Biak Island
(Known in Indonesia as
- Pulau Biak)
Biak is the largest of the
Schouten Islands situated to
the north of Geelvink (Cenderawasih)
Bay off the northern coast of
West Papua, Indonesia. It is
only 72 km long and 37 km wide
– an area of nearly 2,500
square km. Don't get it confused
with a group of islands with
a similar name off the North
of Papua, New Guinea.
During World War II, in April
1942, Biak was invaded by the
Japanese but was retaken by
Allied forces during June and
July 1944. War relics and even
human remains may still be found
in the forest and a small museum
has been built to house Japanese
and American relics.
Biak town is on the southern
coast of Biak. The main built-up
area is really a quiet place
whose silence is broken only
by the noise of aircraft engines
as aeroplanes land at the adjacent
airport and by the music shops
that blast out local pop music
during the evenings. With very
few tourists at present and
very little motorised transport,
even the few taxis are not kept
really busy.
In town there are many good
restaurants serving their seafood
specialities created out of
freshly caught fish and there
are abundant hotels at present
and the prices are extremely
reasonable for any tourist.
The two or three supermarkets
stock a very good range of goods
and an early-morning open market
provides fruit and vegetables.
Souvenirs of the West Papua
region are available and jewellery
with local gemstones is surprisingly
cheap.
As for medical aid, there are
three small hospitals with emergency
facilities and at least one
pharmacy, but don't expect to
be treated as in a modern western
hospital.
Biak’s airport, known
as Frans Kaisiepo Airport, is
served by local airlines, Garuda
Indonesia and Merpati Nusantara
with flights to Jakarta, Surabaya,
West Papua, and Ujung Pandang.
Biak is a wonderful place for
wildlife and bird watching despite
many areas being devastated
by logging. Eco-tourism is bound
to take off here in the very
near future with greater interest
being taken on the unique biodiversity
of this isolated island.
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Hotels
in Biak
Of the accommodation in Biak,
both Arumbai and Padaido Hotels
can be recommended.
Arumbai Hotel
is situated in the centre of Biak
town and has 50 well-appointed
guest rooms with en-suite facilities.
It also has a swimming pool and
a restaurant well-known in town
for its speciality Soup Kepala
Ikan.
Padaido Hotel
is a small new venture in Biak,
and the only hotel at present
with a good view of the sea and
rooms less than ten metres from
the beach. I can really say you
get value for money here. Run
by Roy Lakusa and his family,
its quality lies in its uniqueness
– clean and simple with
excellent personal service. The
adjacent café serves a
range of meals created from local
produce, especially the fish that
is absolutely fresh. Try Mrs Lakusa’s
delicious peppered fish steak
with succulent fresh vegetables
or the very special sirsak juice
– you won't be disappointed.
Roy Lakusa’s extraordinary
service will extend to personally
supervising your itinerary while
you are in Biak including birdwatching,
snorkelling, scuba diving and
beach and sea fishing trips
as well as boat trips to the
nearby islands of Padaido and
Bromsi.
Roy has a good collection of
books and other documents relating
to the natural science of Biak
and his background in the geology
of Papua is very useful when
exploring the region.
Access to either of these hotels
is very simple being only a
short ten minute journey from
Frans Kaiseipo airport. Both
are only a very short walk from
the main town that boasts several
small supermarkets and a number
of restaurants. Other essential
services are also close by including
banks with ATM, a pharmacy and
an Internet café.
You are highly recommended
to book early for these hotels
as rooms are limited and in
great demand.
Contact:
Padaido Hotel
by e-mail: hotpadaido@yahoo.com
or by telephone: +62 981 22144
Arumbai Hotel
By e-mail: info@arumbaihotel.com
or by telephone: +62 981 21835
or 22159
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