Features
- Reef dropoff
- Mangroves
- Quiet hideaway
- Coral
- Good house reef
- IDR 700,000 to 800,000
- Has raised beds
- Western style toilet
- Remote/isolated
Details
Avinsea Homestay lies in the sheltered haven of Tanjung Putus, at the western end of Pulau Gam’s southern arm.
Four over-water private bungalows are available. Each sleep two on raised beds. An extra mattress can be provided if required, and all the standard bedding and mosquito nets are supplied. Hammocks are also supplied.
Meals are served in Avinsea Homestay’s over-water dining room. Drinking water and tea and coffee making supplies are always freely available to guests there. The dining room deck has great sunset views, and easy access to Tanjung Putus’ rich and healthy reef is provided by Avinsea’s dock.
Guests share bathroom facilities. A two room bathroom building houses a western style toilet and bucket bathing in one room. Bucket bathing is provided in the second room. The bathroom is on land, and is joined to the bungalows by a boardwalk. Probably best to make sure you have a flashlight for night visits!
Electricity is available from a generator that runs from sunset until around midnight.
No phone signal is available at Avinsea Homestay, so be prepared to be offline while you’re there.
English is spoken at Avinsea Homestay
The nearest village is Kapisawar. Kapisawar is about 20 minutes away by boat, and basic supplies are available there. Beer can be purchased at stores at the neighbouring village of Sawinggrai. Sawinggrai also usually receives a decent 4G signal.
Please don’t leave any inorganic trash at Avinsea Homestay. Inorganic waste (especially plastic) that is left at homestays will simply contribute to Raja Ampat’s growing rubbish problem.
Transport / Getting there
Transfers between Avinsea Homestay and Waisai cost IDR 1,300,000 by longboat (max 4 pax) and IDR 2,000,000 by speedboat (max 9 pax). Cost is shared by passengers.
Contact Avinsea if you want to request a preference (Contact details are provided in booking confirmation emails).
Other transfers:
- Pam: IDR 1,300,000 (max 2 passengers)
- Friwen: IDR 1,000,000 (max 2 passengers)
Avinsea's location makes it a convenient place to stay on the way to accommodation in the Pam/Fam Islands or at the West Waigeo homestays.
Read more about Raja Ampat boat transport prices here.
Activities
Tanjung Putus is a snorkeller's paradise - be sure to bring your snorkelling gear.
Piaynemo, the Pam Islands and the islands of West Waigeo are also accessible by day trips. Your hosts can provide these and other excursions on request.
The surrounding bird-filled jungle and quiet bay, and the lack of phone and internet connection makes Avinsea a perfect place to unwind and get reacquainted with the natural world.
Pulau Gam
See our Gam Island page for an overview of Gam and its attractions.
Avinsea Homestay Reviews
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82 Reviews
Of the 7 different home stays we were at during our 6weeks in Raja, Avinsea was definitely the best. Fantastic house reef, you can snorkel until you are exhausted either to the right or left of the home stay and the coral and marine diversity just keeps going. Sharks, rays, octopus, cuttlefish, eels, snakes, nudibranches, crocodile fish … the list goes on and on. The bungalows were very comfortable with tables, chairs, loungers, hammocks, and a mirror. The homestay, bathrooms, showers (mandi) are kept very clean. The food is good and plentiful, they even have cold beer when they plug in the fridge! Yanis and his wife, and their son Ocean were very nice and friendly. The only word of caution I would give is don’t wait/putoff setting up excursions because during the week we were there, more than a few days the boats were not available either because other tourists had already set something up before us or both boats were being used by the family.
Avinsea was the best Homestay of our journey through Raja Ampat. The family is lovely and very helpful, the food was great and the house reef is pristine. The bungalows are beautifully located over the water with a comfy bed and hammock on the terrace. The bathrooms are very well maintained and clean. You can rent a kayak to explore the mangroves or citrus ridge on the opposite shore. which we highly recommend.
We will come back!
Probably the most favorite homestay I stayed in Raja Ampat in my month long vacation. Rich house reef with sharks and turtles right outside of the terrace. I found coral reefs near by are most beautiful and healthy in RA. Delicious food. Friendly family. The bungalow and bathrooms are basic but clean. it is located just across from the Citrus Reef, which is unfortunate because it creates boat traffic jams.
Our stay at Avinsea Homestay was a dream! The location is spectacular and the fantastic house reef is less than two metres away from the terraces of the beautiful bungalows. Sharks, turtles and countless colourful fish swim right in front of you. The bungalows are top notch and very well equipped with a table, chair, hooks, mirror, rubbish bin, sun lounger and hammock. The bed was very comfortable and the mosquito net was in very good condition. The toilets and shower were in a separate building and very clean. Fresh water for washing and flushing the toilet was always available. Please use sparingly!
Janis and his family took very good care of us. The food from Corazon was delicious and varied. Drinks (water, tea, coffee) were available at all times. The two coral reefs right outside the door (Citrus Ridge) are among our absolute highlights of 4 weeks in Raja Ampat. Every day, many day visitors come by small boats to snorkel and dive – staying here is incredibly great! Of course, great excursions are also offered here. There is now even a very good internet connection for a small fee and cold drinks for a fee.
10 out of 10 points with a star
notre famille à passé quatre jours à Alvin sea, et c’est à cet endroit où nous avons le plus apprécié les sorties en mer avec Yanis. Les spots de snorkelling au large sont top, merveilleux, Yanis et son équipe sont aux petits soins, je garderai en mémoire à vie les coraux au large de Yeben…sincèrement merci Yanis. En plein mois d’août il est difficile de voir des raies manta, mais Yanis à téléphoné à ses amis pêcheurs pour tenter d’en voir et mission accomplie, Yanis s’est mis à l’eau avec nous pour que nous ayons plus de chance de les trouver et au bout d’une heure de recherche, victoire, une raie puis deux…en tout quatre raies en train de se faire nettoyer au sud d’Arborek.
Le homestay d’avin sea est hyper calme, le 1er soir des dauphins sont venus chasser dans le chenal. Le snorkeling en amont et aval des cabanes et super beau aussi. J’ai traversé le chenal mais il faut être bon nageur avec palme car il y a du courants, mais les plus beau coraux sont du côté d’aven sea.
Les cabanes sont confortables, la partie restauration est tres sympa aussi, la famille de Yanis est adorable. Il y a deux bateaux, une pirogue rapide et un bateau couvert plus rapide.
Les sorties en mer sont plus chère que que sur Arborek, mais ayant testé les deux, le service d’aven sea est largement supérieur, durant le snorkelling les bateau attend plus loin si besoin et un membre du staff nage avec nous pour plus de sécurité. Bref que du bonheur, à noter aussi, et c’est un point important dans l’archipel, les wc et douches sont propres, rustiques mais propre !! Encore un grand merci à toute la famille !!!
notre famille à passé quatre jours à Alvin sea, et c’est à cet endroit où nous avons le plus apprécié les sorties en mer avec Yanis. Les spots de snorkelling au large sont top, merveilleux, Yanis et son équipe sont aux petits soins, je garderai en mémoire à vie les coraux au large de Yeben…sincèrement merci Yanis. En plein mois d’août il est difficile de voir des raies manta, mais Yanis à téléphoné à ses amis pêcheurs pour tenter d’en voir et mission accomplie, Yanis s’est mis à l’eau avec nous pour que nous ayons plus de chance de les trouver et au bout d’une heure de recherche, victoire, une raie puis deux…en tout quatre raies en train de se faire nettoyer au sud d’Arborek.
Le homestay d’avin sea est hyper calme, le 1er soir des dauphins sont venus chasser dans le chenal. Le snorkeling en amont et aval des cabanes et super beau aussi. J’ai traversé le chenal mais il faut être bon nageur avec palme car il y a du courants, mais les plus beau coraux sont du côté d’aven sea.
Les cabanes sont confortables, la partie restauration est tres sympa aussi, la famille de Yanis est adorable. Il y a deux bateaux, une pirogue rapide et un bateau couvert plus rapide.
Les sorties en mer sont plus chère que que sur Arborek, mais ayant testé les deux, le service d’aven sea est largement supérieur, durant le snorkelling les bateau attend plus loin si besoin et un membre du staff nage avec nous pour plus de sécurité. Bref que du bonheur, à noter aussi, et c’est un point important dans l’archipel, les wc et douches sont propres, rustiques mais propre !! Encore un grand merci à toute la famille !!!
I was the only guest during my stay and while there were positives, the experience felt paired back. I had booked four nights but chose to leave after three.
The room was very comfortable, and I loved the hammock, swimming from my deck, and the absolutely stunning house reef. However, construction of a new bungalow affected the ambience, as did the gathering of the hosts friends on the main deck one morning after a nearby Xmas party.
Ocean and his brother looked after me and took me on trips to Citrus Reef (not accessible independently), Mangrove Reef, and two sites around PEF, as well as a day trip to Piaynemo. These excursions were a real highlight of my stay.
Although I was careful to confirm excursion prices upfront as a solo traveller (with prices listed per boat), settling the final bill with Yanes felt drawn out and uncomfortable.
The food didn’t match the experience others describe and was the least enjoyable of my month in Raja Ampat. It was unvaried and at times feeling like corners were being cut.
In the moments I interacted with Yanes and his wife, there were glimpses of charisma. They are clearly capable of being fabulous hosts. Hopefully this feedback helps strengthen what otherwise a very special place.
I was the only guest during my stay and while there were positives, the experience felt paired back. I had booked four nights but chose to leave after three.
The room was very comfortable, and I loved the hammock, swimming from my deck, and the absolutely stunning house reef. However, construction of a new bungalow affected the ambience, as did the gathering of the hosts friends on the main deck one morning after a nearby Xmas party.
Ocean and his brother looked after me and took me on trips to Citrus Reef (not accessible independently), Mangrove Reef, and two sites around PEF, as well as a day trip to Piaynemo. These excursions were a real highlight of my stay.
Although I was careful to confirm excursion prices upfront as a solo traveller (with prices listed per boat), settling the final bill with Yanes felt drawn out and uncomfortable.
The food didn’t match the experience others describe and was the least enjoyable of my month in Raja Ampat. It was unvaried and at times feeling like corners were being cut.
In the moments I interacted with Yanes and his wife, there were glimpses of charisma. They are clearly capable of being fabulous hosts. Hopefully this feedback helps strengthen what otherwise a very special place.
One of my favorite Homestay of raja ampat.
Bungalows are super nice and spacious. Toilets are clean. The reef around is spectacular.
Yanis is a very friendly host.
One of my favorite Homestay of raja ampat.
Bungalows are super nice and spacious. Toilets are clean. The reef around is spectacular.
Yanis is a very friendly host.
Excellent stay at Avinsea. Great home reef, fantastic day trips to wonderful snorkelling sites and delicious home made meals. Family are super nice and also English and German spoken by a guide who visits for the whole season. Highly recommended.
Excellent stay at Avinsea. Great home reef, fantastic day trips to wonderful snorkelling sites and delicious home made meals. Family are super nice and also English and German spoken by a guide who visits for the whole season. Highly recommended.
My husband, son and his partner have just spent a fantastic week at Avinsea with Yanes and his family. We felt at home, cared for and comfortable 😊 We were shown around the reefs and the scenery with safety and expertise. Edith and Yanes were fantastic tour guides. Corazon is a fantastic cook, the food was delicious, lots of fish, tofu, chicken and vegetables cooked differently everyday. One week, so much beauty and so much fun.
My husband, son and his partner have just spent a fantastic week at Avinsea with Yanes and his family. We felt at home, cared for and comfortable 😊 We were shown around the reefs and the scenery with safety and expertise. Edith and Yanes were fantastic tour guides. Corazon is a fantastic cook, the food was delicious, lots of fish, tofu, chicken and vegetables cooked differently everyday. One week, so much beauty and so much fun.
J’ai passé une nuit a Avinsea. L’accueil a été très chaleureux. La nourriture était excellente. Le principal atout de ce homestay est sans aucun doute son house reef, d’une richesse incroyable, parfait pour le snorkeling, notamment du côté de Citrus Ridge (aussi reconnu comme site de plongée). Il y a des dauphins qui passent régulièrement dans la baie et la nuit ont peut y apercevoir des requins depuis la terrasse. En revanche, il n’y a pas de réseau, et en raison de la proximité avec la mangrove, il peut y avoir quelques petits visiteurs nocturnes…
J’ai passé une nuit a Avinsea. L’accueil a été très chaleureux. La nourriture était excellente. Le principal atout de ce homestay est sans aucun doute son house reef, d’une richesse incroyable, parfait pour le snorkeling, notamment du côté de Citrus Ridge (aussi reconnu comme site de plongée). Il y a des dauphins qui passent régulièrement dans la baie et la nuit ont peut y apercevoir des requins depuis la terrasse. En revanche, il n’y a pas de réseau, et en raison de la proximité avec la mangrove, il peut y avoir quelques petits visiteurs nocturnes…
Amazing house reef, you can spend so much time snorkeling around without getting bored ! Also from the jetty you can already see lots of marine interesting life (in three days I saw from the jetty cuttlefish, murray, octopus, and lots of fishes). You can also have a dolphin show if you are lucky, and for sure incredible sunsets.
I strongly recommend if you like having fish life at your door.
Amazing house reef, you can spend so much time snorkeling around without getting bored ! Also from the jetty you can already see lots of marine interesting life (in three days I saw from the jetty cuttlefish, murray, octopus, and lots of fishes). You can also have a dolphin show if you are lucky, and for sure incredible sunsets.
I strongly recommend if you like having fish life at your door.
Avinsea has a perfect location, with several great snorkeling sites nearby (including the house reef). The awesome Hidden Bay is not too far away, Piyanemo is also withing easy reach, as well as manta points near Arborek or Yefnabi.
Yanes is very nice, organized, and speaks OK English, Corason’s cooking was great, no complaints whatsoever.
Avinsea was the only homestay we visited that had a fridge with beer and soft drinks.
Great sunsets as well.
Highly recommended.
Avinsea has a perfect location, with several great snorkeling sites nearby (including the house reef). The awesome Hidden Bay is not too far away, Piyanemo is also withing easy reach, as well as manta points near Arborek or Yefnabi.
Yanes is very nice, organized, and speaks OK English, Corason’s cooking was great, no complaints whatsoever.
Avinsea was the only homestay we visited that had a fridge with beer and soft drinks.
Great sunsets as well.
Highly recommended.
I returned to Avinsea as I had a fantastic stay last year. Warm welcome again, nice family & staff. Food is great. Snorkeling fantastic, we even did a nightsnorkel with Yanes.
No 5th star as there is still an overbooking issue, also in my case.
As there is no signal, it was not possible to contact Stay Raja Ampat. A makeshift room was created in the family quarters and I got discount on the trips, acceptable for me.
Overall it was a nice stay and I will return next time.
I returned to Avinsea as I had a fantastic stay last year. Warm welcome again, nice family & staff. Food is great. Snorkeling fantastic, we even did a nightsnorkel with Yanes.
No 5th star as there is still an overbooking issue, also in my case.
As there is no signal, it was not possible to contact Stay Raja Ampat. A makeshift room was created in the family quarters and I got discount on the trips, acceptable for me.
Overall it was a nice stay and I will return next time.
J’avais réservé pour 2 semaines et j’ai dû changer de homestay au bout de 6 jours à cause du surbooking.
Des clients arrivaient et il fallait faire de la place.
Deux autres personnes ont dû partir tout comme moi.
Les commentaires de Maxime sont tout à fait exacts et il y a eu un commentaire similaire qui a été supprimé ce mois ci.
Le pire c’est d’avoir passé le réveillon de Noël et Noël sans électricité et sans eau pour se laver sans avoir été prévenus du départ des proprios
Sorry to hear this Compagne, and we do wish that you had contacted us at the time so that we could have provided the support we guarantee.
You should certainly not have had to leave before your check-out date! If you did, and if you had contacted us before Avinsea was paid for your booking, then we would have refunded you in full for this.
Booking confirmation emails contain local support numbers to contact in the event of problems like these, and we are very responsive by email also.
Perhaps the ‘deleted’ comment you are referring to was never published? We publish all comments from guests who have booked on Stay Raja Ampat. We don’t, however, publish reviews that we can not match to a Stay Raja Ampat booking, and we never delete published comments by verified guests.
J’avais réservé pour 2 semaines et j’ai dû changer de homestay au bout de 6 jours à cause du surbooking.
Des clients arrivaient et il fallait faire de la place.
Deux autres personnes ont dû partir tout comme moi.
Les commentaires de Maxime sont tout à fait exacts et il y a eu un commentaire similaire qui a été supprimé ce mois ci.
Le pire c’est d’avoir passé le réveillon de Noël et Noël sans électricité et sans eau pour se laver sans avoir été prévenus du départ des proprios
Sorry to hear this Compagne, and we do wish that you had contacted us at the time so that we could have provided the support we guarantee.
You should certainly not have had to leave before your check-out date! If you did, and if you had contacted us before Avinsea was paid for your booking, then we would have refunded you in full for this.
Booking confirmation emails contain local support numbers to contact in the event of problems like these, and we are very responsive by email also.
Perhaps the ‘deleted’ comment you are referring to was never published? We publish all comments from guests who have booked on Stay Raja Ampat. We don’t, however, publish reviews that we can not match to a Stay Raja Ampat booking, and we never delete published comments by verified guests.
We spent 5 wonderful days and 4 nights at Avinsea. The location ist great as long there is no liveaboards invasion. We enjoyed the snorkeling and best food in R4. We liked the cleanliness of the accomodation, toilets and showers, especially taking into account that fresh water needs to be carried to the homestay. On our next visit to R4 we will definitely return. I hope the owner will find the necessary support to protect this little piece of paradise from being destroyed by liveaboards and day tourists.
We spent 5 wonderful days and 4 nights at Avinsea. The location ist great as long there is no liveaboards invasion. We enjoyed the snorkeling and best food in R4. We liked the cleanliness of the accomodation, toilets and showers, especially taking into account that fresh water needs to be carried to the homestay. On our next visit to R4 we will definitely return. I hope the owner will find the necessary support to protect this little piece of paradise from being destroyed by liveaboards and day tourists.
I stayed at Avinsea Homestay for 8 nights and I was quite surprised by the positive reviews.
I rarely leave negative feedback, but I feel the overall rating does not reflect the quality of the homestay. They practice overbooking and are aware of it several weeks in advance, yet they only address it when guests arrive, without attempting to find a solution. There is no form of compassion shown.
Initially, I was given a bungalow without a terrace or hammock, located by the mangrove, at the same price as the four (soon to be five) bungalows by the sea.
Fortunately, a family friend helped me change to a different bungalow and even found a small hammock for me. The owners were frequently absent and did not pick me up as agreed, so I had to manage on my own. This also happened to other guests, with some waiting many hours at Wasai.
We experienced a 24-hour period without water for showers or electricity, without any announcement from the owners about their departure or return.
On a positive note, the staff were kind and attentive, especially the cook Weenie, who was incredible.
The snorkeling around the area is absolutely breathtaking, with vibrant coral reefs and a dazzling variety of marine life (i saw the dugong !!). I regularly saw dolphins passing through the bay, as same as cockatoos anf hornbills which was a magical experience.
The location itself is stunningly beautiful, with picturesque views and serene surroundings that make for a perfect getaway.
The food at Avinsea Homestay is excellent, with a wide variety of delicious dishes served in generous portions. The cook, Weenie, deserves special mention for her culinary skills and warm hospitality.
While there were some (BIG) issues with the management and facilities (no stars for that) , the natural beauty of the location, the incredible marine life deserve a 3 stars.
I stayed at Avinsea Homestay for 8 nights and I was quite surprised by the positive reviews.
I rarely leave negative feedback, but I feel the overall rating does not reflect the quality of the homestay. They practice overbooking and are aware of it several weeks in advance, yet they only address it when guests arrive, without attempting to find a solution. There is no form of compassion shown.
Initially, I was given a bungalow without a terrace or hammock, located by the mangrove, at the same price as the four (soon to be five) bungalows by the sea.
Fortunately, a family friend helped me change to a different bungalow and even found a small hammock for me. The owners were frequently absent and did not pick me up as agreed, so I had to manage on my own. This also happened to other guests, with some waiting many hours at Wasai.
We experienced a 24-hour period without water for showers or electricity, without any announcement from the owners about their departure or return.
On a positive note, the staff were kind and attentive, especially the cook Weenie, who was incredible.
The snorkeling around the area is absolutely breathtaking, with vibrant coral reefs and a dazzling variety of marine life (i saw the dugong !!). I regularly saw dolphins passing through the bay, as same as cockatoos anf hornbills which was a magical experience.
The location itself is stunningly beautiful, with picturesque views and serene surroundings that make for a perfect getaway.
The food at Avinsea Homestay is excellent, with a wide variety of delicious dishes served in generous portions. The cook, Weenie, deserves special mention for her culinary skills and warm hospitality.
While there were some (BIG) issues with the management and facilities (no stars for that) , the natural beauty of the location, the incredible marine life deserve a 3 stars.
I’ve been to Raja Ampat, and visited many places, and Avinsea is for sure one of my favorite places to be:
– Yanes Is the best. He is very warm, welcoming, and funny. He provided an amazing two-day trip to Wayag and thanks to him I could fulfill one of my dreams of swimming with a whale. It was an amazing moment that will always be tied in my memory to his face, voice, and attitude. Thank you Yanes!
– The Sumatran lady (I’m sorry, I don’t remember the name) in Avinsea, cooks the best food in the archipelago. The Ikan Tepung was SO delicious!
– The snorkeling is awesome, in any direction you pick. To the north, there’s plenty of fish. Mangroves to the south and in front, to the west, there’s the beautiful Citrus reef. There’s plenty of bioluminescent plankton during the nights, dolphins pass by in the afternoons when there are no boats, and whales and mantas can be around and be seen if you’re lucky.
– The cabins are great.
– The view is beautiful.
I miss It already and want to come back.
To finish, a comment to Yanes, StayRajaAmpat, and whoever can do anything. A limit to the number of boats and liveaboards in the area has to be enforced to protect it. Some years ago I dived in Citrus Reef and it was magical. This year I had a horrible dive, full of boats, people from liveaboards breaking corals to get stupid pictures and we even saw people water-skiing, in a protected area where dolphins and whales pass by. It’s terrible and should be stopped before it’s too late. In busy mornings, there are boats every 5 minutes, many of them going very fast with huge engines that make a lot of noise. They protected the area in Dayan, please, do it also around Citrus Reef!!
I’ve been to Raja Ampat, and visited many places, and Avinsea is for sure one of my favorite places to be:
– Yanes Is the best. He is very warm, welcoming, and funny. He provided an amazing two-day trip to Wayag and thanks to him I could fulfill one of my dreams of swimming with a whale. It was an amazing moment that will always be tied in my memory to his face, voice, and attitude. Thank you Yanes!
– The Sumatran lady (I’m sorry, I don’t remember the name) in Avinsea, cooks the best food in the archipelago. The Ikan Tepung was SO delicious!
– The snorkeling is awesome, in any direction you pick. To the north, there’s plenty of fish. Mangroves to the south and in front, to the west, there’s the beautiful Citrus reef. There’s plenty of bioluminescent plankton during the nights, dolphins pass by in the afternoons when there are no boats, and whales and mantas can be around and be seen if you’re lucky.
– The cabins are great.
– The view is beautiful.
I miss It already and want to come back.
To finish, a comment to Yanes, StayRajaAmpat, and whoever can do anything. A limit to the number of boats and liveaboards in the area has to be enforced to protect it. Some years ago I dived in Citrus Reef and it was magical. This year I had a horrible dive, full of boats, people from liveaboards breaking corals to get stupid pictures and we even saw people water-skiing, in a protected area where dolphins and whales pass by. It’s terrible and should be stopped before it’s too late. In busy mornings, there are boats every 5 minutes, many of them going very fast with huge engines that make a lot of noise. They protected the area in Dayan, please, do it also around Citrus Reef!!
Yanes and his wife and son picked us up from the harbor with the speed boat.
From the first second we arrived at the homestay we directly felt like coming home. The whole family was super open hearted and lovely! All of them were just great and treated us like part of their family. The food was amazing and always more than enough.
The bungalows were as well as the shared toilets and showers and the restaurant were always clean. Most stunning was the reef in front of the bungalows, which felt surreal! We went out for snorkeling at least twice a day and spent hours only sitting on our terrace watching hundreds of thousands of fish as well as some sharks, sea snakes, crabs lively corals, … it was just mesmerizing!
We did some tours for snorkeling all around Gem island and were super lucky to see Manta rays, hundreds of dolphins and even whales only a few minutes from „home“.
Nearly evening we set all together on the jetty, singing and playing ukulele and guitar. During the stay we had loads of fun and a great time. We were really sad to leave this great and pieceful place on earth.
See you next time! 🙂
Thomas & Vanessa
Yanes and his wife and son picked us up from the harbor with the speed boat.
From the first second we arrived at the homestay we directly felt like coming home. The whole family was super open hearted and lovely! All of them were just great and treated us like part of their family. The food was amazing and always more than enough.
The bungalows were as well as the shared toilets and showers and the restaurant were always clean. Most stunning was the reef in front of the bungalows, which felt surreal! We went out for snorkeling at least twice a day and spent hours only sitting on our terrace watching hundreds of thousands of fish as well as some sharks, sea snakes, crabs lively corals, … it was just mesmerizing!
We did some tours for snorkeling all around Gem island and were super lucky to see Manta rays, hundreds of dolphins and even whales only a few minutes from „home“.
Nearly evening we set all together on the jetty, singing and playing ukulele and guitar. During the stay we had loads of fun and a great time. We were really sad to leave this great and pieceful place on earth.
See you next time! 🙂
Thomas & Vanessa
I spent in total 11 nights in Avinsea, first 8 and then I came back for 3 nights.
Avinsea is a wonderful place, with a beautiful surroundings, very healthy and beautiful reefs, where you snorkel out directly from your bungalow or the diningroom.
The bungalows are very big with a lot of space, a great veranda to chill in a hammock or sunbed.
We did a lot of trips, like we went to see the mantas (even we saw them only on the surface of the water it was so exiting), I snorkeled twice in the passage with beautiful mangrove coralls, we were driving in the hidden bay (lovely), we went to Arborek for shopping, which was a lot of fun, I was snorkeling around Gambay ( saw also seehorses).
We went for fishing and could see 2 wales.
And the best was a trip to Wayag over night, which I can recommend to everybody.
It was wonderful, the surroundings, the vibrations, cooking and sleeping on the beach, playing Ukulele and singing KAROLINA (thank you so much for teaching me this song, its always in my mind:):)
Hiking up to the viewpoints was so wonderful, exiting and funny with 1 minute walk and 9 minutes rest😄
In total, I felt in love with this place and the family.
Thank you Korason, for your warm welcome to let me feel like a member of your family, and taking care of my wound, cooking such a yummi and plenty food.
Thank you Dassy that you braid my hairs, danced with me and thank you for your love.
Thank you Karo, for always looking for me, teach me in your language, dancing with me and also give me so much love.
Thank you Hosea for taking care of me, when I went up the view point, driving me through Waisai and organized my ferryticket. You are a lovely boy!
Thank you Weni for your love, doing everything to help
And Robin iwarwor, you are the best driver, I loved it joking with you!!
And last but not least, thank you so much Yanes to do everything, that I am happy. Trying to organize good trips, finding the wales, go with us shopping, always kidding with me iwarwor😄, and give so much positive vibrations also with your singing in the evening.
I definitly come back, very soon
Injonabor kaku
I will always remember the group iwarwor😄🥰
I spent in total 11 nights in Avinsea, first 8 and then I came back for 3 nights.
Avinsea is a wonderful place, with a beautiful surroundings, very healthy and beautiful reefs, where you snorkel out directly from your bungalow or the diningroom.
The bungalows are very big with a lot of space, a great veranda to chill in a hammock or sunbed.
We did a lot of trips, like we went to see the mantas (even we saw them only on the surface of the water it was so exiting), I snorkeled twice in the passage with beautiful mangrove coralls, we were driving in the hidden bay (lovely), we went to Arborek for shopping, which was a lot of fun, I was snorkeling around Gambay ( saw also seehorses).
We went for fishing and could see 2 wales.
And the best was a trip to Wayag over night, which I can recommend to everybody.
It was wonderful, the surroundings, the vibrations, cooking and sleeping on the beach, playing Ukulele and singing KAROLINA (thank you so much for teaching me this song, its always in my mind:):)
Hiking up to the viewpoints was so wonderful, exiting and funny with 1 minute walk and 9 minutes rest😄
In total, I felt in love with this place and the family.
Thank you Korason, for your warm welcome to let me feel like a member of your family, and taking care of my wound, cooking such a yummi and plenty food.
Thank you Dassy that you braid my hairs, danced with me and thank you for your love.
Thank you Karo, for always looking for me, teach me in your language, dancing with me and also give me so much love.
Thank you Hosea for taking care of me, when I went up the view point, driving me through Waisai and organized my ferryticket. You are a lovely boy!
Thank you Weni for your love, doing everything to help
And Robin iwarwor, you are the best driver, I loved it joking with you!!
And last but not least, thank you so much Yanes to do everything, that I am happy. Trying to organize good trips, finding the wales, go with us shopping, always kidding with me iwarwor😄, and give so much positive vibrations also with your singing in the evening.
I definitly come back, very soon
Injonabor kaku
I will always remember the group iwarwor😄🥰
We spent 4 nights in Avinsea and was the highlight of our trip. A very special place where you feel welcomed by the family and you can disconnect from everything. Beautiful reef right in front of the bungalows. We did a few excursions to discover Gam including the Pasaage.
Definitely will come back here if we return to Raja Ampat.
We spent 4 nights in Avinsea and was the highlight of our trip. A very special place where you feel welcomed by the family and you can disconnect from everything. Beautiful reef right in front of the bungalows. We did a few excursions to discover Gam including the Pasaage.
Definitely will come back here if we return to Raja Ampat.
I spent 5 nights at Avinsea and cannot wait to be back!
Yanes, Corazon & their kids were amazing hosts. Yanes speaks very good English, he is super hardworker and always goes above and beyond to make his guests happy.
Corazon must be the best chef in Raja Ampat: she always cooked delicious and abundant food (expect lots of fish, but also vegan options).
Most of the kids were there since they had holidays – this was great and made me feel part of the family.
The tours were lots of fun and we got to see mantas even though it wasn’t the right season and even whales. The location of the homestay is great and the tours are very well priced and so I recommend staying here for few nights and using Avinsea as a base to explore the nearly islands (Pam islands are not too far).
In front of the homestay you have Citrus Reef which offers great snorkeling.
Terima kasih Avinsea(do)!
Hope to be back for some more Papuan music!
I spent 5 nights at Avinsea and cannot wait to be back!
Yanes, Corazon & their kids were amazing hosts. Yanes speaks very good English, he is super hardworker and always goes above and beyond to make his guests happy.
Corazon must be the best chef in Raja Ampat: she always cooked delicious and abundant food (expect lots of fish, but also vegan options).
Most of the kids were there since they had holidays – this was great and made me feel part of the family.
The tours were lots of fun and we got to see mantas even though it wasn’t the right season and even whales. The location of the homestay is great and the tours are very well priced and so I recommend staying here for few nights and using Avinsea as a base to explore the nearly islands (Pam islands are not too far).
In front of the homestay you have Citrus Reef which offers great snorkeling.
Terima kasih Avinsea(do)!
Hope to be back for some more Papuan music!
I do not often give reviews but in this case it’s just a pleasure for me to give a comment as this accommodation is definitely the best I have stayed in Raja Ampat!
Yanes and his family are great hosts. They take you on different kinds of tours. Just ask for what you want and you will have a wonderful time with him and his family.
The food is simple but very tasteful. Very often you will have fish and rice to eat with vegetables and for breakfast many varieties with bananas.
The house reef is incredible. You see loads of fish including sharks, sometimes barracudas and even a manta swam just across the pass which is in front of the accommodation.
You will live in overwater bungalows and you will hear and sometimes see the fish hunting in the morning and the evening.
Even though the place is really simple (there is no shower – washing works with freshwater from a bucket) I highly recommend the place to people who love to be remote and don’t care about simple living. Bring a long sleeve Lycra as jellyfish and plankton can be stingy.
Some evenings Yanes and his friends and his son play ukulele & guitar to give you a taste of what papuan music sounds like.
Amazing stay and affordable prices in comparison to other accommodations in raja Ampat. Definitely would come again!
I do not often give reviews but in this case it’s just a pleasure for me to give a comment as this accommodation is definitely the best I have stayed in Raja Ampat!
Yanes and his family are great hosts. They take you on different kinds of tours. Just ask for what you want and you will have a wonderful time with him and his family.
The food is simple but very tasteful. Very often you will have fish and rice to eat with vegetables and for breakfast many varieties with bananas.
The house reef is incredible. You see loads of fish including sharks, sometimes barracudas and even a manta swam just across the pass which is in front of the accommodation.
You will live in overwater bungalows and you will hear and sometimes see the fish hunting in the morning and the evening.
Even though the place is really simple (there is no shower – washing works with freshwater from a bucket) I highly recommend the place to people who love to be remote and don’t care about simple living. Bring a long sleeve Lycra as jellyfish and plankton can be stingy.
Some evenings Yanes and his friends and his son play ukulele & guitar to give you a taste of what papuan music sounds like.
Amazing stay and affordable prices in comparison to other accommodations in raja Ampat. Definitely would come again!
It is a place to become part of nature – exploring the house reef in front and across , beautiful corals, reef sharks, turtles, rays… spacious bungalows in the mangroves on top of the reef;
quiet, no phone signal, no internet
(there is always the possibility to get connected if necessary)
and Yanes is an open-hearted person, who will take you to other places to explore more, – snorkel with mantas, spotting whales and dolphins ….
his whole family is very welcoming,
for sure a place I would come back
It is a place to become part of nature – exploring the house reef in front and across , beautiful corals, reef sharks, turtles, rays… spacious bungalows in the mangroves on top of the reef;
quiet, no phone signal, no internet
(there is always the possibility to get connected if necessary)
and Yanes is an open-hearted person, who will take you to other places to explore more, – snorkel with mantas, spotting whales and dolphins ….
his whole family is very welcoming,
for sure a place I would come back
Notre séjour chez Avin sea chez Yannes a été un véritable plaisir.
Les bengalows sont propres et récents ainsi que les parties communes ( salle de bain et wc) . Il y a un hamac sur chaque balcon .
La nourriture est très bonne.
Le snorkeling autour des bengalows est excellent : bands de toutes sortes de poissons , pas mal de requins , de beaux coraux .
Nous avons vu des dauphins passer dans la baie.
La sortie bateau dans les îles de Yeben et alentours a été la meilleure de notre séjour. Yanes nous ammené nager dans un band de 15 raies manta . Le rêve .
Pour conclure la famille est vraiment adorable.
Merci pour tout .
Notre séjour chez Avin sea chez Yannes a été un véritable plaisir.
Les bengalows sont propres et récents ainsi que les parties communes ( salle de bain et wc) . Il y a un hamac sur chaque balcon .
La nourriture est très bonne.
Le snorkeling autour des bengalows est excellent : bands de toutes sortes de poissons , pas mal de requins , de beaux coraux .
Nous avons vu des dauphins passer dans la baie.
La sortie bateau dans les îles de Yeben et alentours a été la meilleure de notre séjour. Yanes nous ammené nager dans un band de 15 raies manta . Le rêve .
Pour conclure la famille est vraiment adorable.
Merci pour tout .
We had the most wonderful stay at Avin Sea. It was by far the most beautiful homestay we saw in Raja Ampat. Originally we wanted to stay only for 4 nights, but we extended our stay to 7 nights and even wished to stay longer. Yanes and Curazol are great and welcoming hosts. Yanes organized amazing trips to the manta point, the passage, piaynemo, birds of paradise and so on. He is a great tour guide, Longboat driver and knows the surroundings and the snorkeling sites very well. His brother Maher joined us for most of the trips and we had a great time together. He played us some Papua Songs on his guitar and climbed the palm to get us coconuts – he is the best.
Curazol is an amazing cook who served delicious, freshly cooked meals the whole day. We couldn’t have been more lucky.
The Bungalows are beautiful build, clean and comfy. The terrace with the hammock and the view on the channel is just perfect.
Not to forget the beautiful house Reef with lots of fish schools and colourful corals right under your feet and the amazin citrus Reef just in front of you.
I hope we can come back one day. It was hard saying goodbye.
We had the most wonderful stay at Avin Sea. It was by far the most beautiful homestay we saw in Raja Ampat. Originally we wanted to stay only for 4 nights, but we extended our stay to 7 nights and even wished to stay longer. Yanes and Curazol are great and welcoming hosts. Yanes organized amazing trips to the manta point, the passage, piaynemo, birds of paradise and so on. He is a great tour guide, Longboat driver and knows the surroundings and the snorkeling sites very well. His brother Maher joined us for most of the trips and we had a great time together. He played us some Papua Songs on his guitar and climbed the palm to get us coconuts – he is the best.
Curazol is an amazing cook who served delicious, freshly cooked meals the whole day. We couldn’t have been more lucky.
The Bungalows are beautiful build, clean and comfy. The terrace with the hammock and the view on the channel is just perfect.
Not to forget the beautiful house Reef with lots of fish schools and colourful corals right under your feet and the amazin citrus Reef just in front of you.
I hope we can come back one day. It was hard saying goodbye.
It is with pleasure that I give a review for this gem of a homestay. My partner and I have stayed twice now, the first time one week and then two weeks, could have easily been longer!!
Snorkelling – I am a diver but don’t need to here, you are wowed just being in the water. I try to avoid unnecessary boat trips, because of the cost of fuel and here you don’t need to go far because no matter which direction you turn swimming from the homestay, you will get amazing snorkelling. The dive centres and other homestays all bring their guests to the area because it is simply the best.
Food – Korsun is a wonder cook. Every meal (4 times a day) she presents amazing different tastes, mountainous portions and all with presentation and pride. My gluten free diet, was catered for and I didn’t miss the yummies and my partner’s sweet tooth was attended to with amazing homemade donuts and cakes.
Bungalows – the attention to detail is what makes the difference, they have big beds and even bigger fly nets, so you never touch the net for mosquitos to get you. The bedding and towels are always getting changed so that you feel fresh and at home. There is a day lounge and hammock with perfect sunset views. The whales and dolphins and mantas swim right by too!!
Facilities – the shower and toilet areas are very clean and easy to get to, not out the back of beyond like other homestays. The meals area has a massive deck for night sky lounging after dinner. Everything is just so neat and well looked after.
Family – Janis, Korsun, Penny and April become your own family, joining you at night to learn English and teach Indonesian, singing and playing guitar, laughing and joining you on excursions.
Internet – yes there is no internet and how lovely is that, just you, the water, the food, the relaxing and the merging with their culture. It isn’t problem to jump in the boat and Janis will take you to signal, but as time went on, we had no desire to do it.
Activities – other homestays have a long way to get to other great locations for day trips, but Avin Sea is a little bit further out and this saves time. I’d recommend a trip to Pam Islands and there are endless secret spots within 20 minutes that Janis can share.
I know this review is long, but I need to be sure you know this is a place that should be on your list. We have been to 8 different Raja Ampat homestays now and if I could only choose one based on all things, then Avin Sea is the number one!!!!
It is with pleasure that I give a review for this gem of a homestay. My partner and I have stayed twice now, the first time one week and then two weeks, could have easily been longer!!
Snorkelling – I am a diver but don’t need to here, you are wowed just being in the water. I try to avoid unnecessary boat trips, because of the cost of fuel and here you don’t need to go far because no matter which direction you turn swimming from the homestay, you will get amazing snorkelling. The dive centres and other homestays all bring their guests to the area because it is simply the best.
Food – Korsun is a wonder cook. Every meal (4 times a day) she presents amazing different tastes, mountainous portions and all with presentation and pride. My gluten free diet, was catered for and I didn’t miss the yummies and my partner’s sweet tooth was attended to with amazing homemade donuts and cakes.
Bungalows – the attention to detail is what makes the difference, they have big beds and even bigger fly nets, so you never touch the net for mosquitos to get you. The bedding and towels are always getting changed so that you feel fresh and at home. There is a day lounge and hammock with perfect sunset views. The whales and dolphins and mantas swim right by too!!
Facilities – the shower and toilet areas are very clean and easy to get to, not out the back of beyond like other homestays. The meals area has a massive deck for night sky lounging after dinner. Everything is just so neat and well looked after.
Family – Janis, Korsun, Penny and April become your own family, joining you at night to learn English and teach Indonesian, singing and playing guitar, laughing and joining you on excursions.
Internet – yes there is no internet and how lovely is that, just you, the water, the food, the relaxing and the merging with their culture. It isn’t problem to jump in the boat and Janis will take you to signal, but as time went on, we had no desire to do it.
Activities – other homestays have a long way to get to other great locations for day trips, but Avin Sea is a little bit further out and this saves time. I’d recommend a trip to Pam Islands and there are endless secret spots within 20 minutes that Janis can share.
I know this review is long, but I need to be sure you know this is a place that should be on your list. We have been to 8 different Raja Ampat homestays now and if I could only choose one based on all things, then Avin Sea is the number one!!!!
We spent 4 nights in Avinsea and this homestay was definitely one of the best we stayed at. The bungalow was very comfortable and clean, along with the bathroom facilities. The hammock on the deck was the most comfortable we’ve had and they even put a second one up for us so that we could both have one.
Yanes and Corazon were amazing hosts, everything was done with love. The food was delicious, by far the best we had in Raja Ampat. The house reef is incredible and they were able to take us to other snorkelling sites nearby. The channel where the homestay is located, is popular with snorkel/dive day-trippers from the liveaboards, so we felt lucky to be staying by such a sort after site. Despite its popularity, the reef was still pristine and it was never too busy. Once dark, the bioluminescent plankton starts lighting up beneath the bungalows and it’s magical.
It’s also possible to take a morning jungle walk here to try and spot the Wilson’s bird of paradise which we recommend!
We loved our stay and would definitely return!
We spent 4 nights in Avinsea and this homestay was definitely one of the best we stayed at. The bungalow was very comfortable and clean, along with the bathroom facilities. The hammock on the deck was the most comfortable we’ve had and they even put a second one up for us so that we could both have one.
Yanes and Corazon were amazing hosts, everything was done with love. The food was delicious, by far the best we had in Raja Ampat. The house reef is incredible and they were able to take us to other snorkelling sites nearby. The channel where the homestay is located, is popular with snorkel/dive day-trippers from the liveaboards, so we felt lucky to be staying by such a sort after site. Despite its popularity, the reef was still pristine and it was never too busy. Once dark, the bioluminescent plankton starts lighting up beneath the bungalows and it’s magical.
It’s also possible to take a morning jungle walk here to try and spot the Wilson’s bird of paradise which we recommend!
We loved our stay and would definitely return!
I spent 4 nights in early march in Avin Sea and already at day one I regretted that I did not book more nights. Previous reviews explain why. Good & clean accommodation and bathrooms. Nice food . Fantastic people. Fantastic snorkelling in nearby vicinity without the need of a boat, but Yanus knows some more spots as well. Due to the lack of signal there was a hick up in my pick up from Waisai, but that was sorted out by the stayrajaamoat assistant at the office. If you don’t speak Bahasa, I strongly advise to download google translate. This is one of the few homestays I visited in Raja Ampat that I would love to return to (probably next year).
I spent 4 nights in early march in Avin Sea and already at day one I regretted that I did not book more nights. Previous reviews explain why. Good & clean accommodation and bathrooms. Nice food . Fantastic people. Fantastic snorkelling in nearby vicinity without the need of a boat, but Yanus knows some more spots as well. Due to the lack of signal there was a hick up in my pick up from Waisai, but that was sorted out by the stayrajaamoat assistant at the office. If you don’t speak Bahasa, I strongly advise to download google translate. This is one of the few homestays I visited in Raja Ampat that I would love to return to (probably next year).
This was our favorite of the five homestays we stayed at in Raja Ampat. (We spent three nights here and could happily have stayed longer.) Avinsea is a tiny place nestled into a bit of shore between mangroves and rocks. There’s no beach and no diving, just glorious snorkeling right in front of you. The three bungalows (soon to be four) and the two separate rooms sit right over the reef at all tides, so you can watch fish right from your deck. It’s like living over an aquarium!
The bungalows, bathrooms, and dining area are solidly built and connected by smooth, sturdy, well-lit boardwalks. The bungalows are also very clean, with no bugs in sight, and have good mosquito nets. This is a well-run, up and coming place.
It would feel remote here, but lots of boats come down the channel that separates Avinsea from the small island opposite it, so there are often people coming and going. Still, it’s quiet, and you hear lots of bird calls throughout the day. We often saw hornbills, herons, kingfishers, and other birds flying across the channel in front of us.
You can snorkel at any time on the reef right in front of the homestay (easy to enter from the steps at the boat dock). There’s also fabulous snorkeling on the other side of the channel, to the right around the point. In addition, Yannes has a signboard posted in one of the common areas listing where he can take you for snorkeling or transfers and how much it costs, which is very useful!
Only Yannes speaks some English (Corazon may too, but she was living in a village elsewhere on Gam during our stay). But the younger members of the family are very friendly and keep the homestay running well, with good food. There’s one dog here, which seems very friendly.
Without internet or cell service, you have to make your own entertainment here in the evenings. Sometimes family members play guitar and ukulele. There are also beautiful stars in the night sky and blue phosphorescence in the water below you. You don’t hear waves much at Avinsea, but the night is punctuated by splashes as fish jump out of the water to surprise their prey or try to avoid being eaten.
This was our favorite of the five homestays we stayed at in Raja Ampat. (We spent three nights here and could happily have stayed longer.) Avinsea is a tiny place nestled into a bit of shore between mangroves and rocks. There’s no beach and no diving, just glorious snorkeling right in front of you. The three bungalows (soon to be four) and the two separate rooms sit right over the reef at all tides, so you can watch fish right from your deck. It’s like living over an aquarium!
The bungalows, bathrooms, and dining area are solidly built and connected by smooth, sturdy, well-lit boardwalks. The bungalows are also very clean, with no bugs in sight, and have good mosquito nets. This is a well-run, up and coming place.
It would feel remote here, but lots of boats come down the channel that separates Avinsea from the small island opposite it, so there are often people coming and going. Still, it’s quiet, and you hear lots of bird calls throughout the day. We often saw hornbills, herons, kingfishers, and other birds flying across the channel in front of us.
You can snorkel at any time on the reef right in front of the homestay (easy to enter from the steps at the boat dock). There’s also fabulous snorkeling on the other side of the channel, to the right around the point. In addition, Yannes has a signboard posted in one of the common areas listing where he can take you for snorkeling or transfers and how much it costs, which is very useful!
Only Yannes speaks some English (Corazon may too, but she was living in a village elsewhere on Gam during our stay). But the younger members of the family are very friendly and keep the homestay running well, with good food. There’s one dog here, which seems very friendly.
Without internet or cell service, you have to make your own entertainment here in the evenings. Sometimes family members play guitar and ukulele. There are also beautiful stars in the night sky and blue phosphorescence in the water below you. You don’t hear waves much at Avinsea, but the night is punctuated by splashes as fish jump out of the water to surprise their prey or try to avoid being eaten.
I was at Avinsea in March 2024.Everything that is written in the reviews below is really true.Yanes and his whole family will take great care of you.If you want to see something other than the ocean, Yanes can take you on a jungle tour to a small river where you can see or hear different birds and swim in stone baths and walk in the cool of the jungle.
I was at Avinsea in March 2024.Everything that is written in the reviews below is really true.Yanes and his whole family will take great care of you.If you want to see something other than the ocean, Yanes can take you on a jungle tour to a small river where you can see or hear different birds and swim in stone baths and walk in the cool of the jungle.
I stayed at Avinsea hometay in late 2023. It was a great experience. Yanes and Corazon are wonderful hosts, they provide a great service and they are fun to be with.
The over water bungalows at Avinsea are spacious and comfortable with beautiful views. The house reef is great in either direction and especially across the channel. Access to the reef is easy straight from your bungalow and fish are constantly swimming around at your doorstep.
The only disadvantage is that in peak season the channel is very busy with day dive boats going up and down. The channel is a sheltered spot to anchor so liveaboards are frequent visitors to the area.
Aside from that the coral reef is healthy and teeming with an amazing variety of fish and creatures.
You will be well looked after at Avinsea. Yanes is happy to take you wherever you want to go and is reasonable and trustworthy. Corazon is a gem, the food is delicious and abundant and prepared with love.
There is no signal at Avinsea but Yanes can take you a short distance by boat if you are desperate for a connection. I would highly recommend Avinsea.
I stayed at Avinsea hometay in late 2023. It was a great experience. Yanes and Corazon are wonderful hosts, they provide a great service and they are fun to be with.
The over water bungalows at Avinsea are spacious and comfortable with beautiful views. The house reef is great in either direction and especially across the channel. Access to the reef is easy straight from your bungalow and fish are constantly swimming around at your doorstep.
The only disadvantage is that in peak season the channel is very busy with day dive boats going up and down. The channel is a sheltered spot to anchor so liveaboards are frequent visitors to the area.
Aside from that the coral reef is healthy and teeming with an amazing variety of fish and creatures.
You will be well looked after at Avinsea. Yanes is happy to take you wherever you want to go and is reasonable and trustworthy. Corazon is a gem, the food is delicious and abundant and prepared with love.
There is no signal at Avinsea but Yanes can take you a short distance by boat if you are desperate for a connection. I would highly recommend Avinsea.
Avinsea is a place that truly feels magical. When you swim around the channel in front of the homestay you’ll see sharks, turtles and thousands of fish everyday and if you’re lucky like us even mantas and dolphins. It truly is the best reef in terms of animal life that we have seen. As it is quite secluded you hear nothing but the waves and the chanting of the birds most of the time.
Everything is generous in this place:
– Most importantly the hosts. In our experience from a few other homestays the locals were quite shy. Yanes, Corazon and their family are super approachable and extroverted and were always around hang out. In the evenings they took out the ukulele and guitar and sang beautiful papuan songs while we were lying on the deck. Yanes even took us on a quick fishing trip one evening. Thank you for everything!
– The food: big portions, that are varied and very delicious with breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner.
– One of the nicest bungalows we’ve had in Raja: Even though the mattress is on the floor, she’s really thick and comfortable. There is an amazing big mosquito net, a hammock, a sun-bed, two tables, chairs, enough plugs, lights and places to hang stuff. The whole homestay is clean and nicely decorated.
– There are two toilets and two showers for maximum 5 rooms, which is great compared to the average in Raja.
There are hardly any mosquitos or plastic in the sea there and we did not see any rats either.
The only thing that kind of left a sour aftertaste was that since there is no phone reception they can ask whatever price they want for the boat transfer. We payed 850‘000 from Avinsea to Beser Bay for 2 people which is a lot more than what we normally payed for a similar distance in perfect conditions. Just be aware of this and discuss transfer prices beforehand.
Avinsea is a place that truly feels magical. When you swim around the channel in front of the homestay you’ll see sharks, turtles and thousands of fish everyday and if you’re lucky like us even mantas and dolphins. It truly is the best reef in terms of animal life that we have seen. As it is quite secluded you hear nothing but the waves and the chanting of the birds most of the time.
Everything is generous in this place:
– Most importantly the hosts. In our experience from a few other homestays the locals were quite shy. Yanes, Corazon and their family are super approachable and extroverted and were always around hang out. In the evenings they took out the ukulele and guitar and sang beautiful papuan songs while we were lying on the deck. Yanes even took us on a quick fishing trip one evening. Thank you for everything!
– The food: big portions, that are varied and very delicious with breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner.
– One of the nicest bungalows we’ve had in Raja: Even though the mattress is on the floor, she’s really thick and comfortable. There is an amazing big mosquito net, a hammock, a sun-bed, two tables, chairs, enough plugs, lights and places to hang stuff. The whole homestay is clean and nicely decorated.
– There are two toilets and two showers for maximum 5 rooms, which is great compared to the average in Raja.
There are hardly any mosquitos or plastic in the sea there and we did not see any rats either.
The only thing that kind of left a sour aftertaste was that since there is no phone reception they can ask whatever price they want for the boat transfer. We payed 850‘000 from Avinsea to Beser Bay for 2 people which is a lot more than what we normally payed for a similar distance in perfect conditions. Just be aware of this and discuss transfer prices beforehand.
From 4 our homestays in RA this one was the best. Yanes the owner speaks English and is very attentive and whole family always smile and interacts. You feel very welcomed. 5 Over water bungalows are spacious with rised bed, quality and big mosquito net, blankets to cover your body and nice towels provided. There are 2 toilets and 2 showers, no crowds anytime, one real shower is nice bonus. Food was amazing, really best one with big variety including afternoon tasty snacks. What was biggest surprise was cappuccino and moccacino and white cofee available for everyone.
My only recommendation is that dinner is served too late at 8pm. Much better will be around sunset, latest till 7pm, usually you go to bed soon and you don’t want to go with full stomach.
The house reef was the best one we saw comparing all stays and tours we did. You even dont need to cross channel to Citrus ridge to spend hours on beautiful reef either northeast or south of Avinsea. Mind, that sometimes there are some jellyfish, is better to have wetsuite that time. Plus you can go on short boat ride around opposite small island with Yanes. He will stop at 4 snorkeling places and show you personally what you could miss alone. Snorkeling around mangroves was also amazing. At least 4 nights is minimum. Yanes safely drove us from our previous location and dropped us at new one. All was easily agreed through Stay Raja Ampat staff via email.
From 4 our homestays in RA this one was the best. Yanes the owner speaks English and is very attentive and whole family always smile and interacts. You feel very welcomed. 5 Over water bungalows are spacious with rised bed, quality and big mosquito net, blankets to cover your body and nice towels provided. There are 2 toilets and 2 showers, no crowds anytime, one real shower is nice bonus. Food was amazing, really best one with big variety including afternoon tasty snacks. What was biggest surprise was cappuccino and moccacino and white cofee available for everyone.
My only recommendation is that dinner is served too late at 8pm. Much better will be around sunset, latest till 7pm, usually you go to bed soon and you don’t want to go with full stomach.
The house reef was the best one we saw comparing all stays and tours we did. You even dont need to cross channel to Citrus ridge to spend hours on beautiful reef either northeast or south of Avinsea. Mind, that sometimes there are some jellyfish, is better to have wetsuite that time. Plus you can go on short boat ride around opposite small island with Yanes. He will stop at 4 snorkeling places and show you personally what you could miss alone. Snorkeling around mangroves was also amazing. At least 4 nights is minimum. Yanes safely drove us from our previous location and dropped us at new one. All was easily agreed through Stay Raja Ampat staff via email.
Hello
Avinsea est magnifiquement situé avec sur un coté un récif de corail et de l’autre la mangrove avec toute la beauté que l’on peut imaginer. Les pilotis sont aussi très intéressants à explorer. Nous avons adoré notre séjour, même si nous n’avons pas eu les 3 bungalows sélectionnés mais deux bungalows et une chambre dans un bungalow. Snorkeling de nuit également très intéressant (avec le charmant Pakis que j’avais déjà rencontré à Kapisawar).
Les – : les sorties bateaux sur l’autre rive à 1 minute en bateau étaient à un prix très excessif.
Hello
Avinsea est magnifiquement situé avec sur un coté un récif de corail et de l’autre la mangrove avec toute la beauté que l’on peut imaginer. Les pilotis sont aussi très intéressants à explorer. Nous avons adoré notre séjour, même si nous n’avons pas eu les 3 bungalows sélectionnés mais deux bungalows et une chambre dans un bungalow. Snorkeling de nuit également très intéressant (avec le charmant Pakis que j’avais déjà rencontré à Kapisawar).
Les – : les sorties bateaux sur l’autre rive à 1 minute en bateau étaient à un prix très excessif.
Merci à toute la famille d’accueil pour sa gentillesse et tout ce qui rend le séjour agréable.
Le site est très beau et sous l’eau très beau aussi.
Toutefois il faudrait que la région gère l’afflux de bateaux de prestataires touristiques. Ils viennent à vive allure envahir chaque jour et ne respectent pas la sérénité du lieu et le rendent dangereux pour la famille d’accueil et les clients.
Merci à toute la famille d’accueil pour sa gentillesse et tout ce qui rend le séjour agréable.
Le site est très beau et sous l’eau très beau aussi.
Toutefois il faudrait que la région gère l’afflux de bateaux de prestataires touristiques. Ils viennent à vive allure envahir chaque jour et ne respectent pas la sérénité du lieu et le rendent dangereux pour la famille d’accueil et les clients.
Of all the amazing days we had in Raja Ampat, we had our bests at Avinsea!
Yanes and Corazon and the rest of the family are the most kind hosts, attentive and generous and they put a lot of love and care for the homestay and the guests.
The huts are beautifully built perching on the magical reef where needlefishes entertain you in the morning with their jumps. And so much more happens between the sea and trees rising above the water.
The food is delicious and abundant as the life around it.
We also had a couple of fantastic snorkelling day trips to Piaynemo, Tanjun Putus and the passage.
We surely were spoilt at Avinsea, just left and miss it already.
Thank you Yanes and Corazon and everyone we met along the way!
Of all the amazing days we had in Raja Ampat, we had our bests at Avinsea!
Yanes and Corazon and the rest of the family are the most kind hosts, attentive and generous and they put a lot of love and care for the homestay and the guests.
The huts are beautifully built perching on the magical reef where needlefishes entertain you in the morning with their jumps. And so much more happens between the sea and trees rising above the water.
The food is delicious and abundant as the life around it.
We also had a couple of fantastic snorkelling day trips to Piaynemo, Tanjun Putus and the passage.
We surely were spoilt at Avinsea, just left and miss it already.
Thank you Yanes and Corazon and everyone we met along the way!
Thank you, Corazon, Yanes and all the family, for making us so welcome at your beautiful homestay – for the delicious food, the music and songs, your attention to details and loving care for the reef and mangroves, and all the creatures there, which are so delicate and precious. We have travelled for many years and visited a dozen homestays in Raja Ampat, and this is the most wonderful and peaceful place we have had the good fortune to have stayed.
This family deserve more than five starfish.
Kami akan kembali tahun depan. Terima kasih banyak dari Rosy “snorkeling dengan lembat” dan Bob “Mister Bean” 🙂
Thank you, Corazon, Yanes and all the family, for making us so welcome at your beautiful homestay – for the delicious food, the music and songs, your attention to details and loving care for the reef and mangroves, and all the creatures there, which are so delicate and precious. We have travelled for many years and visited a dozen homestays in Raja Ampat, and this is the most wonderful and peaceful place we have had the good fortune to have stayed.
This family deserve more than five starfish.
Kami akan kembali tahun depan. Terima kasih banyak dari Rosy “snorkeling dengan lembat” dan Bob “Mister Bean” 🙂
This was our absolute favourite homestay! We were there for 6 nights and thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was amazing and the hosts extremely friendly. Our hut was located right on top of the excellent house reef – there were two moray eels and 5 massive giant clams between us and the restaurant!
There is only very limited access to the internet here, but the owner is very happy to take you on a short boat ride to where it is available.
This was our absolute favourite homestay! We were there for 6 nights and thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was amazing and the hosts extremely friendly. Our hut was located right on top of the excellent house reef – there were two moray eels and 5 massive giant clams between us and the restaurant!
There is only very limited access to the internet here, but the owner is very happy to take you on a short boat ride to where it is available.
Avinsea has been our favorite homestay, we spent 4 days enjoying the quietness of the place, observing the sealife passing through clear waters on the coral reef by the house and sharing beautiful moments with Yannis, Corazon, Erwin and other family members. The place is very confortable, not a lot of mosquitoes, the food is marvelous (the fried bananas, the fish and greens… Fresh Fish at almost every meal!) And we loved the nights shared below the stars with Erwin playing guitar and everybody singing 😉 we loved the snorkellings and going to the mangroves to listen and watch the birds. We had a wonderful time and want to thank the family to welcoming us into their little paradise
Avinsea has been our favorite homestay, we spent 4 days enjoying the quietness of the place, observing the sealife passing through clear waters on the coral reef by the house and sharing beautiful moments with Yannis, Corazon, Erwin and other family members. The place is very confortable, not a lot of mosquitoes, the food is marvelous (the fried bananas, the fish and greens… Fresh Fish at almost every meal!) And we loved the nights shared below the stars with Erwin playing guitar and everybody singing 😉 we loved the snorkellings and going to the mangroves to listen and watch the birds. We had a wonderful time and want to thank the family to welcoming us into their little paradise
We adored this homestay and Yanes and Korasan were the best hosts, cooks, guides.
After four trips to raja ampat I think we could make this our one stop.
Yanes is guarding the reef of Tanjung Putus where his homestay is – so impressive and necessary as we’ve not met anyone with his awareness and care in the years we have visited through raja ampat homestay.
We adored this homestay and Yanes and Korasan were the best hosts, cooks, guides.
After four trips to raja ampat I think we could make this our one stop.
Yanes is guarding the reef of Tanjung Putus where his homestay is – so impressive and necessary as we’ve not met anyone with his awareness and care in the years we have visited through raja ampat homestay.
We only spent two nights a Avinsea but next time we’ll stay for at least a week – this was undoubtedly our favourite homestay. The hosts, Corazon and Yanes were so welcoming and genuine and engaged in all sorts of conversations with us (partially with the help of Google Translate). The food exceeded our wildest dreams – so well flavoured and delicious, with numerous sweet treats between meals of fresh fish, greens and rice.
The setting is fantastic. The bungalows are built over a lively shallow reef and from your deck you can watch numerous predator hunts, a never ending train of fish pass by in the adjacent channel and bioluminescence at night . Dense swarms of fish aggregate under the decks and accompany you during your entrance to a mind blowing snorkelling experience at the house reef adjoining and mangroves. Yanes also took us to other marvellous nearby snorkelling spots, which were all full of treasures . It was paradise all around.
Terima kasih banyak untuk waktu yang menyenangkan, Yanes & Corazon!
We only spent two nights a Avinsea but next time we’ll stay for at least a week – this was undoubtedly our favourite homestay. The hosts, Corazon and Yanes were so welcoming and genuine and engaged in all sorts of conversations with us (partially with the help of Google Translate). The food exceeded our wildest dreams – so well flavoured and delicious, with numerous sweet treats between meals of fresh fish, greens and rice.
The setting is fantastic. The bungalows are built over a lively shallow reef and from your deck you can watch numerous predator hunts, a never ending train of fish pass by in the adjacent channel and bioluminescence at night . Dense swarms of fish aggregate under the decks and accompany you during your entrance to a mind blowing snorkelling experience at the house reef adjoining and mangroves. Yanes also took us to other marvellous nearby snorkelling spots, which were all full of treasures . It was paradise all around.
Terima kasih banyak untuk waktu yang menyenangkan, Yanes & Corazon!
Ahh, what a nice place! Scenic, peaceful, calm, rich in corals, variety and quantity of marine life, and an awesome view!
Kelfin, his wife Croissan, and son Jose were all very very (I would say extremely) nice to deal with. Most accommodating, gentle and generous. I was spoilt with nice meals and generous portions, a beautiful spacious cottage, with lots of fish to view from the deck. Multiple thousands of Fusiliers live around the homestay (adults and juvies), including saddle Angels, Butterfly fish, Needle fish, Moorish Idols, Damsels and more. Just across is the famous Citrus Ridge, which is visited by divers from Liveaboards. Some visit the homestay deck for a rest, so you can expect some friendly company during the day. Other than that, you are alone and one with nature. The hill behind will sing to you with the song of numerous melodious birds. I saw my first Manta here. So cute!
With this as a base, you can explore Yanggelo and other spots around. Some very nice reefs there (I’ve snorkeled Kri, Mansuar, Gam avg 2kms/day – as a reference). Kelfin or Jose can take you to further spots at very reasonable rates. Generous folk!
3 meals a day? No no, here Croissan will spoil you with 4 (but always better not to expect it). All up I had a wonderful stay. Keep your focus on the reefs and marine life, do a few tours and enjoy the isolated location. Best part is no mobile signal. So just you and nature. Your phone battery charge will last ages. No need for all night generator electricity when you can sleep well and enjoy natural breeze.
It’s a beautiful spot in the last paradise. I miss it 🙁
Ahh, what a nice place! Scenic, peaceful, calm, rich in corals, variety and quantity of marine life, and an awesome view!
Kelfin, his wife Croissan, and son Jose were all very very (I would say extremely) nice to deal with. Most accommodating, gentle and generous. I was spoilt with nice meals and generous portions, a beautiful spacious cottage, with lots of fish to view from the deck. Multiple thousands of Fusiliers live around the homestay (adults and juvies), including saddle Angels, Butterfly fish, Needle fish, Moorish Idols, Damsels and more. Just across is the famous Citrus Ridge, which is visited by divers from Liveaboards. Some visit the homestay deck for a rest, so you can expect some friendly company during the day. Other than that, you are alone and one with nature. The hill behind will sing to you with the song of numerous melodious birds. I saw my first Manta here. So cute!
With this as a base, you can explore Yanggelo and other spots around. Some very nice reefs there (I’ve snorkeled Kri, Mansuar, Gam avg 2kms/day – as a reference). Kelfin or Jose can take you to further spots at very reasonable rates. Generous folk!
3 meals a day? No no, here Croissan will spoil you with 4 (but always better not to expect it). All up I had a wonderful stay. Keep your focus on the reefs and marine life, do a few tours and enjoy the isolated location. Best part is no mobile signal. So just you and nature. Your phone battery charge will last ages. No need for all night generator electricity when you can sleep well and enjoy natural breeze.
It’s a beautiful spot in the last paradise. I miss it 🙁