Word: Ayu Arman
Ipaya offers a beautiful panoramic view of white sand surrounded by mangrove and cypress forests. Also, the waves are like the voice of nature that never stops talking.
There are many interesting corners that can be explored on this island, located in Mimika, Papua, Indonesia. The island has a stretch of white sand that surrounds the island with clear blue sea water.
The land is filled with dense cypress trees and in front of the island is a mangrove forest. When you stand on the shoreline, you’re in between views of the mangrove forest, rows of cypress trees, stretches of white sand and lapping waves.
Along the way to the island, you will be treated to a beautiful mangrove forest excursion. The name Ipaya Beach is a combination of three areas, namely Ipiri, Paripi and Yaraya.
This small uninhabited island is often a resting place for fishermen. Before going out to sea, they usually stop there first. Or, conversely, they simply rest after fishing, wait for morning, or wait for the waves to calm down before continuing their journey home.
Like that day, when we visited, we found the remains of a wood fire still emitting smoke behind a small house. A sign that there are people on this small island.
Apart from fishermen, this island is also often the destination of tourists who want to enjoy the silence in the middle of the big water.
Being alone on an uninhabited island can indeed be a therapy to relieve boredom. The charm of the beach with white sand and clear light blue water can drive away fatigue and clear your mind after working hard throughout the year.
There are some fishermen or tourists who often make this island a place to sip quietly by setting up tents. They want to experience the outdoors, hear the sound of waves crashing, the sea breeze swishing and the friction of pine needles.
Walking around the island barefoot is also a fun activity to do. You can walk among the pine trees that stand tall while listening to the sound of birds chirping and the waves crashing.
Other activities include swimming and fishing around the island. The island has a wide variety of fish species and healthy coral reefs. You can also rent a boat and do island hopping to nearby islands while fishing and grilling fish.
If you want to experience camping on the shoreline while being accompanied by the waves on an uninhabited island, Ipaya can be included in your travel calendar checklist. Here, you’ll feel like you’re enjoying your own private island, tasting the scent of the sea and playing as much as you want from sunrise to sunset without being disturbed by the hustle and bustle of humans.
However, there are consequences. You must be prepared to live without the facilities and comforts that you are used to in big cities. You’ll need to bring a tent, sleeping bag, flashlight and other outdoor equipment, as well as enough food. If you are travelling to an uninhabited island, you must be willing to befriend nature.
Currently, the local tourism office is building a bridge and toilets there. But one thing’s for sure, pitching a tent, building a campfire and cooking dinner of grilled fish that you’ve fished yourself is an irreplaceable satisfaction.