Arborek Village in West Papua is a part of Raja Ampat, one of the most luxurious travel destinations in Indonesia. Along with other local villages nearby, the village manages tourism in Raja Ampat collectively.
This village offers a magnificent view right from the start, with its crystal-clear water and polished surrounding. Once you step your foot, you want to dive into the water right away. Now Arborek has become a staple in Raja Ampat visits, especially for people interested in Papua local culture and the daily lives of the people. Its excellent air quality, clean water, and neat surroundings are something hard to find nowadays.
About Arborek Village
In the local language, the word “arborek” means thorns. According to the legend, the Arborek ancestors originated from Biak, and when they first discovered this village, the entire area was covered with bushes of thorns. Then they cleaned it up and resided permanently in the area until the present time.
The village is located on a small island stretched for 7 hectares, with about 80 families as permanent residents. Through its local wisdom, Arborek is the pioneer of tourist villages in Raja Ampat. When special guests pay a visit, locals will prepare a special welcoming dance for them, which involves the whole villagers.
In 2015, Arborek won first place in the Provincial village Competition for West Papua, gaining an outstanding reputation both locally and internationally. Even though Arborek is located on the far east side of Indonesia, it offers great facilities for the visitors’ comfort.
Arborek Local Residents
The mothers and women in Arborek Village are economically independent for choosing to produce handicrafts for a living. They purposely develop their skills in handcrafting since it is more graceful work for women than catching lobsters or hunting for pearls. The hats and string bags they produce are distinguishably beautiful and enriched with their local culture and wisdom. These industrious women made exquisite handmade crafts from sea pandan leaves.
Things to Do
Snorkeling is the main attraction offered by the village. The good news is, you don’t need to go far for it because you can dive from the Arborek pier right away. For a perfect diving spot, you need to take a motorboat for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Village sightseeing is interesting if you are not keen on underwater sports. Given the small area, it only takes 30 minutes to walk around the whole village. You will be accompanied by a friendly villager who will guide you through and give you some interesting insights regarding the village. You can also try to develop skills in handcrafting with the women in the village.
Staying in Arborek Village of West Papua is also guaranteed comfort. Clean water and electricity have been provided, as well as small vendors to provide your daily essentials.
Best Time to Visit
It is best to visit the village during summertime or dry seasons in Indonesia. Since the whole village is covered in sand, it might cause a little discomfort during rainy days. Also, diving into the sea under Arborek is better during the dry season. However, make sure that you have placed your reservation to avoid overbooking during the peak holiday.
How to Get There
Arborek Village is located in Meos Mansar District, Raja Ampat, West Papua. First, you must get to Sorong by flights from Jakarta, Bali, or Makassar. Then head to Sorong Fishery Port and take a motorboat to Waisai Harbor.
From Waisasi Harbour, you need to take a longboat for 1,5 to 2 hours to reach Arborek Village. It is the only way to visit the island village. You can rent the longboat from a local dive shop or ask your homestay provider to arrange one.
Note that a trip to Arborek could be pricey, especially when you depart from western Indonesia or abroad.
Tips for Visiting the Village
When you arrive at Arborek Village, West Papua, you will see cellphones hung on the tree branches to get a better signal. The village has its own towers, which provide a good 4G signal but are still quite slow by the international standard. Also, WiFi connections are extremely rare, so you will find it hard to connect to the internet. While staying there, you better lay down your phones and enjoy the internet-free world, as well as amazing local foods you could only find here.
As the settlement is surrounded by the sea, the breezy wind is something that you will experience every day. The temperature change from day to night is also quite extreme, so pack yourself some clothes to be worn in cold and hot weather. For a getaway, Arborek is the perfect place to visit. Whether you plan for a one-day trip or stay for a few nights, the village will show you other sides of Raja Ampat and West Papua and give you a chance to interact with the locals directly.
