If you’re visiting for the day while on a cruise, you won’t be disappointed. This is the island you want your snorkeling gear for!
If it’s your first time visiting we highly recommend:
Jinek Bay
Don’t forget your waterproof camera (and make sure the batteries are charged).
Jinek Bay is walking distance from the pier and you do not want to miss exploring here. The snorkeling is AMAZING.
This is a Marine reserve and you will need to pay to snorkel here. It isn’t expensive (about USD15 per person the last time we were here) and it is worth every cent. You can literally waste hours. As it is a marine reserve I would recommend you plan ahead and consider the environment when planning your sun protection (they do have signs asking you not to wear sunscreen). If you’re like me and burn within about 5 minutes, you could also consider packing a rashie and shorts to snorkel in.
There are many articles on this topic online. One blog I found interesting was Is Your Sunscreen Killing the Coral Reef? – Ocean Conservancy
Initially there isn’t much in the way of signage to get you started but once on the road, you’ll be able to follow the signs (and people) from there. When you get off at the pier, look straight ahead up past the market. You’ll see a steep hill. Walk up to the top. From there, follow the road to the left and then the signs. It’s maybe 500m down the road and doesn’t take long at all (although can feel much longer if you’re walking in the middle of the day with the heat). For this reason we normally head there early before it gets too hot. Walking back doesn’t seem as bad once you’re refreshed and cool!
Once there, you’ll see a grass area and small jetty where there are steps leading into the water.
Dump your bags, grab your snorkels and head on in!
Local Markets
After finishing up snorkeling head back toward the pier, stop at the markets (grab some pineapple – yummo) and maybe try some local cuisine. We tend to then head back to the ship to drop off the snorkel gear so we’re not carrying it around for the rest of the day, grab a bite to eat (if you didn’t at the market) and then head back for an afternoon of swimming at the beach.
The beach right near the pier
As you get off at the pier, toward your left, just past the markets is a beach. It is lovely to just relax and swim for the afternoon.
Bring some reef shoes for swimming as it isn’t much of a sandy bottom.
It is close to the market and close to the pier so you can stay here until later in the day before heading back to the ship on one of the later tenders back to help maximise your day.
This place is a thoroughly enjoyable day.
Don’t want to swim?
Try some other activities. You can walk to the caves from the pier as well (up the same hill but turn right). There is a water hole in the cave but you don’t have to swim if you don’t want to.
The cruise ship does have shore excursions here as well if you prefer to take a bus. It is more expensive but you won’t have to walk around as much and you’ll be able to travel a little further and in comfort. We have never booked a shore excursion on the ship just due to so much being walking distance.
