Dugong Homestay is a family-run business initiated by Musa Omkarsba, located in Yensawai Barat Village, Raspapir Island, North Batanta District, Raja Ampat.
Established in 2015, it offers accommodation and nature/marine reserve tour packages in North Batanta. The homestay features local-style beachfront bungalows on a headland, providing access to a white sand beach and views of sea grass reefs and mangrove forests.
Managed by Musa Omkarsba with 3 employees, it has hosted international tourists from countries like Germany, France, the US, and domestic visitors, with guests ranging from 5 to under 65 years old, including couples, families, and groups. It offers 11 distinct one-day trip snorkeling and nature reserve packages.
Rooms
3 x On beach – Private bungalow
A single room bungalow (no ensuite bathroom/toilet) Sleeps max. 3 persons / room.
Rates
Twin share from IDR 500,000 per person / night including 3 meals daily
Single occupancy from IDR 500,000 per person / night including 3 meals daily
Discount for children under 12
Features
- Sorong transfers available
- Mangroves
- Quiet hideaway
- Child discount
- Calm beach
- Remote/isolated
- Western style toilet
- IDR 400,000 to 500,000
- Has private bungalows
- Reef dropoff
- Seagrass
- Coral
- Good house reef
- Sandy Beach
- Western style toilet
- IDR 400,000 to 500,000
Details
Dugong Homestay is located at Raspapir, an east-facing beach on a peninsula on the central north coast of Batanta. The homestay is named for the dugongs that sometimes graze the nearby seagrass meadows during high tides.
Three private beach bungalows are available. The bungalows sleep two on mattresses on the floor. Bedding for a third guest can be provided if needed. Mosquito nets, pillows, bolsters, sheets and blankets are provided.
Bungalow verandahs have a table, comfortable chairs and ocean views.
Meals are served on the bungalow verandahs, and free drinking water and tea and coffee making supplies are provided there.
A two-room bathroom building provides a dip mandi bathroom in one room and a western style toilet in the other.
Electricity is provided by generator and is available from sunset to around midnight. Dugong Homestay receives a medium strength 4G phone signal. An unstable internet connection is available, and is usually best at night.
Only a little English is spoken at Dugong Homestay, so bringing a phrasebook or translation app will make communication easier.
Yensawai village is a ten minute boat ride away and basic supplies can be found there, but be sure to bring all essential items with you. Please also take home all the inorganic waste you create – especially plastic and dead batteries: There’s no safe waste disposal at Raspapir or Yensawai, or indeed anywhere in Raja Ampat!
Activities
Dugong Homestay has a beautiful sheltered beach, a rich coral reef and seagrass meadows that often draw the dugongs the homestay is named for.
Dugongs are shy and unpredictable creatures, so sightings can never be guaranteed, but the chances of seeing them are high if you stay longer than a few days. If you are fortunate enough to encounter dugongs, please don’t approach too closely or chase them: Not only will you scare them away, but they will abandon areas where they are frightened too many times.
A pearl farm inhabits the bay at the foot of the Raspapir peninsula. The farm is testament to the area’s pristine waters and visits there can be arranged by Dugong Homestay.
Snorkelling Batanta
In addition to a house reef that provides great snorkelling, Dugong Homestay’s longboat is available for any other snorkelling or sightseeing trip you’d like to do.