Updated: August 2026
Nunukan Island is a small island on the outer rim of the Maratua atoll in the Derawan Archipelago, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, and it is best known among divers as a quiet island base a short boat ride from the Maratua Channel. It is not the same place as the Nunukan border town in North Kalimantan, and reaching the Derawan version means flying into Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau, then continuing by speedboat across the Celebes Sea.
This page covers what Nunukan Island actually is, how to reach it, what you see underwater, when to go, how many nights to plan, and what a private Derawan trip that includes the Maratua atoll costs per person. Everything here is written by Indonesia Juara, the tour operator under Juara Holding Group that has run trips in Indonesia since 2015. For the full island list, see our Derawan Archipelago destinations index.
Nunukan Island sits on the Maratua atoll rim, not on the Malaysian border
There are two Nunukans in Kalimantan and search engines mix them up constantly. The one travellers reach on a Derawan itinerary is a small islet on the western side of the Maratua atoll, inside Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, sitting close to Nabucco and facing the deep water outside the lagoon. The other Nunukan is a regency and port town in North Kalimantan, near the Malaysian border and the Tawau crossing, roughly 400 kilometres north of the Derawan islands and not part of the archipelago at all.
The confusion matters for planning. If you book a ferry to “Nunukan” from Tarakan expecting reefs, you will arrive at a border port with no dive infrastructure. Travellers who want the atoll should route toward Berau or Maratua instead — see Derawan via Tarakan for the northern route and Derawan via Berau (Kalimarau) for the standard one.
Geographically, Nunukan belongs to the same coral structure as Maratua Island, the horseshoe-shaped atoll that encloses a large inner lagoon. Nunukan and Nabucco Island both sit on that rim, which is why boats can cross between them in minutes rather than hours.
How to get to Nunukan Island: two realistic routes
Every practical route to Nunukan Island passes through the Maratua atoll, and the fastest one starts at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Tanjung Redeb, Berau. Indonesia Juara uses Kalimarau as the meeting point for every private Derawan trip, so all transfers are arranged from the moment you land.
| Route | Legs | Approximate travel time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard route via Berau | Jakarta / Surabaya / Balikpapan → Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) → road transfer to the jetty → speedboat to Derawan or Maratua → boat to the Nunukan area | Half a day from Balikpapan, most of a day from Jakarta | Almost all travellers; the only route we operate |
| Direct island route | Berau or Balikpapan → Maratua Airport (RTU) → short boat transfer across the atoll | Under two hours once you are on a pioneer flight | Travellers with flexible dates; pioneer services are limited and change often |
| Northern route via Tarakan | Jakarta → Tarakan → boat and road connections south into Berau waters | A full day or more, with overnight stops | Travellers already in North Kalimantan or arriving from Sabah |
Two things are worth saying plainly. First, there is no scheduled public ferry that runs to Nunukan Island itself; the last leg is always a chartered or resort boat. Second, pioneer flight schedules into Maratua change with little notice, so we plan every itinerary around Kalimarau and treat Maratua Airport as a bonus rather than a guarantee. The full breakdown of flights, transfers and timing is on how to get to the Derawan Islands.
What you see around Nunukan Island
The attraction around Nunukan is the atoll wall, where the reef edge drops away into open Celebes Sea water within metres of the shoreline. That vertical topography is what pulls in schooling fish and pelagics, and it is why the Maratua rim has a reputation among divers who have already done Bali and Komodo.
- The Maratua Channel. The tidal cut between the lagoon and the open sea produces strong drift dives and the barracuda aggregations the area is famous for. It is an advanced site — currents here are not for a first open-water dive.
- Wall and drop-off diving. Recreational limits of 30 metres for advanced divers and 40 metres absolute maximum are reached long before the reef bottoms out, so most dives here are wall profiles rather than bottom time.
- Green turtles. Turtles are a constant presence throughout the atoll, feeding on the seagrass flats and resting under coral ledges. Nesting behaviour is covered on our green turtle nesting page.
- Reef flats for snorkellers. Non-divers still get value here: the shallow shelf on the sheltered side is calm enough for float-and-drift snorkelling. Compare it with the other options on Derawan snorkelling spots.
- Blue Light Cave and the named Maratua sites. The cave systems and the classic sites of the atoll — Turtle Traffic, Big Fish Country, Channel Maratua — are all boat-accessible from this corner of the rim. Full descriptions sit on Derawan dive sites.
What Nunukan does not have is the archipelago’s two headline wildlife encounters. The stingless jellyfish lake is on Kakaban Island and the manta ray cleaning stations are off Sangalaki Island, both of which are separate boat runs and both of which belong on any serious itinerary.
Nunukan Island Resort: what we can and cannot confirm
Nunukan Island Resort is a search term divers use for accommodation on this islet, and it is a legitimate query — but Indonesia Juara does not own, operate or resell that property, so we will not publish room counts, star ratings or facility lists we cannot verify. Anything you read elsewhere claiming a specific number of bungalows or a specific certification should be checked directly with the property.
What we can state honestly is which properties our own private trips use. Depending on the tier you choose and availability on your dates, Indonesia Juara books guests into Reza Derawan Resort, Alfit VIP Borneo Cottage, Sienna Resort, Maratua Paradise Resort, Arasatu Villa, Pratasaba Resort or Seheku Paradise. Those seven properties are the real inventory behind our itineraries. Detail on each sits on where to stay in the Derawan Islands, with a dedicated page for Maratua Paradise Resort and one for Nabucco Island Resort.
For most travellers this is good news rather than bad. Staying on Maratua or Derawan proper and running day boats out to the Nunukan and Nabucco corner of the rim gives you the same water with better logistics, more food options, and an easier exit on your flight day.
The best time to visit Nunukan Island is April to November
Indonesia Juara runs Derawan trips from April to November, and that window exists for a reason: it is the calmer, drier stretch for the Celebes Sea crossing and the period when small-boat transfers between the atoll islands are most reliable. Outside it, wind and swell can cancel the very boat legs that make an island like Nunukan reachable.
| Period | Sea conditions | What it means for Nunukan |
|---|---|---|
| April to June | Settling after the wet months, generally calm | Good visibility, fewer travellers, comfortable channel crossings |
| July to September | Peak of the operating season | Most reliable boat days; book earlier because resort rooms fill first |
| October to November | Season tapering off | Still workable, but build a spare day into the itinerary |
| December to March | Wetter and windier | Outside our operating window; transfers become unpredictable |
How long to spend: three nights minimum, four is better
A 3D2N itinerary is the shortest trip that reaches the atoll without wasting the whole visit on transfers, and 4D3N is what we recommend if Nunukan and the outer rim matter to you. The arithmetic is simple: one day is consumed arriving through Kalimarau, one day is consumed leaving, and everything you actually came for happens in between.
- 3D2N. Enough for Derawan, one crossing to the Maratua atoll, and a Kakaban or Sangalaki day. Tight but workable.
- 4D3N. Adds a full day on the atoll rim, which is where the Nunukan and Nabucco sites, the channel and the wall dives fit comfortably.
- 5 nights or more. Opens up the mainland extensions — Labuan Cermin Mirror Lake and the Talisayan whale sharks — which sit on the Berau coast rather than in the archipelago.
Divers should also budget the standard 18-to-24 hour surface interval before flying. That single rule quietly decides whether your last morning is a dive day or a beach day.
Private Derawan trip rates that cover the Maratua atoll
Indonesia Juara sells the Derawan Archipelago as a private trip, 3D2N or 4D3N, starting from USD 281 per person — the exact figure depends on how many people travel together and whether you take the standard or premium tier. Minimum group size is two people. The nine destinations covered across our itineraries are Talisayan, Maratua, Kakaban, Sangalaki, Goa Halo Tabung, Manta Point, Pasir Gusung Sanggalau, Laguna Kehe Daing and Labuan Cermin.
| Group size | Standard (USD per person) | Premium (USD per person) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | from USD 580 | from USD 672 |
| 3 people | from USD 442 | from USD 506 |
| 4 people | from USD 391 | from USD 437 |
| 5 people | from USD 331 | from USD 368 |
| 6 people | from USD 359 | from USD 391 |
| 7 people | from USD 340 | from USD 368 |
| 8 people | from USD 322 | from USD 345 |
| 9 people | from USD 281 | from USD 304 |
| 10 people | from USD 285 | from USD 304 |
What the per-person rate covers: the private boat charter between the islands on your itinerary, land transfers from the Kalimarau Airport meeting point, accommodation at one of the seven properties listed above according to your tier, and a private guide for the group. The exact inclusion list for your dates is confirmed in writing in your quote before you pay anything.
What it does not cover: flights to and from Kalimarau Airport, certified scuba diving and rental equipment, entrance and conservation fees where they apply, travel insurance, and personal spending. We would rather tell you that here than surprise you at the jetty. To start a quote, email sales@indonesiajuara.asia with your dates and group size, or read the itinerary detail on Derawan trip, Derawan island hopping tour and Derawan diving package.
Nunukan compared with the other islands on the atoll
| Island | Character | Main draw | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nunukan | Small islet on the Maratua rim | Wall diving and channel access, very quiet | Divers who want water time over facilities |
| Nabucco | Neighbouring islet on the same rim | Dive-focused island stay | Divers booking a resort-based week |
| Maratua | Large horseshoe atoll with a lagoon | Channel, caves, lagoon, most accommodation | Almost everyone; the practical base |
| Derawan | Inhabited village island | Turtles off the jetty, food, easiest logistics | First-timers, families, non-divers |
| Kakaban | Uninhabited, raised atoll | Stingless jellyfish lake | Snorkellers; day visit only |
| Sangalaki | Small, protected turtle island | Manta rays and nesting turtles | Wildlife-first travellers |
If you would rather sleep on the water than commit to one island, the Derawan liveaboard option reaches the same rim without a fixed base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is Nunukan Island?
Nunukan Island lies on the western rim of the Maratua atoll in the Derawan Archipelago, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. It sits beside Nabucco Island on the same reef structure that forms Maratua’s horseshoe. Do not confuse it with Nunukan Regency in North Kalimantan, a port area near the Malaysian border roughly 400 kilometres to the north with no connection to the archipelago’s dive tourism.
How do I get to Nunukan Island from Jakarta?
The reliable route is Jakarta to Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau, usually connecting through Balikpapan, then a road transfer to the jetty and a speedboat into the Maratua atoll. Indonesia Juara meets every guest at Kalimarau and handles the boat legs from there. Maratua Airport (RTU) offers a shorter final hop when pioneer flights are running, but schedules change often, so we plan around Berau.
Is there a Nunukan Island Resort, and can Indonesia Juara book it?
Nunukan Island Resort is a name divers search for, but Indonesia Juara does not operate or resell that property and will not publish unverified details about its rooms or facilities. Our private trips use seven confirmed properties instead: Reza Derawan Resort, Alfit VIP Borneo Cottage, Sienna Resort, Maratua Paradise Resort, Arasatu Villa, Pratasaba Resort and Seheku Paradise. Email sales@indonesiajuara.asia and we will tell you which are available on your dates.
When is the best time to dive around Nunukan Island?
April to November is the operating season for Derawan trips, with July to September the most dependable stretch for small-boat crossings. Outside that window, wind and swell in the Celebes Sea regularly cancel the transfers that make the outer atoll islands reachable, which is why we do not sell trips from December to March. Book early for the July to September peak, as resort rooms are the first thing to run out.
How many days do I need to include Nunukan in a Derawan itinerary?
Four days and three nights is the realistic minimum if the Maratua atoll rim is a priority, because arrival and departure each consume roughly a full day through Kalimarau. A 3D2N trip still reaches the archipelago but forces you to choose between the atoll rim and the Kakaban and Sangalaki wildlife days. Adding a fifth night makes room for Labuan Cermin or the Talisayan whale sharks on the Berau mainland.
How much does a private Derawan trip covering the Maratua atoll cost?
Rates start from USD 281 per person and vary with group size and whether you choose the standard or premium tier, with a minimum of two travellers. Two people pay from USD 580 each on the standard tier, while a group of nine brings that down to from USD 281 each. Flights to Kalimarau, certified diving, equipment rental and entrance fees sit outside the per-person rate and are confirmed in your written quote.