Explore Jakarta’s Coral Island: Hidden Gem of the Thousand Islands Archipelago

I scoured Xiaohongshu for the perfect Thousand Islands getaway and settled on one that was just about an hour away. We arrived bright and early at 8:00 AM, and I highly recommend getting there early as ticket sales close at 8:30. The earlier you arrive, the sooner you can start your adventure and avoid the long lines.

For Coral Island, head to Pier 16, where the ticket office is conveniently located right across. The round-trip ticket costs 380k, so make sure to have cash on hand.

After purchasing your tickets, keep an ear out for your name being called. I’m not sure if it was because we bought our tickets at 7:56 or because Coral Island is the final destination, but we were the last group to set sail. Pay close attention to the announcements.

We waited for about an hour, surrounded by many fellow Chinese travelers. During this time, we met a solo traveler from Singapore who had booked with a well-known guide from Xiaohongshu. We decided to join him, and it turned out to be a smooth and enjoyable experience, much better than our initial plan of finding a group on-site.

When we arrived, the guide was already waiting. We hopped onto his boat and first headed to a stunning white sand beach for a quick 15-minute stop. Then, we continued boating for another 30 minutes before diving into the crystal-clear waters for a 2-hour snorkeling session. I managed to capture some fantastic underwater shots with my iPhone (a big thumbs up to its durability, as it survived a noisy earpiece incident that night).

However, I would still recommend using an action camera for the best results. In a moment of excitement, I accidentally dropped my phone into the sea, but thankfully, our new friend dove in and retrieved it, saving me from a major loss.

Our guide was exceptional. A group of beautiful women next to us, who arrived later, left earlier and had significantly less time for snorkeling. After our underwater adventure, we headed to a nearby small island for a delightful lunch. I’ve uploaded the receipt, and you’ll see it’s quite cost-effective. Post-lunch, we swiftly returned to the main island and took the return trip back to Jakarta.