A Private Resort Island Nestled Deep In An Archipelago of Uninhabited Islands
An exclusive dive resort and conservation center located in remote southern Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Batbitim Island is a true tropical hideaway, fringed with powder white beaches and pristine coral reefs. Home to an intimate holiday getaway with a maximum capacity of just 32 guests and a staff to guest ration of 3 to 1, Misool Eco Resort offers a luxury vacation experience surrounded by the world’s richest reefs.
Situated in the heart of the Coral Triangle at the epicenter of marine biodiversity, Misool’s 300,000-acre ‘No-Take Zone’ was established to protect Raja Ampat, widely considered one of the world’s most pristine underwater environments, and to provide visitors with exceptional and enriching experiences in a sustainable environment. Regularly patrolled by local rangers to prevent all types of fishing, netting, mining and shark finning, Misool is committed to supporting the local community and its economy through preservation of its surrounding ecosystem, the region’s most important commodity.
Built from 100% reclaimed tropical hardwoods, Misool’s developers managed to create a stunning resort without cutting down a single tree. Purchased directly from local people rather than logging conglomerates, Misool’s reclaimed wood was milled in its very own portable sawmill and most of its fine carpentry and furniture is hand crafted on-site. Meticulously designed for comfort, privacy and sustainability, all villas feature Balinese-style open-air bathrooms, air-conditioning, fresh hot and cold showers, thatched alang alang roofs, and handcrafted fittings.
Idyllically situated in the island’s north lagoon, eight luxurious water cottages are just steps from the dive center and restaurant, an ideal place to enjoy a sunset cocktail or bottle of wine while watching the baby sharks and long-toms hunt schools of circling sardines. Built on stilts over the water, each cottage features a private veranda where a hammock swings lazily in the shade. Perfect for laid-back afternoons with the latest best seller, your ocean view is topped only by the easy ocean access via a few stairs that lead to translucent waters and an incomparable under water kingdom.
If a private white sand beach is your idea of holiday bliss, reserve Villa Kalanme – hidden away on the resort’s secluded south beach. Named after one of the island’s most important spirits, the villa is a complex of three separate en-suite bedroom pavilions, with a shared round-roofed living area and generous outdoor living space. Particularly well suited for those longing for privacy, access to the villa is either by twice-daily water taxi or by a scenic but steep paved path.
The resort’s main attraction, its airy and spacious dive center, is built on stilts overlooking the turquoise water. A magnet for professional photographers and videographers, the dive center provides easy access to the ocean via stairs leading directly down into the north lagoon or by way of jetty, where four dive boats are moored. Offering several flexible guide boat dives every day, including dusk and night dives, custom snorkeling and diving experiences are available depending on each guest’s interest and level of experience. Home to the world’s richest reefs and dive sites, scientists have discovered more than six times as many coral species in this area than in the entire Caribbean Sea. Particularly famous for its untouched reefs festooned with wildly colorful soft corals, expansive hard coral gardens, massive gorgonian sea fans, and rich reef life, Misool’s highly protected conservation area means that the area’s astounding marine biodiversity will only continue to grow, safeguarding it for generations to come.
