Marak Island, The Paradise in the South

Marak Island in the Indian Ocean, a few kilometers off the coast in Nagari Sungai Pinang.
(Photos by Om Ade)

Marak Island is located in Nagari Sungai Pinang, Koto XI Tarusan Sub-District, Pesisir Selatan District, West Sumatra Province. In the waters of the Nagari Sungai Pinang, there are other islands, including Karanggo Island, Nyamuk (Mosquito) Island and Pagang Island which have become a tourist destination of Pesisir Selatan District.

Marak Island is communal land (customary land) owned by villagers' Nagari Sungai Pinang. The island is uninhabited, just become a haven for fisherman who want to rest, or to secure themselves from the Indian Ocean storm. In addition, many fisherman who came to the island to pick coconuts.

The fishing boat usually hired to the Marak Island.

To go Marak Island, can be reached by about 1 hour by road from the Padang City to Nagari Sungai Pinang, through area of Bungus, Kabuang Bay. From the waterfront in Nagari Sungai Pinang, proceed to ride the fishing boat, for 1 hour to get to the island.

Do not imagine you're going to climb a large fishing boat. Fishing boats are usually only filled with passengers about 5 people, including the fisherman. Boat rental price is usually around Rp 200,000 for a round trip for 1 day. If you're lucky, sometimes there is also fishing barge belonging be carrying about 20 people.

To travel to the Marak Island, also can not arbitrarily pick a time. At the year end until the beginning of the year, usually the waves are high, could reach 2 meters. Because Marak Island in the sea off the Strait of Mentawai Islands, Indian Ocean. Usually the fisherman would refuse to deliver to Marak Island.

White sandy beaches on the Marak Island.

The best time to Marak Island is from April to August. In these times, the waves were "benign". Safe conditions for a distance of 7.37 miles from the mainland to the Marak Island. In any way, we will be treated to beautiful views, from the cluster of islands that look like in Raja Ampat.

Until Marak Island, you'll find white sandy beach ramps. Nature in the island area of about 500 acres was very calm and quiet, really still "virgin". Sea in around of the Marak Island also clean. Coral reefs on the ocean floor can be seen from the surface of the sea. The ambience is very suitable for snorkeling and diving.

A tourist snorkeling in the waters around the Marak Island.

In the bottom waters of Marak Island will encounter different types of marine animals, such as Porites sp, Anemone, black sea cucumbers and giant clams. Giant clams (Tridacna maxima) is one indicator that signifies cleanliness of the aquatic ecosystem around the Marak Island.

In addition, one of the institutions of France named Kalaweit also make Marak Island as a conservation center of gibbons (wild monkeys) since 2003. They get right to occupy these islands from the Government of Pesisir Selatan District through a contract for 10 years, until 2013.

Since then, the Marak Island was inhabited by several species of gibbon (Symphalangus) and agile / owa-owa gibbon (Hylobates spp.) Both types of wild monkeys are endangered animals endangered long. When landing on the Marak Island, gibbons are the voice will be heard loud and heavy, shouted through the trees.

Gibbons conservation center is located in an area of 5 hectares. The distance is only about 400 meters from the beach. In this land there are dozens of cages for rehabilitating wild monkeys before being released into their natural habitat.

Waters of around the Marak Island are clean and filled coral reefs.

Besides gibbon, Marak Island now inhabited by a variety of other animals, such as rare birds and butterflies, reptiles, tortoises, labi-labi and wild boar. There are also various types of trees. All the flora and fauna was guarded by officers of Kalaweit through patrols once a week.

With the beauty of the sea and a variety of flora and fauna, the proper course Marak Island known to many as "The Paradise in the South". Unfortunately, gibbons conservation in Marak Island to expire in 2013. According to the plan, the conservation will be moved to Nagari Supayang, Solok District. Most of the gibbons rehabilitated in Marak Island will released to the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, in Jambi Province.

Hopefully Marak Island remains a natural conservation area, as well as for tourism through the concept of ecotourism. For the traveler, come immediately to schedule vacation to the Marak Island. Simultaneously stop at Nagari Sungai Pinang that has become a tourist village, through a beach house called Ricky's Beach House belongs www.authenticsumatra.com.

Marak Island, The Paradise in the South.

* The photos in this article is the work of Om Ade, contained in Hajsmy Blog. 

See also in Marak Island on Chirpstory