About Karimunjawa...

The Karimun Jawa Island is a archipelago with 27 islands. It is also a National Park with 110,000 ha and the location is 90 km north east of Jepara in Central Java.

It is known for its exciting range of flora and fauna above and below the water, diving sites, and sandy beaches.

You can find many attractions, such as sun bathing, swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, hiking, camping, bird watching, trekking through a mangrove forest and also fishing.

And you can find some good beaches around and the next nice sandy beach from Ayu Hotel is about 10min walking distance, called "Pancuran Beach". Here you can enjoy and relax and do some swimming, sunbathing, or snorkeling.

The city, which is in close walking distance to Ayu Hotel, has a lot of places that will offer you a variety of food. At Alun- Alun you will find the best BBQ-fish that you have eaten in your entire life for a very affordable price, as well. On the market you will always find fresh fruits and many other things.

There is also a tiny bit of nightlife and at least on most weekends you will find a relaxed party at Pancuran Beach.

In the ocean is an amazing variety of around 200 different species of corals and many fish, which is why Karimunjawa is also a National Marine Park  or Marine Protected Area (MPA).

Diving & Snorkeling

The beauty of the underwater life of Karimunjawa, undoubtedly stunning, with various coral reefs and diverse fish species that live in it, is best discovered by Scuba diving or a Snorkelling Tour (that you can book at Ayu Hotel). At least there are 12 diving spot, among others are Milym Reef in Menjangan Kecil Island, Indonor Wreck in Batu Lawang, Ezdir Reef in Cemara Besar Island, and Antonys Point in Tengah Island.

It is also possible to visit some of the 27 islands by boat and find amazing beaches and beautiful nature.

Always remember that you are about to enter a National Marine Park which has several rules that must be followed, to save the environment. Respect the Nature and help save the Karimunjawa National Park.

A bit about the history of the name ‘Karimunjawa’

Following the local believe, Karimunjawa was originally settled by "Sunan Nyamplungan", the son of "Sunan Muria", one of the Muslim Saints (Sunan) who introduced Islam to Java and was the leader of Wali Songo (Islam Religion in Java) .

It was his father, "Sunan Muria" who gave command to "Amir Hasan" to go to one of the islands which could be seen from the top of the Muria Mountain (near Jepara).

The islands always seen blurred and they said kremun- kremun ( means blurred ). Or to be more precise, kremun – kremun saking tanah jawi or blurred islands which can be seen from Java.

After a very long journey crossing the seas (sailing from Jepara to Karimunjawa can take up to 25 days!) they finally arrived at the island and named it ‘Karimunjawa’.

Amir Hasan  brought with him 2 things to Karimunjawa. That was 2 seeds. One was ‘nyamplung’ (Calophyllum inophyllum ), which besides being a popular ornamental plant, produces hard and strong wood and has been used centuries in construction or boat building. The other seed was of the plant called ’Mustaka’, which is also known as ’Cyperus rotundus’ and is used for treatment of numerous illnesses.

Amir Hasan, who is known until today as “Sunan Nyamplungan” never left the island until he died.

Until today, the grave of Sunan Nyamplungan is a sacred place to the Karimunjawa Locals and the Tourists. And the ‘mustaka’ is allocated in the Sunan Nyamplungan’s grave complex.

Also near this location is a little “waterfall” and the locals believe, if you take a bath there all your wishes will become true !

It is also believed that “Sunan Nyamplungan“, from time to time, at dark nights, appears as giant bat (flying dog) at the skies over Karimunjawa and keep people in Karimunjawa save from evil intruders and ghosts.

Weather & Wind

If you are interested in the climate you can find a "climate history" here (CLICK)... and "Wind forecast map" see here (CLICK)

A special thanks...

In March 2020, when the COVID- 19 pandemic, hit the world hard, we from Ayu Hotel asked our beloved Friends and Guests from the past, to help people in Karimunjawa, without income and work, to Fundraise a small project, with the target of reaching the amount of $2000, and the goal to buy rice and give free food for some families and people in Karimunjawa. People in need to survive.

THANK YOU FRIENDS !!!