'Globehunters' rank four Indonesian beaches among top 50 regional spots

NEWS DESK

THE JAKARTA POST
- | Sun, May 13, 2018 | 10:39 am


The mesmerizing Ora Beach of Seram Island, Maluku, is among the four Indonesian beaches ranked among the top 50 Instagrammed beaches in the Asia-Pacific. (Shutterstock/File)

Four Indonesian beaches have been ranked among the Asia-Pacific's 50 most popular beaches on Instagram, with one even breaking into the top 15 spots.

Australian travel website Globehunters has compiled a list of the top 50 Instagrammed beaches in the region.

Here are the four local beaches that have made the cut, as reported by kompas.com.

1. Dreamland Beach, Bali

Located in Pecatu, Badung, on the resort island of Bali, Dreamland Beach came in 13th on the list, with more than 55,000 Instagram uploads.

The white beach is located 19 kilometers from Ngurah Rai International Airport, or about a 45-minute drive from the Balinese hub.

Sitting along the southern tip of the island, Dreamland is popular for surfing, with its waves attracting expert and pro surfers alike.

2. Virgin Beach, Bali

Also in Bali, Virgin Beach is located on the opposite end of the island, up north in Karangasem.

The beach sits in the 17th spot with more than 39,000 uploads.

With its northern location, Virgin Beach is a fair drive from the airport down south. Travelers arriving by air must journey a further 73 kilometers to reach the beach, approximately a two-hour drive.

Located far from the island's more popular destinations, Virgin Beach is a relatively quiet stretch, making it a nice place to relax. Swimmers, however, should be on the lookout for rough waves.

3. Ora Beach, Maluku

Ora Beach is located on Seram Island in Maluku province. With a stunning backdrop of mountains and crystal clear waters, the beach ranks 22nd on the list, accumulating more than 27,000 Instagram posts.

Resorts on the beach offer overwater bungalows for visitors to enjoy the sea and surrounding coral reefs.

Visitors can also snorkel to take a glimpse of the underwater seascape.

4. Derawan Islands

East Kalimantan's Derawan Islands come in at No. 32 on Globehunter's list.

The small island chain is composed of the Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua, Panjang and Samama islands, as well as islets and submerged reefs.

The Derawan Islands offers a plethora of marine activities, including snorkeling and diving, and features marine life including turtles, dolphins and manta rays.

On Kakaban Island, visitors can also take the plunge into a lake full of sting-less jellyfish. (liz/wng)