Reaching the Derawan archipelago by air means flying into Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau, then covering the rest by road, boat, or a chartered small aircraft — because only Maratua has a runway, and it is served by Wings Air twice weekly. Derawan, Kakaban and Sangalaki have no airport at all, so any onward air movement is a charter arranged with an operator, subject to approval, not a scheduled seaplane route.
How Do You Get From the Mainland to Kalimarau Airport?
Kalimarau Airport sits in Teluk Bayur district, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. It has no direct international or major-hub connections, so travellers route through one of two domestic gateways: Balikpapan (BPN) or Tarakan (TRK). Both connect onward to BEJ on short domestic hops, and BEJ has been documented since at least 2019, in a Liputan6 report, as the tourism gateway for Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban and Sangalaki.
From BEJ, the regency capital Tanjung Redeb is a short drive away and has its own harbour used by public and charter boats. Most travellers instead continue by road to Tanjung Batu, the usual jetty for speedboats heading into the archipelago.
Which Islands Have a Runway, and Which Need a Boat?
Only one island in the group has an airstrip. The other three depend entirely on speedboat transfers from the mainland or from each other. A charter seaplane could theoretically shorten some of these hops, but as of September 2026 no operator, aerodrome or fixed price is documented for that route — every seaplane option is quote-on-request, arranged case by case.
| Island | Runway | Water landing | Boat fallback (verified) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maratua | Yes — Wings Air, twice weekly | Not documented | Tanjung Redeb public boat ~2.5 hrs; Tanjung Batu speedboat ~2 hrs |
| Derawan | None | Subject to operator/authority approval; no site documented | Tanjung Batu speedboat ~30 min |
| Kakaban | None | Subject to operator/authority approval; no site documented | Tanjung Batu speedboat ~1 hr; Derawan speedboat ~1 hr |
| Sangalaki | None | Subject to operator/authority approval; no site documented | Tanjung Batu speedboat ~2 hrs |
What Does a Same-Day Arrival Look Like — Road-and-Boat vs Charter?
For most visitors, the door-to-jetty routine into Derawan runs about 3 hours total: roughly 2 to 2.5 hours by road from Kalimarau to Tanjung Batu (one itinerary allows up to 3 hours in traffic), then about 30 minutes by speedboat. A public boat from Tanjung Redeb harbour to Maratua, Sangalaki or Kakaban departs as early as 08:00 and as late as 16:00, taking around 2 hours; a separate direct Tanjung Redeb-to-Maratua public boat leaves around 10:00 and takes about 2.5 hours.
| Leg | Road + public/speedboat | Private charter arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| BEJ to Tanjung Batu | 2–2.5 hrs by road (up to 3 hrs) | Same road transfer, coordinated timing |
| Tanjung Batu to Derawan | ~30 min speedboat | Speedboat charter, flexible departure |
| Tanjung Batu to Maratua/Sangalaki | ~2 hrs speedboat | Speedboat charter; air option quote-on-request |
| Tanjung Redeb to Maratua (direct) | ~2.5 hrs, ~10:00 departure only | Not scheduled — arranged per request |
A charter does not remove these distances; it mainly removes the wait for a fixed public departure window and lets a private group set its own timing with a licensed operator.
Is There a Government Water-Landing Priority Status for Derawan?
No. As of September 2026, no designated water aerodrome, no published regulation and no government priority status for water landings has been documented for East Kalimantan or the Derawan archipelago. A resort operator, Green Nirvana, describes the islands as reachable “by boat or small airplane” after landing at BEJ, which shows small-aircraft arrivals do happen — but no source names a seaplane operator, a fixed landing site, or a permit framework. Any water landing here is subject to operator approval, aviation authority permits and prevailing conditions, arranged individually rather than offered as a standing service. Treat any claim of a “priority” seaplane corridor into Derawan as unverified until an operator or regulator publishes it.
When Is the Best Season to Fly In?
Berau’s dive and charter operators run their published seasons from April through November — the window Indonesia Juara’s Derawan trips use for their BEJ-based departures (page dated August 5, 2026, updated August 17, 2026). Outside that window, sea conditions around Tanjung Batu and the open crossings to Maratua and Sangalaki can affect both public boats and any small-aircraft movement, so build a buffer day into shoulder-season plans rather than booking a tight same-day connection.
What Gear and Baggage Limits Apply on Small Aircraft Into Berau?
Domestic flights into BEJ via Balikpapan or Tarakan follow standard commercial baggage allowances, which are tighter than an international long-haul limit — check your carrier’s economy allowance before packing dive gear. Any charter or small-aircraft leg beyond BEJ carries its own weight and passenger limits set by the operator and aircraft type; because no seaplane operator is publicly named for this route, gear limits for that specific leg are confirmed only at the time of quote, not in advance.
Do You Need to Wait Before Flying After Diving in Derawan?
Yes — the standard no-fly interval after diving applies to any onward flight from Berau, whether that is the scheduled Wings Air service into Maratua or a chartered small-aircraft leg. Divers doing multiple days at Sangalaki’s Manta Ray Point, Kakaban’s jellyfish lake or Maratua’s Dolphin Point and Blue Lagoon should plan their last dive with enough surface interval before any flight segment, and confirm the exact interval with their dive operator, since it can vary by dive profile.
How Does Booking a Seaplane or Charter Transfer Actually Work?
- Share your dates and group size. Charter and seaplane arrangements in this region require case-by-case coordination, not a live booking calendar.
- State your route. BEJ to Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban or Sangalaki, plus any island-hopping between them.
- Receive a quote-on-request. No public per-hour rate or fixed seaplane fare exists for Berau to Derawan as of September 2026, so every figure is confirmed directly with the arranging desk.
- Confirm with a licensed operator. Juara Holding Group, an independent coordination desk established in 2015, arranges the transfer with a vetted, licensed Indonesian operator — it owns no aircraft and is not affiliated with any named carrier.
- Reconfirm 48–72 hours ahead. Weather, sea state and authority approvals can shift timing on short notice in this region.
Plan the Rest of the Trip
- Derawan seaplane charter pricing and options
- Kalimarau Airport to Derawan transfer logistics
- Maratua seaplane and speedboat charter
- Kakaban jellyfish lake day trip planning
- Sangalaki manta point charter access
- Derawan dive resort transfers
- Whale-shark season trips from Berau
- East Kalimantan charter logistics for groups
- Derawan archipelago island-hopping by seaplane
- Derawan seaplane charter booking
Ready to plan a Berau-to-Derawan transfer? Juara Holding Group’s concierge desk coordinates road, boat and charter logistics with licensed partners — reach the team on WhatsApp at 6281139414563 or bd@juaraholding.com for a route-specific, quote-on-request plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fly directly from Bali or Jakarta into Derawan?
No. There is no airport on Derawan itself. Flights land at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau via Balikpapan or Tarakan, or at Maratua’s airstrip via twice-weekly Wings Air service; Derawan is then reached by a further road-and-speedboat transfer of roughly 3 hours door to jetty.
Is a seaplane the fastest way to reach Kakaban or Sangalaki?
It could shorten the trip in theory, but no seaplane operator, price or fixed schedule for Berau to Kakaban or Sangalaki is documented as of September 2026. The verified route remains speedboat from Tanjung Batu — about 1 hour to Kakaban and about 2 hours to Sangalaki.
Why does Maratua have an airstrip but Derawan does not?
Public records document only Maratua as holding a runway, served by Wings Air twice weekly. Derawan, Kakaban and Sangalaki have no airport, so all air-adjacent access to those three islands depends on boat transfers or a case-by-case charter arrangement rather than scheduled flights.
Do I need special permits for a private seaplane landing near Derawan?
Any water landing is subject to operator approval and aviation authority permits, decided case by case; no designated water aerodrome or published priority scheme exists for the region as of September 2026. Confirm permit requirements directly with the arranging operator before assuming a water landing is possible on a given date.
How far in advance should I book a Berau seaplane or charter transfer?
Because pricing and scheduling are quote-on-request rather than published fares, most operators need at least several days’ notice to confirm aircraft or vessel availability, especially outside the April-to-November season. Booking further ahead also allows time to align the transfer with dive-after-flying intervals and any weather-dependent water landing.