Lodging and More on Waisai
There are no less than 9 guesthouses or hotels on Waisai, ranging from deluxe cottages with minibar to basic rooms with separate bathrooms. When arriving on Waisai by ferry, ask an ojek (motorcycle driver for hire) or minivan taxi to go to one of the following Penginapans (guesthouse in Indonesian). Because the government essentially controls the development of Raja Ampat, as well as many of the guiesthouses, there has not yet been an advancement in marketing the accommodation to Western tourism. However, some of the accommodation is surprisingly nice, and compared with accommodation at a private dive lodge, can be anywhere from 10% to 50% of the cost per person. Middle of the pack lodging and up tend to have English-speaking hosts. You might want to call ahead, perhaps to arrange for pickup. Area code in Waisai, unless otherwise given, is 0812. If none of these suit you, please also look up RajaAmpatHomestays.com for several guesthouses that have posted on here which I did not find while in Waisai.
Penginapan Najwa Inda: Jln. Abdul Samad. 0852 4465 3444; 0813 4460 1345; 0812 4844 4161. 250.000 RP for standard room, 300.000 RP for deluxe. Made of stone, painted, with tiled floors. Immaculately clean. Standard rooms have full beds, with air conditioner, decent bathrooms (no hot water, no tubs, as 90% of accommodation in Western Papua). A real resource here is Edi, who has worked as an English teacher before working for the government. He is nephew to the owner, and helps out in every way possible. He will be able to tell you much background Raja Ampat, help you get set up with diving, provide you with tea and snacks, and overall, perhaps wants to help too much.
Penginapan Novalin: Jln. Kimindores. 0813 4484 6908. On the right hand side of the road, right before Cormanswin, wood guesthouse Novalis is a more economic option, at 150.000 for standard room w/o TV to 170.000 for deluxe room w/ TV. Squat toilets and cold water only. No phone number given, the owner does not speak English, but not a bad option if you are ultra-budgeting it.
Hotel Maras Risa: Jln Abdul Arfan. 0852 4415 1010. Partially owned by one of the bosses of Raja Ampat Dive Resort, this is a two story hotel off the main lanes coming into town, and near the mosque. It is the first of three hotels/guesthouses on the black, and is the most pricey at 350.000 for room. However, breakfast is included, and there is aircon, a proper hot water shower, and televisions in rooms.
Penginapan Narranuh: Jln Abdul Arfan. 0812 4804 3789. Right next door the Maras Risa, this bare bones guesthouse has shared bathrooms, and basic doubles for 150.000. The bathrooms are like corrugated sheds, but it’s a decent price and a central location in town.
Penginapan Narranuh: Jln Abdul Arfan. 0812 4804 3789. Right next door the Maras Risa, this bare bones guesthouse has shared bathrooms, and basic doubles for 150.000. The bathrooms are like corrugated sheds, but it’s a decent price and a central location in town.
Internet, Food and Shopping on Waisai, Raja Ampat
Internet: There are no less than 3 places for internet on the island. The two best are located in close proximity to the canal. Buy my guide for unlimited access to this information, videos, maps, photos and more. Internet
Fotocopy, on the north side of the canal, east side of the rode, is aone stop shop for internet, photocopy and office
supplies, costs about 10.000 RP/hour for decent connection.
Food (and Shopping): There are scattered warungs around Waisai serving typical Indonesian fare with a fishy bent. The ones listed below were selected not just for their decent food, but because the warungs looked clean enough and had a half-decent atmosphere. Most don’t have English-speaking folk, but you can most definitely manage to get good food and overcome this difficulty, without Bahasa.
Market: The fruit market has a great selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as fresh fish for sale. Pick up a bundle of bananas for diving, along with some snacks. The baked goods served in the afternoon and early evenings, from roasted coconut rolled in sponge cake, to sesame balls, are all excellent, and for 1.000 not a bad option. Also stop by for some es campur, sweet juice with pieces of coconut, papaya, grass jellies and other sweet things, served over ice! There is a string of warungs on the left side of the market going facing away from the canal where you can pick up standard dishes for cheap prices while gazing at the DVD selection at the stores across the street.
Warung Anda: north of the canal. Good chicken, rice and coconut milk mixed greens. Serving excellent bakso (meatball soup). 15.000-25.000.
Please see my full guidebook for reviews and other fantastic information!
Food (and Shopping): There are scattered warungs around Waisai serving typical Indonesian fare with a fishy bent. The ones listed below were selected not just for their decent food, but because the warungs looked clean enough and had a half-decent atmosphere. Most don’t have English-speaking folk, but you can most definitely manage to get good food and overcome this difficulty, without Bahasa.
Market: The fruit market has a great selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as fresh fish for sale. Pick up a bundle of bananas for diving, along with some snacks. The baked goods served in the afternoon and early evenings, from roasted coconut rolled in sponge cake, to sesame balls, are all excellent, and for 1.000 not a bad option. Also stop by for some es campur, sweet juice with pieces of coconut, papaya, grass jellies and other sweet things, served over ice! There is a string of warungs on the left side of the market going facing away from the canal where you can pick up standard dishes for cheap prices while gazing at the DVD selection at the stores across the street.
Warung Anda: north of the canal. Good chicken, rice and coconut milk mixed greens. Serving excellent bakso (meatball soup). 15.000-25.000.
Please see my full guidebook for reviews and other fantastic information!