When you visit Indonesia, planning a day trip to Wayag-like seascape of Piaynemo is a must! Home to rich biodiversity and that paradise-looking tropical water, island hop your way around Piaynemo and enjoy the extraordinary views and aquatic life below the shores.
Planning a trip to Raja Ampat? Start here:
What is Piaynemo
Piaynemo is one of the most recognizable spots in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. It is a spectacular group of karst islands surrounded by turquoise, crystal clear water, which you can enjoy from a viewpoint located on the bigger island of Pulau Penem.
– “IT’S NOT WAYAG!” – Many people mistake the photos of Piaynemo for Wayag, the more popular yet very remote destination in Raja Ampat. Being so off the beaten path, Wayag can be very expensive to reach, making Piaynemo a great alternative if your time and budget won’t extend to visiting Wayag.
There is much more to see (and do) in Piaynemo than the postcard-like viewpoint you’ll see in photos. The island is about 4.8 square kilometers in size and it’s a long, narrow shard of limestone peaks, rising from the blue sea, with 28km of coastline.
When visiting Piaynemo, make sure to tick off Rufas Island, the Turquoise Lagoon and the Star Lagoon. If you’re up for an adventure, ask your host whether he knows the trail to the hidden lake in southern Piaynemo, or have some fun exploring the colorful reef below the surface.
How to get to Piaynemo
First off, where is Piaynemo? Piaynemo is located in Pulau Penem, in the Fam (technically Pam) Islands, a remote yet stunning archipelago in Raja Ampat with some of the best beaches in Indonesia. You can read more about the archipelago in our full guide to the Fam Islands.
Wondering how to reach Raja Ampat? Make sure to read our full guide on how to get to Raja Ampat for the low-down.
Luckily, Piaynemo is not as remote as Wayag, and it can be visited on a day trip from most islands. Below you can find the exact location of Piaynemo.
Obviously, there is no way to reach Piaynemo other than by boat. You will either need to ask your host to take you there or see if other hosts from other accommodations are already going and possibly share the trip with other people. Transportation is usually the biggest expense in Raja Ampat so it’s best to travel in a group when possible.
Reaching Piaynemo from Waisai:
If you plan to stay overnight and you want to reach Piaynemo directly from Waisai, you can do so by speedboat. The pick-up is provided by the Piaynemo Island homestay and costs IDR 3,000,000 ($200 USD) each way. The boat can carry up to 8 passengers and the cost is shared. Please note that if you don’t reach the number of 8 people you still have to pay the full price.
Reaching Piaynemo from Kri Island:
Kri Island is about halfway between Waisai and Piaynemo. It is also Raja Ampat’s most touristy island, which means it won’t be too difficult to find other people to share a boat for a day trip to Piaynemo from here. In fact, boats to Piaynemo leave daily from Kri island, and it’s relatively easy to find cheaper deals just by asking around.
A one-way trip from Waisai to Kri island only costs around IDR 700,000 ($47 USD), which you can share with 4-8 passengers, depending on the type of boat. From Kri Island, a return trip to Piaynemo will then cost you about IDR 6,000,000 ($400 USD), which you can share amongst 6-8 people. If you’re 8, expect to pay about $50 USD per person for a day trip.
Reaching Piaynemo from Pam/Fam islands:
Getting to one of the Pam/Fam islands from Waisai will generally cost you less compared to a trip directly to Piaynemo. Depending on the accommodation and on the type of boat, prices will range from IDR 1,500,000 and IDR 2,500,000 ($100-$170 USD) each way and it can usually be shared amongst 4-8 people.
From there, expect to pay an additional IDR 300,000 to IDR 1,500,000 ($20-$100 USD) per trip to reach Piaynemo, as well as other destinations, as part of a day trip. This price can also be shared with other people, usually up to 4-8 per boat. This price varies a lot since it depends on how far the island is from Piaynemo, the type of boat, and the honesty of the host (some hosts change the prices on you, be sure to ask for a confirmation of the price before).
Do you think these boat transfers are overpriced? Please check out this useful blog post by stayrajaampat.com which walks you through the different costs of each boat ride in Raja Ampat. Keep reading for the only public boat option available to reach Piaynemo.
Reach the Pam/Fam Islands with a public boat:
Another option for reaching the Fam (Pam) Islands is by public boat (which is the most affordable option) that runs between Sorong, Arefi on Batanta island, and Pam village on Pambemuk island. Note that this is mostly used only by locals, and we don’t recommend using this as your primary option mainly because it’s less reliable and the hours are less convenient for travellers, but it’s good to know this option exists in case you’re stuck.
A one-way ticket between Sorong and Pam costs about IDR 120,000. To plan, keep note that the boat leaves Sorong once a week at 16:00 PM on Fridays. It arrives in Arefi at Batanta at 22:00 PM. If you need help finding a boat, reach out to John Urbon who can help you in Sorong.
While going by public boat is safe during the day, it can be potentially dangerous at night, so for your return, we recommend telling your homestay when you arrive on the ferry and they will help you by arranging a pickup. If a pickup isn’t possible, ask where you can spend the night in Pam village.
The return trips leave Pam village at 8:30 AM on Saturday mornings, arriving in Arefi close to 12:30 PM and Sorong at 17:30.
How much does it cost to visit Piaynemo
Visiting Piaynemo is free! There is no entrance fee in Piaynemo and the only costs are the initial Environmental Service Fee (which you have to pay in Waisai before entering Raja Ampat) and obviously the cost of transport, which we’ve described above.
Hike to the Piaynemo viewpoint
The boat will stop at a long timber deck situated in one of the lagoons. Here there are several small shops selling drinks, coconuts, and other basic stuff. Sadly, you will also be welcomed by locals trying to sell you live Coconut crabs, an endangered species that is protected under Indonesian law and that it’s being illegally fished and sold to tourists. Many homestays will refuse to cook this variety of crabs for you, and it’s also not recommended to buy these crabs to release them as this would encourage locals to fish them again and earn from this process.
Once you get passed these shops, a short hike to the summit of the viewpoint begins. The trail is on timber stairs, leading to the lookout atop one of the island’s impressive limestone peaks. Personally, we were quite surprised to see that even in such remote areas everything was paved and built for tourism.
While it wasn’t exactly the raw experience we were expecting, we understand that this timber structure was built for easier access, making it enjoyable to everyone and also safer for tourists.
The way up only takes about 15 minutes, and as soon as you reach the top you’ll be rewarded with one of Indonesia’s most stunning views.
Staying overnight in Piaynemo
Yes! It is possible to stay overnight on Piaynemo island and visit this awesome island over different days. However, there is only one accommodation on the whole island of Piaynemo, known as Piaynemo Homestay.
A night at Piaynemo Homestay will cost you IDR 588,240 ($40 USD) per person/night including 3 meals a day. While this might not seem like an awful deal, considering how unique the place is and comparing it with other travel destinations, it is still quite pricey for Raja Ampat.
Cheaper accommodations are located on the also very unique Rufas Island, just 1.5km away from Piaynemo. Sleeping here costs IDR 411,770 ($28 USD) per person/night, also including 3 meals a day, and you can choose between Lagoon Homestay and Rufas Homestay.
Alternatively, consider staying in one of the several accommodations in the Pam/Fam Islands.
Please note that booking in advance is recommended at popular homestays, especially during peak season (October to March).
What to do nearby
Near the Piaynemo viewpoint lay some other stunning places of interest, which you can visit on the same day trip. The first one is the Star Lagoon, a beautiful star-shaped basin that you can visit after a short hike just like Piaynemo. We enjoyed the star lagoon as it’s a more raw and less touristy experience, with no wooden stairs nor any man-made structures to make the hike easier. The hike is short, but the rocks are sharp so we recommend wearing shoes and to be careful on your way down.
Another great lookout point worth visiting is located on a different peak, overlooking a turquoise lagoon. Not all tours end up here so make sure to ask your guide if they may include it on the itinerary.
Once again, there are timber stairs leading up the peak, but the path is steeper than the previous ones as the elevation gain is greater. From the top the view is just as impressive.
Swim in the lagoons of Piaynemo, or get back on the boat and head to one of the small, untouched islands nearby which are great for snorkelling and relaxing. Our host took us to a beautiful, pristine beach and we couldn’t have been happier!
Don’t worry too much about which island you should choose because each one has a beach that is just as natural and wild as the next. The raw beauty and quietness of these places will really make you feel relaxed and carefree.
Our best tips for Piaynemo
- Bring sunscreen, a T-shirt, and a hat. There is not much shade around Piaynemo attractions and the risk to get sunburnt is high.
- Pack good walking shoes. Flip flops can get the job done, but wearing shoes wouldn’t be a bad idea, especially when hiking the star lagoon lookout point.
- Bring a snorkel and a mask. While we’ve mostly talked about viewpoints in this post, you can swim anywhere around Piaynemo. We stopped to swim at a couple of points and we loved it.
- Bring a drone if you have one. Piaynemo looks so cool from above!
- Be responsible and respectful of the coconut crabs species. When visiting the lookout dock, you’ll notice many locals selling food and drink and souvenirs. While you may find some items such as virgin coconut oil and natural soaps that make for great souvenirs from Pam islands, you will also find black coral bracelets and live coconut crabs that have been captured. Why care? Well, these large land creatures are endangered due to over-harvesting and habitat destruction for tourism development. In fact, many homestays will refuse to cook them if you buy them. The best thing you can do as a tourist in this kind of situation is to not buy them and participate in this.
[…] main landmark of the Fam Islands is undoubtedly Piaynemo, a fabulous karst seascape you may have seen in many photos of Raja Ampat. This is a must-visit […]