How to read this: Maratua Resort is an independent concierge guide — we curate and compare dive resorts and island stays in the Derawan archipelago, then arrange your booking through a vetted operating partner. We do not own or operate the resorts, and resort or brand names are used only as neutral examples, not claims of affiliation. Prices are by quote and vary by resort, season and party; figures here are indicative. Flights, transfers and dive seasons change — confirm before you travel. This is general information, not a binding offer.
Getting to Maratua Island means flying first to Berau’s Kalimarau Airport (BEJ), then continuing by road and speedboat across Maratua Atoll. This guide walks through each step of how to reach Maratua, what to expect, and how to keep the journey sensible, safe and timed to your flights.
The Maratua journey overview
Maratua is the large outer atoll at the eastern edge of the Derawan archipelago, sitting farther out in the Sulawesi Sea than Derawan, Sangalaki and Kakaban. That outer position is part of its appeal for divers — open-ocean feel, turtles everywhere, access to mantas and schooling fish — but it does mean Maratua Atoll access is slower and more exposed to weather than hopping to Derawan itself.
In practical terms, most trips to Maratua break down into three legs:
- 1. Domestic flight
- Fly into Berau’s Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) from Jakarta, Surabaya or Balikpapan.
- 2. Road transfer
- Drive from Berau to Tanjung Batu jetty (typically 2–3 hours by private car).
- 3. Sea transfer
- Take a speedboat from Tanjung Batu to Maratua’s jetties (roughly comparable to, and often a bit longer than, the run to Derawan; exact time depends on sea conditions and boat).
Most Maratua overwater resorts then add a short internal boat or car–boat combo from the main arrival jetty to their own house jetty or lagoon.
We are a curation and comparison guide, not an operator, so we do not run any of these transfers ourselves. Instead, we work with a single vetted operating partner in Berau who organises cars and boats on a by-quote basis. No one can pay to change what we publish; if you proceed with our partner they may pay us a referral fee at no extra cost to you.
If you want tailored timings and a realistic door‑to‑door plan for your dates, you can plan your trip with us or WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 and we’ll connect you to our trusted logistics partner.
Fly to Kalimarau (BEJ)
Why BEJ is the gateway for Maratua
Maratua does not currently have scheduled commercial flights. The old small airstrip on the atoll has seen intermittent charter use, but for practical purposes, all dive travellers arrive via Berau’s Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) on the East Kalimantan mainland.
BEJ is a compact regional airport: one runway, straightforward layout, limited food and retail. It is far calmer than Jakarta or Balikpapan, but that also means fewer daily flights and less resilience to delays or schedule changes.
Domestic routes into Berau
Airlines and schedules shift fairly often across Indonesian domestic routes, but in broad terms you can expect:
- Jakarta (CGK/Soekarno–Hatta) → Berau (BEJ):
Typically a same‑day connection via Balikpapan (BPN) or sometimes direct on certain days, depending on airline timetables. - Surabaya (SUB) → Berau (BEJ):
Often via Balikpapan; occasionally other routings, always with at least one stop. - Balikpapan (BPN) → Berau (BEJ):
The workhorse route. Multiple daily flights in normal seasons.
Plan your international arrival to give generous buffer time before your Berau leg, especially in the wet season or during peak Indonesian holiday periods, when delays are common across the network.
Recommended arrival times in Berau
Because you still have a 2–3 hour road transfer and then a speedboat to Maratua, the safest pattern is:
- Aim to land in Berau before late morning or early afternoon.
- Avoid planning to arrive on the last flight of the day if you still need to cross to the atoll.
Afternoon storms and reduced visibility can delay or cancel small speedboat departures; reputable operators on this coast are conservative about running open‑sea transfers in bad light or building swell.
If your only option lands in Berau late in the afternoon, budget for:
- One overnight in Berau town, then
- Morning road + boat transfer to Maratua.
Your resort or our partner can help arrange this; standard Berau hotels are simple but functional, good enough for a sleep and a repack.
Road to Tanjung Batu jetty
Berau airport to the coast
From Kalimarau Airport, you do not go directly to a big ferry terminal; instead you are driven overland to a small coastal village jetty at Tanjung Batu, which is the main departure point for both Derawan and the Maratua Atoll.
Key points:
- Mode: Private car or minivan, arranged in advance via your resort or a local operator.
- Duration: Typically 2–3 hours, depending on traffic, weather and roadworks.
- Road quality: Paved, with a mix of smooth sections and some patched, uneven stretches. It is not an off‑road expedition, but it is not motorway driving either.
- Comfort: Air‑conditioned vehicles are standard for pre‑booked transfers; you will not usually find metered taxis doing this run.
You should not rely on arriving in Berau and then bargaining on the spot for a long‑distance car; the volumes heading to Tanjung Batu on any given day are limited, and drivers that routinely do this route are usually pre‑booked by operators.
Typical road timings and what affects them
Several factors add variance to the quoted 2–3 hour drive:
- Time of day: Early morning runs tend to be quicker; later in the afternoon you can hit more local traffic near villages.
- Weather: Heavy rain will slow the drive, and can cause temporary surface flooding in places.
- Stops: Most transfer drivers will stop once at a roadside stall or minimart for toilets and snacks if requested.
For planning your Maratua transfer time end‑to‑end, a conservative baseline is:
- 2.5 hours Berau → Tanjung Batu
- Add a buffer of 30 minutes for minor holdups
If you are connecting directly from a morning flight, ask your organiser to allow comfortable time for baggage collection and a quick washroom/ATM stop at the airport before you depart.
Tanjung Batu jetty basics
Tanjung Batu itself is a small coastal community with a simple concrete jetty and some warungs (local food stalls). There is:
- No formal terminal building
- Limited shade
- No large supermarkets or pharmacies
You need to arrive with:
- Enough cash for incidental costs (most travellers now use a mix of card + cash, but card machines are still not universal outside resorts)
- Any prescription medicines you might need
- Essential personal dive items that would be hard to replace at short notice
Your driver will bring you directly to the section of the jetty used by your pre‑arranged speedboat. You should not expect to find shared “public” boats to Maratua waiting for casual walk‑on passengers at fixed times.
Speedboat across to Maratua
From Tanjung Batu to the atoll
From Tanjung Batu, fast fibreglass speedboats and larger wooden boats with outboards provide the main link across to Maratua. These are typically chartered per group or organised by resorts / operators as shared transfers on specific days, rather than operating like a public ferry.
From a time perspective, the crossing to Maratua is broadly in the same band as the crossing to Derawan, but often ends up a little longer because Maratua sits farther out and the last miles wrap around or into the atoll.
You will see a wide variety of hull sizes and engine setups. As a guide:
- Smaller, single‑engine boats are more fuel‑efficient but more sensitive to chop.
- Larger, twin‑engine or higher‑horsepower boats can keep better speed in rougher conditions, but are more expensive to run.
Reputable organisers match boat type to group size and forecast sea conditions on a given day.
Typical Maratua transfer time by boat
Because we do not operate boats directly, we do not publish a single fixed crossing time. However, from traveller reports and operator schedules, the pattern is:
- Tanjung Batu → Derawan: often the shorter run, in reasonably calm seas.
- Tanjung Batu → Maratua: can run longer than to Derawan, especially if sea state is up or if your resort sits on the far side of the atoll.
As a working range:
- Many travellers report around 1.5–2.5 hours Tanjung Batu → Maratua under decent weather.
- In heavier seas, the captain may reduce speed significantly for safety and comfort; this can stretch the crossing.
Your organiser should give you a tailored estimate based on:
- Time of day
- Forecast wind and swell
- Where exactly on Maratua you are staying
- Whether your boat is making any intermediate stops (e.g. Derawan or Kakaban) to drop or pick guests
What the crossing is like
Conditions change quickly in this part of the Sulawesi Sea:
- Sea state: Ranges from calm glass in the morning to bumpy wind chop in the afternoon, with occasional larger swell on the more exposed sections.
- Sun and exposure: Shade on boats varies. A hat, buff and decent sunscreen are more than nice‑to‑have.
- Spray: Expect some spray, especially if you sit towards the bow or if the wind is quartering across the boat.
Standard practical tips:
- Pack a light waterproof layer or dry bag for cameras and phones.
- Keep your valuables and critical documents in a bag that can handle spray or a brief shower.
- If you are prone to motion sickness, take your preferred medication 30–60 minutes before departure.
Safety, seasonality and cancellations
Responsible captains on this route are conservative. They will delay or cancel crossings if:
- Visibility drops too low
- Wind and swell push conditions beyond safe parameters for their hull and engine
- Thunderstorms build directly along the route
The main “wind and weather” considerations:
- Transition months: Shoulder seasons can bring squally weather that disrupts boat schedules at short notice.
- Peak dry vs wet: Patterns shift year‑to‑year; consult up‑to‑date forecasts and ask your organiser how the local sea state has been in the week before you travel.
No operator can guarantee a same‑day Maratua transfer in all conditions. Always allow a buffer day at the end of your trip before any non‑moveable international flights.
Why Maratua takes longer than Derawan
Atoll position and distance
Maratua Atoll is simply farther offshore than Derawan. On a chart of the archipelago:
- Derawan sits relatively close to the Kalimantan mainland.
- Maratua forms the large outer ring, closer to deep water and open‑sea influences.
That extra distance naturally adds to the Maratua transfer time by boat and increases the odds that you will encounter more swell or chop along the way, particularly in windier months.
Resort layout: overwater and spread out
Many Maratua properties are overwater resorts or sit along narrow spits of land, lagoons and reef‑edge sites around the atoll. This has two access consequences:
- You often arrive first at a main or village jetty, then transfer again by smaller boat or a boat‑shuttle to your specific resort jetty.
- Some resorts are located on more exposed rims or in corners that require the captain to take a longer but more sheltered approach route.
By contrast, Derawan’s central village area is more compact, and many Derawan stays are within a short walk of the main jetty.
Maratua vs Derawan: access comparison
| Leg | Derawan Island | Maratua Atoll |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway airport | Berau (BEJ) | Berau (BEJ) |
| Road: BEJ → Tanjung Batu | ~2–3 hours | ~2–3 hours (same) |
| Boat: Tanjung Batu → island | Generally shorter run | Can run longer than to Derawan, especially to far‑side resorts |
| Typical arrival pattern | Single boat to village jetty, short walk | Boat to main/village jetty plus resort‑specific boat transfer |
| Weather sensitivity | Moderate | Higher (more open‑sea exposure) |
The extra effort is one reason Maratua still feels quieter and less trafficked than Derawan, especially outside peak holiday windows. For divers prioritising healthier reefs, more consistent turtle encounters and access to outer‑atoll sites, the trade‑off is usually well worthwhile — but it does need to be planned, not improvised.
If you want help weighing Derawan‑based vs Maratua‑based stays for your dive priorities and tolerance for long transfer days, you can plan your trip with us or WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 for a straight comparison.
Practical planning for Maratua transfers
Typical cost structure (by quote)
Because boats and vehicles are chartered and fuel prices shift, there are no universal “official” prices for Maratua transfers. Operators normally quote:
- Per car Berau → Tanjung Batu (shared by your group)
- Per boat Tanjung Batu → Maratua (either private charter or per person on a scheduled group transfer, if your dates line up)
As of last verified indications (June 2026), travellers report that:
- Private cars Berau → Tanjung Batu are commonly priced in a moderate range for a 2–3 hour transfer.
- Speedboats to Maratua are the main cost driver, with per‑trip boat charters often landing in a mid‑hundreds of US dollars equivalent for an entire group, depending on size, hull and fuel at the time.
Treat any fixed numbers you see online as indicative only; ask for a fresh quote for your dates, group size and resort choice.
Coordinating with resort check‑in and dive schedules
Maratua dive resorts, especially overwater properties, often:
- Schedule check‑ins and check‑outs to cluster transfers for operational efficiency.
- Time their dive boats and house‑reef briefings around guest arrival windows.
This means:
- If you can align your flights with a day when multiple guests are checking in, you may be offered a seat on a shared transfer at a lower per‑person cost.
- If you arrive off‑pattern, you may need to pay for a private boat or accept a wait at Tanjung Batu until the next run.
Always tell your resort or organiser your full flight itinerary before you lock in airline tickets, if possible; they can sometimes suggest better domestic timings.
What to pack in hand baggage for the transfer
Checked luggage delays in Indonesia are not unheard of. Pack in your cabin bag:
- One day’s worth of dive‑critical items: prescription mask, computer, essential medications.
- Lightweight change of clothes and swimwear, so you can get in the water even if bags arrive later.
- Reef‑safe sunscreen, hat, and a compact rash guard or long‑sleeve top for sun/wind on the boat.
At the same time, avoid over‑packing hand luggage to the point where moving from car to jetty to speedboat becomes a chore.
Conservation‑minded travel choices
Maratua’s appeal lies heavily in its marine life and relatively low‑density development. A few ways your access choices can support that:
- Group transfers: Where possible, align travel with existing boat runs rather than requesting off‑schedule private boats purely for convenience. Fewer boat hours mean less fuel burn and wake impact on shallow areas.
- Reasoned luggage: Keeping baggage within sensible limits reduces load, fuel use and strain on smaller jetties and boats.
- Plastic and waste: Bring a refillable bottle; many Maratua properties now offer filtered water. Jetty villages have limited waste handling infrastructure.
Using Maratua Resort as your logistics & access concierge
Our role at Maratua Resort is editorial and curatorial:
- We compare real‑world access to resorts across Maratua, Derawan, Kakaban and Sangalaki.
- We sanity‑check claimed transfer times and highlight where weather or tide can derail ideal schedules.
- We route genuine trip enquiries to a single, vetted operating partner in Berau, who handles actual cars, boats and bookings.
No one can pay to change what we publish; if you choose to proceed with that partner they may pay us a referral fee at no extra cost to you.
If you’d like a joined‑up plan that covers:
- International and domestic flight sequencing
- Ground and boat transfer windows that actually match your arrival times
- A choice between Maratua and Derawan‑based stays for your specific dive priorities
…you can plan your trip with us or WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 for a practical, non‑pushy conversation.
FAQs: Getting to Maratua Island
Can I get to Maratua Island in one day from Jakarta?
Often yes, but it depends on flight schedules and sea conditions. If you can land in Berau by late morning, many travellers manage the Berau → Tanjung Batu drive and the Tanjung Batu → Maratua speedboat on the same day. If your only option arrives in Berau late afternoon, assume an overnight in Berau and a morning crossing to Maratua.
Is there a public ferry from Tanjung Batu to Maratua?
There is no reliable, tourist‑oriented public ferry with fixed daily timetables to Maratua. Transfers are usually on chartered or resort‑organised speedboats, shared with other guests when dates align. You should not expect to turn up at Tanjung Batu and find a regular walk‑on service to Maratua at set times.
How does the transfer to Maratua compare to going to Derawan?
The route is the same as far as Tanjung Batu. From there, the crossing to Derawan is generally shorter and more sheltered, while the crossing to Maratua can run longer and is more exposed to open‑sea conditions. It’s manageable with decent planning, but you should budget more time and be more flexible around weather.
Are Maratua transfers safe for children and non‑divers?
With reputable operators using appropriate boats and safety gear, families and non‑divers routinely make the trip. The main considerations are tolerance for a potentially bumpy ride, sun exposure, and having lifejackets correctly sized and worn. If you’re travelling with young children, confirm with your organiser in advance about lifejacket sizes and preferred sea‑state limits.
Who should I contact to arrange my Maratua transfers?
Your chosen resort will usually propose a transfer plan as part of your booking. If you’re still choosing between Maratua and other islands, or want an independent sanity‑check of routes and timings, you can plan your trip with us or WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875; we’ll map options and, if you like, connect you to our vetted operating partner in Berau.