in Misool like the jellyfish lake also have an extra fee that you have to pay in cash on the spot. As of 2025, they were charging 75k Rupiah per person at this place and a few others.
• Dress Code: The people in Misool are generally Muslim, but they’re not as strict as some areas in Indonesia, so they won’t mind you wearing a bikini on the islands.
• Bugs: I saw some mosquitoes in Misool, but they tended to be on the bigger islands where there’s jungle cover. The overwater homestays were more airy and had very few bugs.
• Malaria: According to this Lancet study from 2018, there’s been a major reduction of Malaria in Misool and the surrounding areas, which is great. I’d still be careful and sleep under a mosquito net, and use bug spray when you’re hiking. I didn’t take Malaria pills.

Cone rocks at Balbulol

More Indonesia Travel Tips

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for Misool island in Raja Ampat.

I’ve written hundreds of other travel guides for Indonesia, so don’t forget to check those out while planning your trip!
 

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