Features
- Reef dropoff
- Coral
- Good house reef
- Western style toilet
- IDR 400,000 to 500,000
Details
Ellsa Homestay lies on the western shore of Pulau Dayan, in far western Batanta.
Four private beach bungalows are available. Conditions are basic: All bungalows sleep two on mattresses on the floor. Mosquito nets, pillows, sheets and blankets are provided. The bungalows all have power points and room light switches.
Meals are served in Ellsa’s beachside dining room. Free drinking water and tea and coffee making supplies are always available there for guests.
Electricity is supplied by generator and is available from sunset to around midnight.
Only a weak and variable 4G signal is available at Ellsa Homestay. Be prepared to be offline most of the time.
Only very basic English is spoken at Ellsa Homestay. If you don’t speak Bahasa Indonesia, then bringing an offline translation app or phrasebook is recommended.
Yenyar is the nearest village, and is about a 20 minute boat ride away. Be sure to stock up and bring anything you consider essential, because local villages only have basic supplies available.
Safe rubbish disposal is unavailable on any of the Raja Ampat islands, so if you want to avoid contributing to the trashing of paradise, please take any inorganic waste you create away with you when you leave.
Transport / Getting there
One way transfers between Waisai and Ellsa Homestay cost IDR 2,500,000.
The longboat used can carry a maximum of 4 passengers.
Read more about Raja Ampat boat transport prices here.
Public Boat to Batanta
If you have plenty of time, you don’t mind a bit of discomfort, and you want spend as little as possible on transport costs, then there are cargo boats that you can use to get to Batanta. (Obviously, if you are going to arrive on the cargo boat, then you don’t need to request a Waisai pickup when submitting the booking form above.)
Here’s what you need to know about getting the cargo boat to Batanta.
Activities
Be sure to bring snorkelling gear, because Dayan is a snorkellers’ heaven. You do need to be careful of the strong currents that sweep around the island when the tide is running though.
Mantas, whales, dolphins, and turtles are all often seen, and dugongs are occasional visitors.
When space is available, diving can be arranged with Ellsa's neighbour Dayan. (If you want to dive every day, then book at Dayan, not at Ellsa.)
Pulau Dayan also boasts long stretches of perfect beach, including sections where it’s easy to get in and out of the water without stepping on coral.
Dayan’s homestays are very remote – but if you were heading to (or from) a Pam Islands homestay, Dayan would be the perfect place to spend a few days in the middle of the journey.
The pure, clean waters of the bays around Dayan and Batanta are perfect for oyster cultivation, and there’s a pearl farm nearby that could probably also be visited if you were interested. Batanta jungle treks and waterfall visits can also be arranged.
If you’re interested in seeing one of the last remaining villages in Raja Ampat in which all the houses are traditionally built, organise a visit to Yennyar. Yennyar is the name by which everyone refers to it, but the village’s formal name is Marandan Weser. Yennyar is a forty minute longboat ride from Dayan.
Batanta
See our Batanta page for an overview of Batanta, its neighbouring islands, and their attractions.
Ellsa Homestay Location Map
Ellsa Homestay Reviews
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6 Reviews
I had a very nice stay here. The host and their family are very kind and friendly, and are always on hand to take you wherever you want to go. Their kids were so fun to play football with as well. Out of everywhere I stayed in Raja Ampat, Batanta was the best for spotting marine life such as manta rays, dugongs and dolphins, and you will see so many species of fish in the many vibrant reefs in the area. Overall, I am very thankful for the hospitality I received and would strongly recommend this homestay.
I had a very nice stay here. The host and their family are very kind and friendly, and are always on hand to take you wherever you want to go. Their kids were so fun to play football with as well. Out of everywhere I stayed in Raja Ampat, Batanta was the best for spotting marine life such as manta rays, dugongs and dolphins, and you will see so many species of fish in the many vibrant reefs in the area. Overall, I am very thankful for the hospitality I received and would strongly recommend this homestay.
The host family were more reserved and kept to themselves but this may be because they are just learning English. However the hosts made me feel comfortable.
The island is very small and with little to no reception, but this is what made it so magical. It was a true island escape / media switch off.
The snorkelling out the front and to the left of the homestay is great some of the most beautiful reefs I’ve seen with turtles and sharks, and you can hire fins from the diving shop next door. I cannot comment on the quality of the dive shop as they were closed while I was there, so just make sure they’re open before you book if you wish to dive. There are also many baby reef sharks and sting rays that swim right up near the shore especially if you walk to the empty beach at the end of Dayan Homestay. There are also many hermit crabs on the island.
The food was great but most breakfasts in Raja Ampat are sweet (fritters, cakes, pancakes) so if you need something more substantial just bring some instant oats etc and make sure they’re in a strong container so the animals don’t get in. The dining room on the water is magical, and faces directly into the sunset (same with the huts).
The huts themselves are light and well aired, and the mattress was very comfortable despite being a little thinner.
Overall this stay was excellent value for money and I would 100% book with Ellsa Homestay again.
The host family were more reserved and kept to themselves but this may be because they are just learning English. However the hosts made me feel comfortable.
The island is very small and with little to no reception, but this is what made it so magical. It was a true island escape / media switch off.
The snorkelling out the front and to the left of the homestay is great some of the most beautiful reefs I’ve seen with turtles and sharks, and you can hire fins from the diving shop next door. I cannot comment on the quality of the dive shop as they were closed while I was there, so just make sure they’re open before you book if you wish to dive. There are also many baby reef sharks and sting rays that swim right up near the shore especially if you walk to the empty beach at the end of Dayan Homestay. There are also many hermit crabs on the island.
The food was great but most breakfasts in Raja Ampat are sweet (fritters, cakes, pancakes) so if you need something more substantial just bring some instant oats etc and make sure they’re in a strong container so the animals don’t get in. The dining room on the water is magical, and faces directly into the sunset (same with the huts).
The huts themselves are light and well aired, and the mattress was very comfortable despite being a little thinner.
Overall this stay was excellent value for money and I would 100% book with Ellsa Homestay again.
Ellsa Homestay was added to Stay Raja Ampat today, and so does not have any reviews yet.
It’s really hard for homestays new to the website.
Please do give Ellsa a chance, and be the first to submit some feedback for them – they’ll be so happy to see you! 😊🙏
Ellsa Homestay was added to Stay Raja Ampat today, and so does not have any reviews yet.
It’s really hard for homestays new to the website.
Please do give Ellsa a chance, and be the first to submit some feedback for them – they’ll be so happy to see you! 😊🙏