Visiting Raja Ampat by yacht
When to come, where yachts anchor in Raja Ampat, and how to get here.
Picture made with AI. It shows the place but is not a photograph.
When to come
| Season | Months | Daily high | Monthly rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | October to May | 28.8 to 29.1 °C | 231 to 335 mm |
| Shoulder | June, September | 28.6 °C | 224 to 314 mm |
| Off season | July, August | 28.2 to 28.3 °C | 200 to 266 mm |
ERA5 reanalysis, Open-Meteo, 1991 to 2020, grid point near Waisai. The Southeast Asia Pilot gives October to May, the northwest monsoon, as the best time, and June to September as the dry season with strong southerlies. Boat International, 2016, gives March to June. Season bands are our own estimate.
Where yachts anchor
These anchorages come from the Southeast Asia Pilot cruising guide, undated, and Boat International, 2015. Both say anchorages need care.
Waisai
Dozens of anchorages in 25 to 45 m off the fringing reef, all open to the south, so only good in the northerly season. An anchorage on black sand and mud in 10 to 12 m lies at 0°25.772 S, 130°49.620 E.
Sorong
Anchorages in 22 to 32 m off the waterfront. Larger vessels anchor in 25 to 35 m east of Pulau Doom.
Wayag
An anchorage in 45 m in the northern lagoon. Mooring buoys serve commercial dive vessels. A Noonsite cruiser report from a 2012 visit says there were two moorings and a yacht might be asked to leave if a large liveaboard dive boat arrived.
East of Misool
Boat International, 2015, describes a superyacht anchored east of Misool, with guests going by kayak to the Tomolo caves.
Boat International, 2015: the seabed shelves steeply in many bays, with depths dropping from a few feet to 60 m within the length of a tender.
Superyachts here
Asia Pacific Superyachts says it opened a Raja Ampat office in 2017 for superyacht shore support. Boat International, 2015 and 2016, describes yacht charters in Raja Ampat, one on the 65.2 m sailing yacht Lamima.
Getting here
Guests meet the yacht in Sorong. Boat International, 2016, describes flying in by private jet from Bali to meet the yacht in Sorong. Waisai is 38 miles from Sorong by sea.
Marine park office
The head office is on Jl. Yos Sudarso in Waisai. It is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Sources. Checked 8 November 2026.
- Raja Ampat MPAs Management Authority: home
- Raja Ampat MPAs Management Authority: Marine park fee
- Raja Ampat MPAs Management Authority: Visit guide
- Raja Ampat MPAs Management Authority: Areas we manage
- Raja Ampat MPAs Management Authority: Rules and regulations
- Governor Regulation Papua Barat Daya 32/2024: MPA service tariffs (PDF)
- Ministry of Tourism: Yacht regulation
- Southeast Asia Pilot: Raja Ampat
- Boat International: Asteria in Raja Ampat, 2015
- Boat International: Raja Ampat on a phinisi, 2016
- Asia Pacific Superyachts: Raja Ampat
- Noonsite: Raja Ampat cruiser report
- Open-Meteo historical weather API (ERA5), 1991 to 2020
- UKSA superyacht salary guide
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