Features
- English speaking
- Sleeps 10 or more
- Reef dropoff
- Quiet hideaway
- Good phone signal
- Coral
- Good house reef
- Calm beach
- Wayag trips
- Has raised beds
- Western style toilet
- IDR 500,000 to 600,000
- On site dive centre
- IDR 400,000 to 500,000
- Diving available
Details
Lagoon Homestay lies right next door to Rufas Homestay, inside the sheltered Batu Rufas lagoon.
Six private, over-water bungalows are available. Bungalows sleep two on raised beds. Bungalow verandahs are equipped a hammock, and with chairs and a small table.
Meals are served in Lagoon Homestay’s wooden-floored dining room. Drinking water and tea and coffee making supplies are always freely available there.
All guests share a two-roomed bathroom building. Showers are provided in the bathroom, and a western-style toilet occupies the other room.
Electricity is provided by generator, and is available from sunset to sunrise. Lagoon Homestay usually receives a strong 4G signal.
Starlink internet: Lagoon Homestay offers free use of their Starlink Internet service to guests.
English is spoken at Lagoon Homestay.
The nearest village to Rufas Homestay is Saukabu on Pam. Saukabu is about a 15 minute boat ride away and only basic supplies can be bought there, so you’ll need to bring everything you consider essential with you.
There’s no safe waste disposal on Pulau Rufas. All inorganic waste must be either burned or carried away. If you don’t want to contribute to the trashing of paradise, please take all the inorganic waste you create away with you when you leave.
Transport / Getting there
Lagoon Homestay transfers are by longboat which can carry up to 4 people. The table below shows the cost for Waisai and other transfers. Trip cost is for pick up OR drop off, and is shared by passengers.
| FROM/TO | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Waisai | 2,500,000 |
| East Gam | 1,800,000 |
| West Gam | 1,500,000 |
| Selpele | 1,800,000 |
| Kri | 1.800,000 |
| Manyaifun | 1,500,000 |
| Dayan | 1,700,000 |
| Yensawai | 2,000,000 |
| Arborek | 1,300,000 |
| Saukabu | 400,000 |
Read more about Raja Ampat boat transport prices here.
Public Boat to the Fam Islands
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 the Fam Islands. (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 Fam.
Activities
Diving
Sunday Diving: Only available after conclusion of church services at 1300.
Lagoon Homestay has an on- site dive center. Dives cost IDR 700,000 per person, per dive. The cost includes equipment hire and guide payments. An additional boat price (shared by divers) is charged. Boat prices for some popular local sites can be found in the table below.
Please note: At times of full occupancy, Lagoon does not have enough diving equipment for all guests to join all dives. At those times, dives will be made available to all guests on a rotating basis. Please do not book at Lagoon if you want to be guaranteed the ability to join every dive.
| DIVE SITE | BOAT PRICE |
|---|---|
| Melissa's Garden | Free |
| Fam Wall | Free |
| Napoleon Wall | Free |
| Galaxi Reef Point | Free |
| Fam Slope | Free |
| Batu Rufas | Free |
| Rufas Reef | Free |
| Barracuda Point | 200,000 |
| Fam Jetty | 400,000 |
| Sardine Reef | 400,000 |
| Nudibranch | 300,000 |
| Yeben Island | 400,000 |
| Mayanggelo | 300,000 |
Snorkelling
The coral-rich waters of Piaynemo are a snorkeller's delight. In addition to the lagoon itself (which also affords easy swimming over a sand bottom), the famed Melissa's Garden site is close by. The waters around Pulau Rufas are spectacular. Do be aware of tides and currents when snorkelling outside the lagoon though.
Prices for some popular snorkelling and sightseeing trips are provided in the table below. Prices are IDR and are shared by trip participants. The Piaynemo Top View trip includes the viewpoint entrance fee.
| TRIP | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Melissa's Garden | 400,000 |
| Fam Wall | 400,000 |
| Napoleon Wall | 400,000 |
| Barracuda | 500,000 |
| Andau Manta | 1,000,000 |
| Piaynemo Top View | 500,000 |
| Wayag Day Trip | 9,000,000 |
There's an old observation post built on Pulau Rufas' highest point. It's just above the homestay and offers panoramic views and a shady place to catch the breeze on a hot day. Pulau Rufas' limestone is sharp, so good footwear is recommended when exploring.
The attractions of Piaynemo are very close to Rufas. You could also arrange to spend a day exploring and snorkelling Piaynemo's "back beach", which is accessed via Piaynemo Homestay. If you wanted to make a day of it, meals can be purchased at Piaynemo Homestay's restaurant.
Lagoon Homestay Location Map
Lagoon Homestay Reviews
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251 Reviews
Lagoon Homestay is in a truly unique location with access to an incredible viewpoint over the lagoon and the neighbouring islands.
The bungalows are small but nice and have direct access to the water. Snorkeling at the house reef is a big highlight.
Lunch and dinner were always plentiful, and vegetarian food was easily available.
The staff was friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful.
The organization of the diving could be improved, and breakfast has some room for improvement as well as the bathroom situation.
Vue magnifique et très beaux spots pour le snorkeling autour de l’ile
très bonne nourriture et bungalow top
prévoyez du cash car pas d’autre moyen de payement
idéal pour 2 ou 3 nuits
Wir waren für 4 Nächte im Lagoon Homestay und ich weis nicht wie all die guten Bewertungen zustande gekommen sind. Nur eine Dusche und eine Toilete für alle Bungalows zusammen ist mehr als problematisch. Zudem viele male kein Wasser zum duschen. Die Mahlzeiten, im Gegensatz zu anderen Orten, sehr einfach.
Das Schnorcheln rund um die Insel hat uns auch nicht von Hocker gerissen, da haben wir in Raja Ampat viel besseres gesehen.
Oben die Aussichtsplattform mit den durchgefaulten Holzbrettern, eine Zumutung.
Die Bungalows, sieht mann von den vielen Kakerlaken mal ab, sind soweit in Ordnung.
Fazit: besucht Rufas im Zuge eines Tagesausflugs nach Pyanemo und Melisas Garden, das reicht völlig aus.
My daughter and I each had our own bungalow which was nice. The food was good and the snorkeling, easy to do directly from our nice balcony.
The one shower and one toilet for six bungalows (some were occupied by couples) was somewhat of a challenge. The responsible was not reachable so we had to depend on a young man, not in charge, for the excursions, which missed some professionalism, unfortunately.
If we wanted some wifi, we had to climb to the top of the hill (beautiful view), to get a signal.
It is a good location to visit various sites.
We stayed with 3 friends with each our own bungalow. The bungalows are basic with a bed and one little table. Outside you have one small table and two chairs. There is also one hammock, some a bit small and some a bit bigger. What else do you need? There is a nice viewpoint where you can go to see everything. We had a very pleasant stay, the food was very nice and we even got a nice 16:00 snack. It is super close to piaynemo. When you want to snorkel you can go right outside the lagoon, we saw so many different fish and even a turtle and shark. Thanks again for the great stay.
We stayed here for 3 nights and absolutely loved it ! The lagoon cocooned us in its calm waters , with excellent snorkeling at the lagoon entrance. The family running it were adorable , the food was delicious and plentiful. The rooms clean and comfortable.
I did two dives with the dive shop ,which were also amazing .The view point was the perfect place to take a cold beer to watch the sunset and see the turtles and sharks below . 10 out of 10 guys !
We stayed here for 3 nights and absolutely loved it ! The lagoon cocooned us in its calm waters , with excellent snorkeling at the lagoon entrance. The family running it were adorable , the food was delicious and plentiful. The rooms clean and comfortable.
I did two dives with the dive shop ,which were also amazing .The view point was the perfect place to take a cold beer to watch the sunset and see the turtles and sharks below . 10 out of 10 guys !
I stayed 2 nights in Lagoon Homestay and everything was amazing, the view on the lagoon it’s incredible with a point of the view easily accessible. The bungalow was super clean with a really big bed, The owners were super nice we had such a good food . Definitely recommend to stay there
I stayed 2 nights in Lagoon Homestay and everything was amazing, the view on the lagoon it’s incredible with a point of the view easily accessible. The bungalow was super clean with a really big bed, The owners were super nice we had such a good food . Definitely recommend to stay there
Beautiful homestay on a picturesque island with lagoon.
Very nice people and good food.
They even baked banana fritters every afternoon.
What a beautiful gem to relax and cool down
Beautiful homestay on a picturesque island with lagoon.
Very nice people and good food.
They even baked banana fritters every afternoon.
What a beautiful gem to relax and cool down
Accomodation – clean, nice, calm, relaxing
Snorkelling around – fantastic – turtles, baby sharks, many fish and corals
Food – plenty of it incl. afternoon snack
Locals – nice, friendly, supportive
Trips around – many options
Island – very beutifull, calm, close to other nice attractive spots
Thank you Renata for your kind and complete comments on our service and also thank you for feeling comfortable with us. We hope you have an extraordinary experience with us.
Accomodation – clean, nice, calm, relaxing
Snorkelling around – fantastic – turtles, baby sharks, many fish and corals
Food – plenty of it incl. afternoon snack
Locals – nice, friendly, supportive
Trips around – many options
Island – very beutifull, calm, close to other nice attractive spots
Il Lagoon offre sicuramente una location unica in cui soggiornare. I bungalow sono carini, con un piccolo spazio esterno dove potersi rilassare. I ragazzi del diving sono simpatici, le immersioni belle. La famiglia che gestisce è disponibile e al tempo stesso riservata per lasciare la privacy che si desidera. L’unica nota negativa sono gli occidentali che abbiamo incontrato, con il loro comportamento di superiorità, senza mai dire un grazie a chi lavora tutto il giorno per loro, come se tutto fosse dovuto solo perché pagano ciò che per noi sono due soldi. Ricordatevi che siamo tutti persone, e un grazie o una piccola mancia a fine soggiorno sono gratificanti per chi lavora per la nostra vacanza.
Thank you for your kind comments and thank you for visiting our homestay. We hope you have a pleasant stay and hope to see you again.
Il Lagoon offre sicuramente una location unica in cui soggiornare. I bungalow sono carini, con un piccolo spazio esterno dove potersi rilassare. I ragazzi del diving sono simpatici, le immersioni belle. La famiglia che gestisce è disponibile e al tempo stesso riservata per lasciare la privacy che si desidera. L’unica nota negativa sono gli occidentali che abbiamo incontrato, con il loro comportamento di superiorità, senza mai dire un grazie a chi lavora tutto il giorno per loro, come se tutto fosse dovuto solo perché pagano ciò che per noi sono due soldi. Ricordatevi che siamo tutti persone, e un grazie o una piccola mancia a fine soggiorno sono gratificanti per chi lavora per la nostra vacanza.
Wonderful experience, to stay a few nights in a lagoon in the middle of the sea! The food was good and the people running the dive center were very accommodating. During my 5 nights stay, I was the only diver during 24h but the team took me to dive around the island anyway and even agreed for a night dive. Don’t be shy to ask if you have any needs or wishes, the family running this homestay is very kind and accommodating.
Terima kasih Anne-Marie atas ulasan komentar baik anda tentang pelayanan kami, terima kasih juga telah mengunjungi kami berharap akan bertemu anda lagi kembali di masa inap yang akan datang.
Salam untuk mu.
Wonderful experience, to stay a few nights in a lagoon in the middle of the sea! The food was good and the people running the dive center were very accommodating. During my 5 nights stay, I was the only diver during 24h but the team took me to dive around the island anyway and even agreed for a night dive. Don’t be shy to ask if you have any needs or wishes, the family running this homestay is very kind and accommodating.
The laggon is very beatifull, quiet and relaxing. I stayed at a new house, very nice.
The diving center has some challenges with schedulles.
Food was good, aligned with the other homestays at Raja Ampat.
Terima kasih Andre atas komentar baik anda dan terima kasih atas ulasan tentang jadwal penyelaman kami, kami akan berusaha untuk memperbaiki jadwal ini agar tamu lain tidak mengalaminya kembali.
Berharap bisa bertemu anda kembali🙏🏽
The laggon is very beatifull, quiet and relaxing. I stayed at a new house, very nice.
The diving center has some challenges with schedulles.
Food was good, aligned with the other homestays at Raja Ampat.
Had 2 nights at Rufus in October 2025.
Honestly it was such a divine stay, we basically had the run of the island to ourselves, we seen a turtle off our bungalow.
The weather was fantastic. The food, plentiful.
Facilities in line with other home stays.
It’s not 5 star accommodation it’s a 5 star experience.
Was honestly one of the best holidays I’ve had.
Worth the climb up to the lookout for sunset.
We had a storm whip through in the evening which the rain just sounded magical on the bamboo roof and water around us.
There is a language barrier with the local family which is to be expected, and you really do have to take it on yourself to get your day trips planned, but that was nothing different to Kri or anywhere else.
The reefs around the island were fabulous so do take some snorkeling equipment with you.
The young fella who was training to be a dive master was super helpful and accommodating.
I’d highly recommend 2 nights there.
Just across the water from Pianemo which is a beautiful day trip stop off for tourists.
to Lonceng Catlan,Thank you for your positive rating and review, we are happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay at our homestay and were satisfied with our service, we appreciate your feedback regarding the language barrier, we will follow up immediately to ensure guests get a better experience, we look forward to welcoming you back for a pleasant stay. Warm greetings.
Lagoon Homestay team
Had 2 nights at Rufus in October 2025.
Honestly it was such a divine stay, we basically had the run of the island to ourselves, we seen a turtle off our bungalow.
The weather was fantastic. The food, plentiful.
Facilities in line with other home stays.
It’s not 5 star accommodation it’s a 5 star experience.
Was honestly one of the best holidays I’ve had.
Worth the climb up to the lookout for sunset.
We had a storm whip through in the evening which the rain just sounded magical on the bamboo roof and water around us.
There is a language barrier with the local family which is to be expected, and you really do have to take it on yourself to get your day trips planned, but that was nothing different to Kri or anywhere else.
The reefs around the island were fabulous so do take some snorkeling equipment with you.
The young fella who was training to be a dive master was super helpful and accommodating.
I’d highly recommend 2 nights there.
Just across the water from Pianemo which is a beautiful day trip stop off for tourists.
to Lonceng Catlan,Thank you for your positive rating and review, we are happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay at our homestay and were satisfied with our service, we appreciate your feedback regarding the language barrier, we will follow up immediately to ensure guests get a better experience, we look forward to welcoming you back for a pleasant stay. Warm greetings.
Lagoon Homestay team
Had a wonderful couple of nights at Lagoon. It was exactly as pictured and was very peaceful and relaxing to stay there. The bungalows are not luxurious, but very comfortable and you have everything you need. It was great fun to be able to dive straight from your balcony into the beautiful lagoon (the only problem was getting out again as the ladder was broken.) The only other slight downside, for anyone with a large appetite, was the food was fairly basic, even though it didn’t really bother me as I never seemed to feel hungry after my first week in Raja Ampat! Now to all the great things….William was lovely, helpful and was great to hear about his English studies! There ended up being a wonderful camaraderie between all of us staying at Lagoon, as well as the neighbouring homestay. Everyone would gather in the evenings on the jetty facing Piaynemo to watch the beautiful sunsets. Everyone had lovely chats and did snorkelling trips and even transfers back to Waisai together. It was just so nice, and the nicest of all my homestay experiences! The first night after dinner, the family came to tell us to come and see the turtle under their house, which ended up laying her eggs there. So that was super special and a seemingly common occurrence! It was great to climb up to the viewpoint and see the star shape of the lagoon from above, as well as feeling like you were king of the world for a moment. Snorkelling almost around the whole island (had to turn back because of the current when I was almost there) was wonderful, and was lucky to see lots of turtles, sharks, bumpheads, coloured fish and coral. Even the day it rained was a beautiful experience. Thanks to Will and the family and can’t wait to come back!
Thank you for your kind comments, looking forward to seeing you again.
Had a wonderful couple of nights at Lagoon. It was exactly as pictured and was very peaceful and relaxing to stay there. The bungalows are not luxurious, but very comfortable and you have everything you need. It was great fun to be able to dive straight from your balcony into the beautiful lagoon (the only problem was getting out again as the ladder was broken.) The only other slight downside, for anyone with a large appetite, was the food was fairly basic, even though it didn’t really bother me as I never seemed to feel hungry after my first week in Raja Ampat! Now to all the great things….William was lovely, helpful and was great to hear about his English studies! There ended up being a wonderful camaraderie between all of us staying at Lagoon, as well as the neighbouring homestay. Everyone would gather in the evenings on the jetty facing Piaynemo to watch the beautiful sunsets. Everyone had lovely chats and did snorkelling trips and even transfers back to Waisai together. It was just so nice, and the nicest of all my homestay experiences! The first night after dinner, the family came to tell us to come and see the turtle under their house, which ended up laying her eggs there. So that was super special and a seemingly common occurrence! It was great to climb up to the viewpoint and see the star shape of the lagoon from above, as well as feeling like you were king of the world for a moment. Snorkelling almost around the whole island (had to turn back because of the current when I was almost there) was wonderful, and was lucky to see lots of turtles, sharks, bumpheads, coloured fish and coral. Even the day it rained was a beautiful experience. Thanks to Will and the family and can’t wait to come back!
Thank you for your kind comments, looking forward to seeing you again.
Nous avons passé un super séjour dans ce homestay, tout d’abord ils nous on accueilli avec le sourire, ensuite le lieux est juste exceptionnel, les snorkeling autour sont sublimes. La cabane était propre. Les gens qui nous accueilli comprenaient l’anglais. Le seul axe d’amélioration serait que nous avons eut un peu faim parfois. Pleins de remerciements a Will qui avait toujours le sourire et la bonne humeur. Nous gardons un super souvenir grâce a vous.
Nous avons passé un super séjour dans ce homestay, tout d’abord ils nous on accueilli avec le sourire, ensuite le lieux est juste exceptionnel, les snorkeling autour sont sublimes. La cabane était propre. Les gens qui nous accueilli comprenaient l’anglais. Le seul axe d’amélioration serait que nous avons eut un peu faim parfois. Pleins de remerciements a Will qui avait toujours le sourire et la bonne humeur. Nous gardons un super souvenir grâce a vous.
Un super séjour chez Lagoon Homestay.
« Le luxe c’est d’être ici » : logement avec une vue imprenable sur le lagon.
Bien sûr, le confort n’est pas comparable au standard mais c’était un plaisir d’être à cet endroit. Bonne nourriture composée essentiellement de la pêche du jour, et en quantité suffisante. Personnel toujours disponible pour répondre aux questions, préparer des excursions, et pour rendre services! Et tout était très bien organisé (tableau avec liste des spots, prix,…).
Sport de rêve pour le snorkelling. Petite mention pour le concert improvisé guitare-voix de la part de nos hôtes en soirée.
Un super séjour chez Lagoon Homestay.
« Le luxe c’est d’être ici » : logement avec une vue imprenable sur le lagon.
Bien sûr, le confort n’est pas comparable au standard mais c’était un plaisir d’être à cet endroit. Bonne nourriture composée essentiellement de la pêche du jour, et en quantité suffisante. Personnel toujours disponible pour répondre aux questions, préparer des excursions, et pour rendre services! Et tout était très bien organisé (tableau avec liste des spots, prix,…).
Sport de rêve pour le snorkelling. Petite mention pour le concert improvisé guitare-voix de la part de nos hôtes en soirée.
Nous avons passé 2 nuits au Lagoon Homestay. Les bungalow sont en assez bon état et la localisation est magnifique. Parcontre nos draps n’étaient pas propres et malgré qu’on ai demandé à les changer il demeurait une forte odeur d’urine dans le lit.
Les repas sont très basiques et il n’y avait pas assez de quantité de nourriture aux repas ce qui nous a gêné. Attention au prix des excursions, bien vérifier car les prix affichés sur le tableau sont exubérants et pas du tout ceux annoncés sur le site ou pratiqué dans le Homestay à côté donc il fait bien se mettre d’accord sur le prix. Le personnel a été sympathique. Nous sommes mitigés sur l’expérience.
Nous avons passé 2 nuits au Lagoon Homestay. Les bungalow sont en assez bon état et la localisation est magnifique. Parcontre nos draps n’étaient pas propres et malgré qu’on ai demandé à les changer il demeurait une forte odeur d’urine dans le lit.
Les repas sont très basiques et il n’y avait pas assez de quantité de nourriture aux repas ce qui nous a gêné. Attention au prix des excursions, bien vérifier car les prix affichés sur le tableau sont exubérants et pas du tout ceux annoncés sur le site ou pratiqué dans le Homestay à côté donc il fait bien se mettre d’accord sur le prix. Le personnel a été sympathique. Nous sommes mitigés sur l’expérience.
We loved our stay in rufas. We were 2 couples in 2 bungalows. We enjoyed swimming in the Lagoon jumping from our terraces in the warm and blue/green amazing water. The view from the view point on the Lagoon is incredible and my husband did some paintings while we were just resting and enjoying the view. It is a pity that no one repaired the Wood platform. Should be easy and safer! The main drawback is the food: very basic and moreover not enough to eat at all. This is the main area of improvement. Hope the Owner will take this feedback into account🤞
Thank you Barre for your input to us, sorry for our shortcomings
We loved our stay in rufas. We were 2 couples in 2 bungalows. We enjoyed swimming in the Lagoon jumping from our terraces in the warm and blue/green amazing water. The view from the view point on the Lagoon is incredible and my husband did some paintings while we were just resting and enjoying the view. It is a pity that no one repaired the Wood platform. Should be easy and safer! The main drawback is the food: very basic and moreover not enough to eat at all. This is the main area of improvement. Hope the Owner will take this feedback into account🤞
Thank you Barre for your input to us, sorry for our shortcomings
Non è stato il nostro primo homestay ma abbiamo usufruito del pick up da waisai, 3 ore di barca.
All’arrivo non c’era nessuno del personale ad accoglierci, per fortuna sono arrivati alcuni ragazzi del homestay accanto a indicarci la nostra camera e ad aiutarci con i bagagli. Il pranzo era già pronto per noi. Solo nel pomeriggio abbiamo incontrato Doris il ragazzo che a quanto sembra gestisce l homestay in assenza del proprietario, Doris è veramente gentile e divertente, fa di tutto per accontentare gli ospiti. La camera è nuova grande e molto bella, con il terrazzo che dà direttamente sulla laguna, l’isola è bellissima e vale la pena fare qualche notte. L’elettricità parte dal tramonto e smette all’alba. Il bagno non era male ma uno solo e 2 docce nello stesso ambiente. A prima impatto eravamo titubanti soprattutto dopo aver letto le ultime recensioni, ma dopo aver conosciuto Doris ci siamo veramente ambientati. Per le attività si chiede direttamente a lui. Siamo venuti in questo homestay per visitare piaynemo e immergerci a Melissa’s garden, purtroppo il divemaster del homestay non era presente, quindi il primo giorno decidiamo di fare snorkeling e andare al punto panoramico di piaynemo, oltre a Melissa’s garden Doris ci ha offerto lo snorkeling a fam wall. La sera stessa ci comunica che è in contatto con un altro homestay con un centro Diving e che ci sarebbe stata la possibilità di immergerci con loro, noi accettiamo. Il giorno dopo purtroppo abbiamo atteso ma nessuno è venuto a prenderci per immergerci e a quanto siamo venuti a sapere a causa di un problema con il compressore per la ricarica delle bombole, pensavamo fosse una scusa ,in realtà il giorno successivo ancora si sono presentati e siamo riusciti finalmente a immergere a Melissa’s garden (esperienza stupenda).
In questo homestay si respira di certo aria di relax e di buon umore, non bisogna avere troppe pretese e tenere sempre in considerazione il posto in cui si è, non è un resort 5 stelle, stai alloggiando in una capanna con gli animali tutto intorno, il personale è sempre sorridente, non tutti parlano inglese ma è anche questo il bello. Lo snorkeling dietro all homestay è stato sorprendentemente bello. Grazie a Doris per averci accontentato e averci sempre fatto ridere, alla prossima!
Non è stato il nostro primo homestay ma abbiamo usufruito del pick up da waisai, 3 ore di barca.
All’arrivo non c’era nessuno del personale ad accoglierci, per fortuna sono arrivati alcuni ragazzi del homestay accanto a indicarci la nostra camera e ad aiutarci con i bagagli. Il pranzo era già pronto per noi. Solo nel pomeriggio abbiamo incontrato Doris il ragazzo che a quanto sembra gestisce l homestay in assenza del proprietario, Doris è veramente gentile e divertente, fa di tutto per accontentare gli ospiti. La camera è nuova grande e molto bella, con il terrazzo che dà direttamente sulla laguna, l’isola è bellissima e vale la pena fare qualche notte. L’elettricità parte dal tramonto e smette all’alba. Il bagno non era male ma uno solo e 2 docce nello stesso ambiente. A prima impatto eravamo titubanti soprattutto dopo aver letto le ultime recensioni, ma dopo aver conosciuto Doris ci siamo veramente ambientati. Per le attività si chiede direttamente a lui. Siamo venuti in questo homestay per visitare piaynemo e immergerci a Melissa’s garden, purtroppo il divemaster del homestay non era presente, quindi il primo giorno decidiamo di fare snorkeling e andare al punto panoramico di piaynemo, oltre a Melissa’s garden Doris ci ha offerto lo snorkeling a fam wall. La sera stessa ci comunica che è in contatto con un altro homestay con un centro Diving e che ci sarebbe stata la possibilità di immergerci con loro, noi accettiamo. Il giorno dopo purtroppo abbiamo atteso ma nessuno è venuto a prenderci per immergerci e a quanto siamo venuti a sapere a causa di un problema con il compressore per la ricarica delle bombole, pensavamo fosse una scusa ,in realtà il giorno successivo ancora si sono presentati e siamo riusciti finalmente a immergere a Melissa’s garden (esperienza stupenda).
In questo homestay si respira di certo aria di relax e di buon umore, non bisogna avere troppe pretese e tenere sempre in considerazione il posto in cui si è, non è un resort 5 stelle, stai alloggiando in una capanna con gli animali tutto intorno, il personale è sempre sorridente, non tutti parlano inglese ma è anche questo il bello. Lo snorkeling dietro all homestay è stato sorprendentemente bello. Grazie a Doris per averci accontentato e averci sempre fatto ridere, alla prossima!
I stayed at Lagoon Homestay in Rufas, Raja Ampat, and it was such a fun and amazing experience! The place is absolutely stunning – crystal-clear water, incredible views, and a truly peaceful atmosphere. Doris was super kind – sometimes things didn’t go exactly as planned, but he always found a solution, often replacing it with something else or even offering excursions for free. The manager was also really generous – he even gave me a free top-up for my SIM card. They genuinely did everything they could to make us happy and comfortable.
The only small downside was that the dive center was closed, so I couldn’t dive on the first day. But luckily, the Gloria dive center right next door was available, and we managed to get spots for the following days.
Overall, I absolutely recommend Lagoon Homestay – it’s beautiful, the people are warm and welcoming, and the whole experience was unforgettable. If you have the chance, definitely go!
I stayed at Lagoon Homestay in Rufas, Raja Ampat, and it was such a fun and amazing experience! The place is absolutely stunning – crystal-clear water, incredible views, and a truly peaceful atmosphere. Doris was super kind – sometimes things didn’t go exactly as planned, but he always found a solution, often replacing it with something else or even offering excursions for free. The manager was also really generous – he even gave me a free top-up for my SIM card. They genuinely did everything they could to make us happy and comfortable.
The only small downside was that the dive center was closed, so I couldn’t dive on the first day. But luckily, the Gloria dive center right next door was available, and we managed to get spots for the following days.
Overall, I absolutely recommend Lagoon Homestay – it’s beautiful, the people are warm and welcoming, and the whole experience was unforgettable. If you have the chance, definitely go!
Nous avons passé un séjour de 2 nuits à 3 bungalows. L’endroit est tout simplement magnifique et les bungalows sont très jolis et en bon état, même si les échelles pour accéder à l’eau devraient être réparées.
Excellent snorkeling autour de l’île.
Nous avons plongé une fois avec le divemaster du homestay, qui était absent au début de notre séjour ; il ne parlait pas un mot d’anglais donc pas de brief, et plongée avec courant donc pas évidente.
Les repas étaient peu copieux, et nous avons dû réclamer du poisson sinon c’était des œufs à tous les repas.
Bien négocier les tarifs des excursions car ils affichent des prix par personne beaucoup plus élevés que le homestay voisin.
Communication globalement pas simple et organisation a optimiser (rupture d’eau potable un soir, nécessité de demander plusieurs fois pour avoir une réponse sur les bateaux).
Nous avons passé un séjour de 2 nuits à 3 bungalows. L’endroit est tout simplement magnifique et les bungalows sont très jolis et en bon état, même si les échelles pour accéder à l’eau devraient être réparées.
Excellent snorkeling autour de l’île.
Nous avons plongé une fois avec le divemaster du homestay, qui était absent au début de notre séjour ; il ne parlait pas un mot d’anglais donc pas de brief, et plongée avec courant donc pas évidente.
Les repas étaient peu copieux, et nous avons dû réclamer du poisson sinon c’était des œufs à tous les repas.
Bien négocier les tarifs des excursions car ils affichent des prix par personne beaucoup plus élevés que le homestay voisin.
Communication globalement pas simple et organisation a optimiser (rupture d’eau potable un soir, nécessité de demander plusieurs fois pour avoir une réponse sur les bateaux).
Nous sommes une famille de 7 personnes et avons passé 3 nuits au Lagoon Homestay. Malgré certains commentaires précédents, je tiens à dire que notre séjour a été parfait et nous aurions aimé prolonger notre séjour ici.
C’est vrai qu’au premier abord, la famille peut sembler un peu réservée et pas très proactive, et que peu d’explications sont données à l’arrivée. Mais en réalité, il suffit simplement de demander et tout se passe très bien.
Nous avons fait des activités tous les jours : ils sont très arrangeants, aussi bien sur les horaires que sur le choix des lieux à visiter. Les guides sont adorables et le divemaster est extrêmement professionnel.
La nourriture est excellente, parfois un peu limitée, mais si on en demande davantage, ils n’hésitent pas à en rajouter. Les lits font partie des meilleurs que nous ayons eus à Raja Ampat. Les toilettes ne sont pas toujours impeccables, mais restent correctes.
Le point de vue est magnifique, surtout au coucher du soleil. Je recommande d’aller à Piaynemo par beau temps : le panorama est superbe et le snorkeling sur place est génial.
Concernant le snorkelling, nager dans le lagon n’a pas vraiment l’intérêt, il vaut mieux sortir du lagon et aller sur la droite c’est vraiment beau. Vous pouvez faire le tour de l’île sans problème ou aller rentrer par l’arrière.
Pour la plongée tous les sites sont magnifiques, mais je ne la conseille pas aux débutant, il peut y avoir énormément du courant, cela peut vite être dangereux pour vous et les autres.
Conclusion : si (comme certains commentaires le laissent entendre) vous attendez qu’on vous serve sans rien demander, vous pourriez être déçus par cet endroit. Mais si vous êtes un minimum débrouillard et que vous n’hésitez pas à solliciter la famille, vous passerez comme nous un séjour incroyable dans une des plus belle île de Raja Ampat.
Nous sommes une famille de 7 personnes et avons passé 3 nuits au Lagoon Homestay. Malgré certains commentaires précédents, je tiens à dire que notre séjour a été parfait et nous aurions aimé prolonger notre séjour ici.
C’est vrai qu’au premier abord, la famille peut sembler un peu réservée et pas très proactive, et que peu d’explications sont données à l’arrivée. Mais en réalité, il suffit simplement de demander et tout se passe très bien.
Nous avons fait des activités tous les jours : ils sont très arrangeants, aussi bien sur les horaires que sur le choix des lieux à visiter. Les guides sont adorables et le divemaster est extrêmement professionnel.
La nourriture est excellente, parfois un peu limitée, mais si on en demande davantage, ils n’hésitent pas à en rajouter. Les lits font partie des meilleurs que nous ayons eus à Raja Ampat. Les toilettes ne sont pas toujours impeccables, mais restent correctes.
Le point de vue est magnifique, surtout au coucher du soleil. Je recommande d’aller à Piaynemo par beau temps : le panorama est superbe et le snorkeling sur place est génial.
Concernant le snorkelling, nager dans le lagon n’a pas vraiment l’intérêt, il vaut mieux sortir du lagon et aller sur la droite c’est vraiment beau. Vous pouvez faire le tour de l’île sans problème ou aller rentrer par l’arrière.
Pour la plongée tous les sites sont magnifiques, mais je ne la conseille pas aux débutant, il peut y avoir énormément du courant, cela peut vite être dangereux pour vous et les autres.
Conclusion : si (comme certains commentaires le laissent entendre) vous attendez qu’on vous serve sans rien demander, vous pourriez être déçus par cet endroit. Mais si vous êtes un minimum débrouillard et que vous n’hésitez pas à solliciter la famille, vous passerez comme nous un séjour incroyable dans une des plus belle île de Raja Ampat.
Despite the recent accident which to only have found out after leaving the homestay and very shocked to hear this as we had a very plesant stay. Room was lovely & spacious, lovely decking area and a fan in the room which was great in the heat.
We booked 2 trips with the staff at the homestay. The driver which sadly we can’t remember his name was very lovely, helpful and spoke good english. We went on a long day snorkle trip and they cooked us lunch to take which was really kind of them. Maris one of the workers was so kind & friendly during our time here. He came with us snorkelling also. He cooked us food after the chef was sick and went back to mainland which was the nicest food we had at the homestay.
Snorkelling around the outside of the island was amazing. I think 2 nights here is plenty. Ariens the owner was contactable via whatsapp if we had any questions such as transporation prices.
Thanks Ben, for your kind comments see you again
Thanks Ben, for your kind comments see you again
Despite the recent accident which to only have found out after leaving the homestay and very shocked to hear this as we had a very plesant stay. Room was lovely & spacious, lovely decking area and a fan in the room which was great in the heat.
We booked 2 trips with the staff at the homestay. The driver which sadly we can’t remember his name was very lovely, helpful and spoke good english. We went on a long day snorkle trip and they cooked us lunch to take which was really kind of them. Maris one of the workers was so kind & friendly during our time here. He came with us snorkelling also. He cooked us food after the chef was sick and went back to mainland which was the nicest food we had at the homestay.
Snorkelling around the outside of the island was amazing. I think 2 nights here is plenty. Ariens the owner was contactable via whatsapp if we had any questions such as transporation prices.
Big big deception about this homestay.
We did not feel well and regreat to have paid 3 nights. If not, we would have stayed maximum 1 night and I think its not necessary, you can come to snorkling around with a boat.
The coral inside lagoon are died, if its just to take a picture from the top of view, you can come with a boat.
We had 2 bungalows : both had water falling from the roof. When we discover it, a person camf to see, then 2 others people. 3 hours after : nobody repaired! I had to request again when I saw it was dark…and they decided to fix it.
The food was not what we expected. Eggs at lunch, eggs at dinner, then eggs at lunch…we requested fish (they fish!) and we got it. But we were tired to request all the times. No fruits either except bananas when we requested…
The prices they practice are much higher than the prices in the raja ampat homestay website. For ex, they request 3.5 millions to go to Waisai, 2.5 M to go to Kri when its written 1.8 in website.
We have pictures of prices they ask.
In website, iy’s written they speak english. It’s not true. Communication is really difficult as nobody speak english.
We can’t use translator as network is really bad, even with Telkomsell and no Starlink wifi as written in website.
At the attention of owner : it should be great to update website as nothing is true except coral around the island!
We do not recommand this homestay.
We are sorry to hear that your expectations were not met at Lagoon Homestay, Nathalie, but it’s not correct to say that there was “deception”: All the information provided above is correct.
As explained in the info we request you read before booking homestays, the sustainable roofing materials used by homestays are prone to wind damage. Although not attended to immediately as you expected, your roof was indeed repaired on request.
You certainly should not have agreed to pay any more for transfers or excursions than Lagoon advertises on their page. Your booking confirmation email contained contact details for support in the event of any problems during your stay. If you had contacted us, we could have made sure that Lagoon honoured their advertised prices.
Finally, the owner of Lagoon Homestay can indeed communicate in English, and his contact details were also provided to you.
Big big deception about this homestay.
We did not feel well and regreat to have paid 3 nights. If not, we would have stayed maximum 1 night and I think its not necessary, you can come to snorkling around with a boat.
The coral inside lagoon are died, if its just to take a picture from the top of view, you can come with a boat.
We had 2 bungalows : both had water falling from the roof. When we discover it, a person camf to see, then 2 others people. 3 hours after : nobody repaired! I had to request again when I saw it was dark…and they decided to fix it.
The food was not what we expected. Eggs at lunch, eggs at dinner, then eggs at lunch…we requested fish (they fish!) and we got it. But we were tired to request all the times. No fruits either except bananas when we requested…
The prices they practice are much higher than the prices in the raja ampat homestay website. For ex, they request 3.5 millions to go to Waisai, 2.5 M to go to Kri when its written 1.8 in website.
We have pictures of prices they ask.
In website, iy’s written they speak english. It’s not true. Communication is really difficult as nobody speak english.
We can’t use translator as network is really bad, even with Telkomsell and no Starlink wifi as written in website.
At the attention of owner : it should be great to update website as nothing is true except coral around the island!
We do not recommand this homestay.
We are sorry to hear that your expectations were not met at Lagoon Homestay, Nathalie, but it’s not correct to say that there was “deception”: All the information provided above is correct.
As explained in the info we request you read before booking homestays, the sustainable roofing materials used by homestays are prone to wind damage. Although not attended to immediately as you expected, your roof was indeed repaired on request.
You certainly should not have agreed to pay any more for transfers or excursions than Lagoon advertises on their page. Your booking confirmation email contained contact details for support in the event of any problems during your stay. If you had contacted us, we could have made sure that Lagoon honoured their advertised prices.
Finally, the owner of Lagoon Homestay can indeed communicate in English, and his contact details were also provided to you.
Very pleasant stay in this beautiful island.
Nice staff and good meals.
Amazing snorkeling experience around the island.
Thank you Claire, for your kind comments.
Very pleasant stay in this beautiful island.
Nice staff and good meals.
Amazing snorkeling experience around the island.
Thank you Claire, for your kind comments.
This homestay was recommended by a friend and I was really excited to get there. However, we found it to be very unwelcoming. I did not know about the incident that occurred a few weeks prior to our stay, until I had been there for a few days.
To be honest I don’t think they really understand the hospitality industry and how important it is to make people feel safe and like they are wanted…
On arrival after looking for someone to help us a guy showed us to our room, no introduction, no explanation about the island or area or mealtimes, nada. When we enquired about trips we were told crazy prices by the guys there, then Ariens who was not on the island (apparently, we were told that he had arrived by a staff member) said that I should check all trip prices with him first and should pay with Wise. We don’t have wise. Ariens was pretty responsive over WhatsApp until the end when I had paid and then he didn’t answer any questions….
We left early, my partner had an ear infection, and to be honest we were glad to get out of there.
We also had a very nice personal item go ‘missing’ from our balcony. Make of it what you will.
Thank you for your comment, I apologize in advance if you were not treated well by the staff, this way I ask you to make payments via wise to avoid the possibility of staff who are not responsible for the prices listed on the web, here is something missing from the balcony please note that our bungalow is on the water, if you are not careful in putting your things especially just hanging on the terrace then this can happen especially during this storm it can fall into the sea and be carried away by the current, we have also helped look for it until we had to dive around just to look for your socks but it might have been carried away by the current especially that night was the night of a big storm.
This homestay was recommended by a friend and I was really excited to get there. However, we found it to be very unwelcoming. I did not know about the incident that occurred a few weeks prior to our stay, until I had been there for a few days.
To be honest I don’t think they really understand the hospitality industry and how important it is to make people feel safe and like they are wanted…
On arrival after looking for someone to help us a guy showed us to our room, no introduction, no explanation about the island or area or mealtimes, nada. When we enquired about trips we were told crazy prices by the guys there, then Ariens who was not on the island (apparently, we were told that he had arrived by a staff member) said that I should check all trip prices with him first and should pay with Wise. We don’t have wise. Ariens was pretty responsive over WhatsApp until the end when I had paid and then he didn’t answer any questions….
We left early, my partner had an ear infection, and to be honest we were glad to get out of there.
We also had a very nice personal item go ‘missing’ from our balcony. Make of it what you will.
Thank you for your comment, I apologize in advance if you were not treated well by the staff, this way I ask you to make payments via wise to avoid the possibility of staff who are not responsible for the prices listed on the web, here is something missing from the balcony please note that our bungalow is on the water, if you are not careful in putting your things especially just hanging on the terrace then this can happen especially during this storm it can fall into the sea and be carried away by the current, we have also helped look for it until we had to dive around just to look for your socks but it might have been carried away by the current especially that night was the night of a big storm.
As a single female traveler, I was concerned about the violence before I arrived June 14, but I texted Ariens and he was reassuring. He also helped arrange a Bahasa Indonesia teacher to stay the 10 days I was there for a very reasonable price. I snorkeled the lagoon, but the real draw is around the exterior. BEAUTIFUL. I dove with them as well, easy sites, and loved it. I’d go again in a heartbeat. If you want something, ask! They’ll accommodate.
Thank you Leanne, for your kind comments hope to see you again.
As a single female traveler, I was concerned about the violence before I arrived June 14, but I texted Ariens and he was reassuring. He also helped arrange a Bahasa Indonesia teacher to stay the 10 days I was there for a very reasonable price. I snorkeled the lagoon, but the real draw is around the exterior. BEAUTIFUL. I dove with them as well, easy sites, and loved it. I’d go again in a heartbeat. If you want something, ask! They’ll accommodate.
Thank you Leanne, for your kind comments hope to see you again.
We stayed in this homestay and everything was perfect. We had read about the problem with a client a few days before, but this incident did not affect our stay, fortunately everything was well organized by our host Ariens. His team speaks good English and offers excellent activities adapted to the weather conditions (sea and sky). At dinner time, we were able to interact with them and discuss at length, which was particularly pleasant. The food is good, varied, and in sufficient quantity. The location is idyllic and the room is clean. The bathrooms are in their simplest version, but it is nice to have a shower head, which is not found everywhere. I can only recommend this homestay for its location, the quality of the service, and the welcoming nature of the hosts and their attentive team.
Thank you Wendy, thank you for your kind comments, we are glad you could visit our place, we hope you have a nice day and can meet again🙏🏽
We stayed in this homestay and everything was perfect. We had read about the problem with a client a few days before, but this incident did not affect our stay, fortunately everything was well organized by our host Ariens. His team speaks good English and offers excellent activities adapted to the weather conditions (sea and sky). At dinner time, we were able to interact with them and discuss at length, which was particularly pleasant. The food is good, varied, and in sufficient quantity. The location is idyllic and the room is clean. The bathrooms are in their simplest version, but it is nice to have a shower head, which is not found everywhere. I can only recommend this homestay for its location, the quality of the service, and the welcoming nature of the hosts and their attentive team.
Thank you Wendy, thank you for your kind comments, we are glad you could visit our place, we hope you have a nice day and can meet again🙏🏽
Nous avons passé 3 nuits à l’homestay durant notre séjour de 10 jours aux Raja. L’endroit est magnifique avec un très bon spot de snorkeling au bout du ponton donnant sur l’océan. Le logement était le mieux que nous ayons eu durant notre séjour. Toilettes et douches ok (2 pommeaux de douche quand certains Homestay n’ont qu’un seau d’eau pour se laver). La nourriture était très bonne et en quantité suffisante, il y avait même un snack à 4pm! La plupart du staff ne parle pas anglais mais William se charge de traduire et est très sympathique et arrangeant ! De bonnes excursions à faire mais un prix un peu élevé.
Thank you Theo, for your comment, hope to see you again🙏🏽
Nous avons passé 3 nuits à l’homestay durant notre séjour de 10 jours aux Raja. L’endroit est magnifique avec un très bon spot de snorkeling au bout du ponton donnant sur l’océan. Le logement était le mieux que nous ayons eu durant notre séjour. Toilettes et douches ok (2 pommeaux de douche quand certains Homestay n’ont qu’un seau d’eau pour se laver). La nourriture était très bonne et en quantité suffisante, il y avait même un snack à 4pm! La plupart du staff ne parle pas anglais mais William se charge de traduire et est très sympathique et arrangeant ! De bonnes excursions à faire mais un prix un peu élevé.
Thank you Theo, for your comment, hope to see you again🙏🏽
Nous avons été très bien accueillies à notre logement, les hôtes sont très sympathiques la majorité ne parle pas anglais, mais avec William, l’un des hôtes, les échanges en anglais sont faciles. Ils proposent un large choix d’excursions.
La nourriture est excellente et en quantité raisonnable. Les douches et toilettes sont corrects. Nous reviendrons avec plaisir !
Thank you Elia, for your comment, I hope you are well.
Nous avons été très bien accueillies à notre logement, les hôtes sont très sympathiques la majorité ne parle pas anglais, mais avec William, l’un des hôtes, les échanges en anglais sont faciles. Ils proposent un large choix d’excursions.
La nourriture est excellente et en quantité raisonnable. Les douches et toilettes sont corrects. Nous reviendrons avec plaisir !
Thank you Elia, for your comment, I hope you are well.
The violent incident that Triada and Seán witnessed and report below is shocking and completely unacceptable.
Ariens, the owner of Lagoon Homestay (who was not present when the attack took place) has dismissed all the staff members involved, and has given undertakings that they will not be permitted to return to the island.
Our local support team is always available to help in the event of any concerns at homestays. Please do not hesitate to call them for assistance.
If you have an existing booking at Lagoon Homestay and want to cancel because of this incident, please just hit the cancellation link provided in your booking confirmation email, and we will refund you in full.
September 15 2025 update: As months have passed without further incident or claim, all Lagoon booking cancellations are now subject to the standard Cancellation Policy.
September 15 2025 update: As months have passed without further incident or claim, all Lagoon booking cancellations are now subject to the standard Cancellation Policy.
The violent incident that Triada and Seán witnessed and report below is shocking and completely unacceptable.
Ariens, the owner of Lagoon Homestay (who was not present when the attack took place) has dismissed all the staff members involved, and has given undertakings that they will not be permitted to return to the island.
Our local support team is always available to help in the event of any concerns at homestays. Please do not hesitate to call them for assistance.
If you have an existing booking at Lagoon Homestay and want to cancel because of this incident, please just hit the cancellation link provided in your booking confirmation email, and we will refund you in full.
WARNING: VIOLENT ATTACK
My husband and I had a traumatic experience involving the family members of Rufas island. We had booked 3 days on Lagoon homestay. We met there a French family who asked us to give them the contact of a local guide cause they didn’t want to use the Lagoon staff for their transport to Wasai. They had a trip with them and felt really uncomfortable. They also told us that the Lagoon staff were changing the price they had initially agreed. I experienced that when the Lagoon staff tried to force us to use two boats ( paying them seperately )for a day trip when we were only 5 people. Our last day we met an Irish couple and we agreed one of the following days to take a trip together in another part of Raja ampat, using an independent local guide of a nearby village. After we finished this trip and we arrived to Lagoon homestay to leave our new friends, the nightmare started..The brother of Lagoon homestay kicked our guide on the face and split open his lips. Our friends had came off the boat but my husband and I were still on the boat. Family members of Lagoon and Rufas homestay started yelling at us and throwing things at us. Fearing for our lives I screamed to the driver to start the boat and leave fast. After we left ,3 family members of Rufas island started chasing us with their boat. It was night and we panicked in the thought what would happened if they catch us while in the sea.. Fortunately we arrived at the next homestay and we came fast off the boat. When the Rufas members arrived they crashed our guide’s boat with their boat and they tried to destroy our guide’s engine with a metal pole. Meanwhile the brother of Lagoon owner came down and tried to assault our guides. Then he came running towards my husband and I and threw a wooden table on us. He tried to attack us again physically but the family of the homestay we were,indefiered and took him away. The people there told us that the Rufas members who attacked us had consumed alcohol. Their excuse for such violent behaviour was that we used a local guide and steal their clients. There is no excuse for violence, nothing can justify violent actions. We foreigners come on this remote part of the world and it is our right to use local guides if we feel uncomfortable or not trust the people of the homestay we are currently staying. I had great time with other homestays and I am sad that this incident affect negatively my Raja ampat experience. This kind of violent behaviour is unacceptable..
Dear Triada
All of here at Stay Raja Ampat are shocked to hear of this completely unacceptable, and indeed criminal, offence. We hope that you and your husband (and all the other witnesses!) are OK.
It’s no consolation, we know, but we have refunded your Lagoon Homestay booking payment in full.
The Homestay Association will be reconsidering the Rufas homestays’ representation on the website in light of the first-hand information you have provided.
We’re so sorry that, for you and all the guests concerned, this will be the biggest memory of your time in Raja Ampat. 🙁
Just for your information and for other guests, I, as the owner of Lagoon Homestay, have fired all employees involved in this problem so they will no longer be at the homestay.
WARNING: VIOLENT ATTACK
My husband and I had a traumatic experience involving the family members of Rufas island. We had booked 3 days on Lagoon homestay. We met there a French family who asked us to give them the contact of a local guide cause they didn’t want to use the Lagoon staff for their transport to Wasai. They had a trip with them and felt really uncomfortable. They also told us that the Lagoon staff were changing the price they had initially agreed. I experienced that when the Lagoon staff tried to force us to use two boats ( paying them seperately )for a day trip when we were only 5 people. Our last day we met an Irish couple and we agreed one of the following days to take a trip together in another part of Raja ampat, using an independent local guide of a nearby village. After we finished this trip and we arrived to Lagoon homestay to leave our new friends, the nightmare started..The brother of Lagoon homestay kicked our guide on the face and split open his lips. Our friends had came off the boat but my husband and I were still on the boat. Family members of Lagoon and Rufas homestay started yelling at us and throwing things at us. Fearing for our lives I screamed to the driver to start the boat and leave fast. After we left ,3 family members of Rufas island started chasing us with their boat. It was night and we panicked in the thought what would happened if they catch us while in the sea.. Fortunately we arrived at the next homestay and we came fast off the boat. When the Rufas members arrived they crashed our guide’s boat with their boat and they tried to destroy our guide’s engine with a metal pole. Meanwhile the brother of Lagoon owner came down and tried to assault our guides. Then he came running towards my husband and I and threw a wooden table on us. He tried to attack us again physically but the family of the homestay we were,indefiered and took him away. The people there told us that the Rufas members who attacked us had consumed alcohol. Their excuse for such violent behaviour was that we used a local guide and steal their clients. There is no excuse for violence, nothing can justify violent actions. We foreigners come on this remote part of the world and it is our right to use local guides if we feel uncomfortable or not trust the people of the homestay we are currently staying. I had great time with other homestays and I am sad that this incident affect negatively my Raja ampat experience. This kind of violent behaviour is unacceptable..
Dear Triada
All of here at Stay Raja Ampat are shocked to hear of this completely unacceptable, and indeed criminal, offence. We hope that you and your husband (and all the other witnesses!) are OK.
It’s no consolation, we know, but we have refunded your Lagoon Homestay booking payment in full.
The Homestay Association will be reconsidering the Rufas homestays’ representation on the website in light of the first-hand information you have provided.
We’re so sorry that, for you and all the guests concerned, this will be the biggest memory of your time in Raja Ampat. 🙁
Just for your information and for other guests, I, as the owner of Lagoon Homestay, have fired all employees involved in this problem so they will no longer be at the homestay.
PLEASE DO NOT BOOK A STAY AT LAGOON OR RUFAS HOMESTAY
My partner and I endured a horrific experience on this Lagoon/Rufas Homestay. After we and another guest were taken out for a day of snorkelling by a guide from a neighbouring island, one of this homestay’s staff barged through our cabin to violently kick the guide in the face, angered that the guide was stealing his business. The man then threw one of our porch chairs at the guide, and then chased him, with our friends still on board, out of the lagoon on his own boat with two other Lagoon/Rufas men. Based on how aggressive he was, we feared that they were going to kill them.
When our friends arrived to the neighbouring island, the man tried to attack them, while later he and his two colleagues destroyed the guide’s boat.
I contacted Stay Raja Ampat and was put in touch with the homestay’s manager Ariens who “personally guaranteed” that the main aggressor would not be back on the island for the remainder of our stay, as we were concerned that he may harm us. This was an empty promise as, on the day we were leaving, we were horrified to see that the violent man was not only back, but he was assigned as our boat driver to our next destination. Knowing he had attacked our friends on Gloria, this was quite a traumatic experience for us.
In addition to this, we learned that other homestay staff lied to another guest about what was going on during the night of the incident, saying that we had been “partying too loudly” and that he and the other men were “teaching us a lesson.” Rufas island was also filthy with rubbish, the entire staff unfriendly and rude from the beginning – never greeting us, introducing themselves or even telling us when the meal times were – the toilets were disgusting, the showers broken, the hygiene standards appalling, the electricity unreliable and we heard from a dive master guest that their tanked air was unsafe and they did not follow basic diving safety rules.
For your own safety, please do not book onto Rufas or Lagoon Homestay. The lagoon and surrounding reef are beautiful but the people are horrendous. They unfriendly, rude, destructive and violent. We do not believe they safe to deal with tourists. There are plenty of other gorgeous homestays in Raja Ampat which we later experienced. This is not one of them.
I must note that Stay Raja Ampat were good with us during this ordeal and did their best to ensure our safety. They issued us a full refund and apologised for what we had to go through. Our grievance is with the staff and manager only.
Saya selaku pemilik homestay Lagoon mohon maaf atas kejadian yang menimpa anda, saya sudah berusaha untuk mengatur staff melalui telepon tapi sayangnya saya tidak ada di homestay saat kejadian sehingga tidak bisa mengambil keputusan tanpa melibatkan mereka tapi sekedar informasi kepada anda bahwa orang yang melakukan pemukulan terhadap pemandu itu adalah orang yang paling saya percayakan untuk bertanggung jawab atas usaha saya tapi pemandu lain itu datang tanpa ijin seperti tidak menghargai kami sebagai pemilik homestay persisnya dia seperti orang pencuri sehingga staff marah dan memukulnya karena ini bukan satu kali tapi sudah berulang kali sebagai pemilik homestay saya tidak membenarkan perlakuan staff saya kepada pemandu itu tapi saya juga tidak benarkan perlakuan pemandu itu terhadap kami, saya baru mendapat kejadian seperti selama usaha saya jalan. Sekali lagi saya mohon maaf atas ketidak nyamanan anda🙏🏽
Ariens, nothing justifies the level of violence, destruction and intimidation that we, our friends and our guide had to endure at your homestay. You also failed in your “personal guarantee” to Stay Raja Ampat, and me, to keep the violent man off the island while we were still there. Disgraceful.
PLEASE DO NOT BOOK A STAY AT LAGOON OR RUFAS HOMESTAY
My partner and I endured a horrific experience on this Lagoon/Rufas Homestay. After we and another guest were taken out for a day of snorkelling by a guide from a neighbouring island, one of this homestay’s staff barged through our cabin to violently kick the guide in the face, angered that the guide was stealing his business. The man then threw one of our porch chairs at the guide, and then chased him, with our friends still on board, out of the lagoon on his own boat with two other Lagoon/Rufas men. Based on how aggressive he was, we feared that they were going to kill them.
When our friends arrived to the neighbouring island, the man tried to attack them, while later he and his two colleagues destroyed the guide’s boat.
I contacted Stay Raja Ampat and was put in touch with the homestay’s manager Ariens who “personally guaranteed” that the main aggressor would not be back on the island for the remainder of our stay, as we were concerned that he may harm us. This was an empty promise as, on the day we were leaving, we were horrified to see that the violent man was not only back, but he was assigned as our boat driver to our next destination. Knowing he had attacked our friends on Gloria, this was quite a traumatic experience for us.
In addition to this, we learned that other homestay staff lied to another guest about what was going on during the night of the incident, saying that we had been “partying too loudly” and that he and the other men were “teaching us a lesson.” Rufas island was also filthy with rubbish, the entire staff unfriendly and rude from the beginning – never greeting us, introducing themselves or even telling us when the meal times were – the toilets were disgusting, the showers broken, the hygiene standards appalling, the electricity unreliable and we heard from a dive master guest that their tanked air was unsafe and they did not follow basic diving safety rules.
For your own safety, please do not book onto Rufas or Lagoon Homestay. The lagoon and surrounding reef are beautiful but the people are horrendous. They unfriendly, rude, destructive and violent. We do not believe they safe to deal with tourists. There are plenty of other gorgeous homestays in Raja Ampat which we later experienced. This is not one of them.
I must note that Stay Raja Ampat were good with us during this ordeal and did their best to ensure our safety. They issued us a full refund and apologised for what we had to go through. Our grievance is with the staff and manager only.
Saya selaku pemilik homestay Lagoon mohon maaf atas kejadian yang menimpa anda, saya sudah berusaha untuk mengatur staff melalui telepon tapi sayangnya saya tidak ada di homestay saat kejadian sehingga tidak bisa mengambil keputusan tanpa melibatkan mereka tapi sekedar informasi kepada anda bahwa orang yang melakukan pemukulan terhadap pemandu itu adalah orang yang paling saya percayakan untuk bertanggung jawab atas usaha saya tapi pemandu lain itu datang tanpa ijin seperti tidak menghargai kami sebagai pemilik homestay persisnya dia seperti orang pencuri sehingga staff marah dan memukulnya karena ini bukan satu kali tapi sudah berulang kali sebagai pemilik homestay saya tidak membenarkan perlakuan staff saya kepada pemandu itu tapi saya juga tidak benarkan perlakuan pemandu itu terhadap kami, saya baru mendapat kejadian seperti selama usaha saya jalan. Sekali lagi saya mohon maaf atas ketidak nyamanan anda🙏🏽
Ariens, nothing justifies the level of violence, destruction and intimidation that we, our friends and our guide had to endure at your homestay. You also failed in your “personal guarantee” to Stay Raja Ampat, and me, to keep the violent man off the island while we were still there. Disgraceful.
I don’t recommand this place more than one night.
The island is beautiful with a nice point of view but the mood is very strange. We feel like not welcomed, the communication with the owner was more than complexe (just read message and never answer).
Clearly there is much better in Raja Ampat.
I don’t recommand this place more than one night.
The island is beautiful with a nice point of view but the mood is very strange. We feel like not welcomed, the communication with the owner was more than complexe (just read message and never answer).
Clearly there is much better in Raja Ampat.
We stayed for 3 night sur at Lagoon Homestay. The bungalows are quite good but the food is not sufficent enough and the shower/toilets are very bad compares to the other homestays in rufas. The staff is not welcoming at all and do not solve the problems until you ask for it. We had an issue and had to go to Waisai in urgence but once we come back they force us to pay twice the price ( 5 000 000 IDR which is a LOT). The mood is a bit strange and we will not recommand to stay more than 1 night there.
We stayed for 3 night sur at Lagoon Homestay. The bungalows are quite good but the food is not sufficent enough and the shower/toilets are very bad compares to the other homestays in rufas. The staff is not welcoming at all and do not solve the problems until you ask for it. We had an issue and had to go to Waisai in urgence but once we come back they force us to pay twice the price ( 5 000 000 IDR which is a LOT). The mood is a bit strange and we will not recommand to stay more than 1 night there.
We stayed at Lagoon for three nights in April 2025 and I wanted to leave an updated review as we had heard some negatives about the diving from various people in the area before we arrived.
Lagoon now have their own compressor located on an island nearby. We did two days of diving, including Galaxy and Melissa’s Garden. The equipment was all in good condition (we had heard several things about bad air, but this was not an issue at all). Anderson, the dive guide, was helpful. As with all of the locally run dive outfits, though, there was not really a safety briefing and it is best suited for experienced divers. This is especially true for Galaxy, which is a deeper site with potential for strong currents. The lack of communication can be a bit of an issue but is more of an annoyance than anything — for example, one morning the weather wasn’t great so we were delayed diving for around 3 hours, but no one told us what was going on. All in all, if you are an experienced diver, there are no problems diving with Lagoon.
Our stay at Lagoon was pleasant with good food and nice bungalows with fans. The Starlink did not actually work, but there’s a bit of a 4G signal you can pick up off and on. Enough for us to book our next place online and transfer payment with Wise, not enough to stream videos.
Very pleased we went to Rufas as it offered good access to incredible sites. All the best to Anderson and team!
We stayed at Lagoon for three nights in April 2025 and I wanted to leave an updated review as we had heard some negatives about the diving from various people in the area before we arrived.
Lagoon now have their own compressor located on an island nearby. We did two days of diving, including Galaxy and Melissa’s Garden. The equipment was all in good condition (we had heard several things about bad air, but this was not an issue at all). Anderson, the dive guide, was helpful. As with all of the locally run dive outfits, though, there was not really a safety briefing and it is best suited for experienced divers. This is especially true for Galaxy, which is a deeper site with potential for strong currents. The lack of communication can be a bit of an issue but is more of an annoyance than anything — for example, one morning the weather wasn’t great so we were delayed diving for around 3 hours, but no one told us what was going on. All in all, if you are an experienced diver, there are no problems diving with Lagoon.
Our stay at Lagoon was pleasant with good food and nice bungalows with fans. The Starlink did not actually work, but there’s a bit of a 4G signal you can pick up off and on. Enough for us to book our next place online and transfer payment with Wise, not enough to stream videos.
Very pleased we went to Rufas as it offered good access to incredible sites. All the best to Anderson and team!
This was my favourite homestay in the Dampier Strait / Pam Islands area. Ariens and his staff like Anderson are well organized and welcoming. They absolutely deliver when it comes to diving, food, and facilities. I loved it here and would have stayed longer if we didn’t have plans for Misool.
The location in a lagoon at first I thought would be stifling with no immediate reef but it’s great for several reasons:
-it’s calm (as much as I love the sea, incoming tide can wake one up with overwater sea huts)
– despite being a lagoon, the beach is also right there
– very few mosquitos perhaps due to being a tiny oceanic island
-Great view from the observation point!
– Can do swimming laps for exercise round the calm lagoon
– Great snorkeling right off the pier
– Very close to amazing scuba dive locations like Melissa’s Garden and Galaxy.
I highly recommend this homestay. I appreciate how challenging it is in these remote areas to do things like ensure enough fresh water and keep engines, compressors, etc going, but this homestay does it!
This was my favourite homestay in the Dampier Strait / Pam Islands area. Ariens and his staff like Anderson are well organized and welcoming. They absolutely deliver when it comes to diving, food, and facilities. I loved it here and would have stayed longer if we didn’t have plans for Misool.
The location in a lagoon at first I thought would be stifling with no immediate reef but it’s great for several reasons:
-it’s calm (as much as I love the sea, incoming tide can wake one up with overwater sea huts)
– despite being a lagoon, the beach is also right there
– very few mosquitos perhaps due to being a tiny oceanic island
-Great view from the observation point!
– Can do swimming laps for exercise round the calm lagoon
– Great snorkeling right off the pier
– Very close to amazing scuba dive locations like Melissa’s Garden and Galaxy.
I highly recommend this homestay. I appreciate how challenging it is in these remote areas to do things like ensure enough fresh water and keep engines, compressors, etc going, but this homestay does it!
It was very nice staying at Lagoon Homestay !
– location is amazing, perfect to dive in Melissa’s garden and Galaxy, closed to Pyanemo
– very good dive gear
– very good food
– very clean
– nice staff
Ps : just make sure to communicate clearly about how to get there, specially if you cant to share the boat with other travelers to reduce costs.
It was very nice staying at Lagoon Homestay !
– location is amazing, perfect to dive in Melissa’s garden and Galaxy, closed to Pyanemo
– very good dive gear
– very good food
– very clean
– nice staff
Ps : just make sure to communicate clearly about how to get there, specially if you cant to share the boat with other travelers to reduce costs.
A quiet island with nature. The perfect best snorkeling experience. Slightly monotonous sweet breakfasts.
A quiet island with nature. The perfect best snorkeling experience. Slightly monotonous sweet breakfasts.
From experience, it looks more premium, newer and more intimate than the other Rufas Homestay.
Decent bungalow size, with hammock, chair, elevated mattress, and space between each bungalow. Could slightly improve on bathroom and shower cleanliness 🙂 but still ok.
Good and abundant food usually coming with desert (and even Nutella ahaha)
It’s worth sleeping in the lagoon for the experience and you will be able to snorkel (Anita Garden) or dive (Melissa Garden, Rufas Reef) on great spots
From experience, it looks more premium, newer and more intimate than the other Rufas Homestay.
Decent bungalow size, with hammock, chair, elevated mattress, and space between each bungalow. Could slightly improve on bathroom and shower cleanliness 🙂 but still ok.
Good and abundant food usually coming with desert (and even Nutella ahaha)
It’s worth sleeping in the lagoon for the experience and you will be able to snorkel (Anita Garden) or dive (Melissa Garden, Rufas Reef) on great spots
We stayed several days in this wonderful tiny island and almost everything was great ! Delicious and various food, very confortable bungalow, nothing to complain about.
However we found that the staff was not very welcoming and talkable, specially when we arrived. They were more friendly with the divers than the non divers (us) and we needed to ask a lot of times if they were able to bring us to differents excursions… we felt that we were bothering them very easily when it was about excursions.
However with the divers they were very reactive, so it is really not fair to us.
That’s pity because the rest is perfect.
We still recommand this place for sure.
We stayed several days in this wonderful tiny island and almost everything was great ! Delicious and various food, very confortable bungalow, nothing to complain about.
However we found that the staff was not very welcoming and talkable, specially when we arrived. They were more friendly with the divers than the non divers (us) and we needed to ask a lot of times if they were able to bring us to differents excursions… we felt that we were bothering them very easily when it was about excursions.
However with the divers they were very reactive, so it is really not fair to us.
That’s pity because the rest is perfect.
We still recommand this place for sure.
I really enjoyed that homestay and the island, the bed ist super comfortable (best in Raja ampat!), the huts are charming and have a direct access to lagoon! The food was good, diving well organised (gear seems to be new, my wetsuits was very good). I highly recommend to spend a couple of nights there.
I really enjoyed that homestay and the island, the bed ist super comfortable (best in Raja ampat!), the huts are charming and have a direct access to lagoon! The food was good, diving well organised (gear seems to be new, my wetsuits was very good). I highly recommend to spend a couple of nights there.
We spent 2 nights in lagoon homestay. The food is good, the location is very nice and the people in charge of the homestay are really nice and we can speak in english!
We did 4 dives with the diving center and everything was perfect, it was our favorite dives in Raja Ampat!
Thanks again!!
Terima kasih Elisa sudah memilih Lagoon homestay dalam kunjungan anda ke Raja Ampat 🙏
We spent 2 nights in lagoon homestay. The food is good, the location is very nice and the people in charge of the homestay are really nice and we can speak in english!
We did 4 dives with the diving center and everything was perfect, it was our favorite dives in Raja Ampat!
Thanks again!!
Terima kasih Elisa sudah memilih Lagoon homestay dalam kunjungan anda ke Raja Ampat 🙏
Lagoon Homestay on Rufas Island is a stunning and peaceful getaway in Raja Ampat, perfectly positioned for day trips to Piaynemo and famous dive sites like Melissa’s Garden and Fam Wall.
The bungalows are comfortable, with the best beds and mosquito nets we had during our time in Raja Ampat. Shared bathrooms are basic but functional. Meals were delicious and always plentiful, with an extra afternoon snack served daily.
The location is unbeatable for exploring nearby highlights. The healthy house reef offers incredible snorkeling, including Rufas dive site and the swim-through. The viewpoint on the island is another highlight, providing stunning panoramic views of the vibrant lagoon and beyond. The island is remote, with no shops or other facilities, so come prepared with any extra snacks or essentials you may need.
While the divemaster is great and the equipment is in good condition, Lagoon Homestay does not have its own compressor, which led to interruptions in diving during our stay. They also lack a formal booking system for diving, so planning ahead can be tricky.
Lagoon Homestay is a fantastic choice for those seeking stunning scenery, easy access to iconic spots like Piaynemo, and warm hospitality. With great food, a spectacular house reef, and modern conveniences like Wise payments and internet, it’s an ideal place to relax and explore Raja Ampat.
Lagoon Homestay on Rufas Island is a stunning and peaceful getaway in Raja Ampat, perfectly positioned for day trips to Piaynemo and famous dive sites like Melissa’s Garden and Fam Wall.
The bungalows are comfortable, with the best beds and mosquito nets we had during our time in Raja Ampat. Shared bathrooms are basic but functional. Meals were delicious and always plentiful, with an extra afternoon snack served daily.
The location is unbeatable for exploring nearby highlights. The healthy house reef offers incredible snorkeling, including Rufas dive site and the swim-through. The viewpoint on the island is another highlight, providing stunning panoramic views of the vibrant lagoon and beyond. The island is remote, with no shops or other facilities, so come prepared with any extra snacks or essentials you may need.
While the divemaster is great and the equipment is in good condition, Lagoon Homestay does not have its own compressor, which led to interruptions in diving during our stay. They also lack a formal booking system for diving, so planning ahead can be tricky.
Lagoon Homestay is a fantastic choice for those seeking stunning scenery, easy access to iconic spots like Piaynemo, and warm hospitality. With great food, a spectacular house reef, and modern conveniences like Wise payments and internet, it’s an ideal place to relax and explore Raja Ampat.
The location is unparalleled. The food was very tasty and they usually provided an afternoon snack as well. Cell service was non-existent (telkomsel), but they had a starlink wifi they would run for a few hours each evening. Boat transfer and tours were reasonable.
Bathroom is functional, but basic, and only a short walk from any of the bungalows.
Juvenile fish in the lagoon (though no real coral in the lagoon). If you are conscious of tides/currents you can snorkel the whole outside of the island, including Rufas dive site and swim through. This was a very healthy house reef and some sections were arguably better than Melissa’s Garden.
The only negative was the communication on Diving. They have a dive guide and gear on-site, but do not have their own compressor. We had planned 5 days of diving with them, but after a day and a half we found some bad air and a need for them to change the filters on the compressor. Since it is not onsite this ended the diving for the week and they were not really able to give us updates about gettting it fixed from day to day, also preventing us from planning any other longer adventures because each night “it might be good tomorrow”.
However they did take the problem seriously and take steps to correct it, so we would happily come and stay and dive with them again.
Probably the best all-around 5 night experience in Raja over 5 homestays and 4 weeks.
The location is unparalleled. The food was very tasty and they usually provided an afternoon snack as well. Cell service was non-existent (telkomsel), but they had a starlink wifi they would run for a few hours each evening. Boat transfer and tours were reasonable.
Bathroom is functional, but basic, and only a short walk from any of the bungalows.
Juvenile fish in the lagoon (though no real coral in the lagoon). If you are conscious of tides/currents you can snorkel the whole outside of the island, including Rufas dive site and swim through. This was a very healthy house reef and some sections were arguably better than Melissa’s Garden.
The only negative was the communication on Diving. They have a dive guide and gear on-site, but do not have their own compressor. We had planned 5 days of diving with them, but after a day and a half we found some bad air and a need for them to change the filters on the compressor. Since it is not onsite this ended the diving for the week and they were not really able to give us updates about gettting it fixed from day to day, also preventing us from planning any other longer adventures because each night “it might be good tomorrow”.
However they did take the problem seriously and take steps to correct it, so we would happily come and stay and dive with them again.
Probably the best all-around 5 night experience in Raja over 5 homestays and 4 weeks.
Cadre idyllique, complètement isolé pour notre plus grand bonheur. Pas de réseau lors de notre séjour à part en montant en haut de l’île (5-10mn de marche). Notre hôte venait partager ses connaissances sur la culture locale après chaque repas, avec une excellente maîtrise de l’anglais très appréciable.
La nourriture était très bonne et nous avions un snack au milieu de l’après midi.
Nous avons pu faire une sortie à Piaynemo juste à côté ainsi qu’à Mélissa garden pour du snorkelling.
Mais le plus beau reste le snorkelling à l’extérieur de l’île, avec de magnifique coraux qui abritent de beaux poissons, tortues et requins.
Gros point positif également, les bungalows avec de supers sommiers et matelas et aussi l’électricité qui tournait jusqu’au matin pour nous permettre d’avoir le ventilateur.
Cadre idyllique, complètement isolé pour notre plus grand bonheur. Pas de réseau lors de notre séjour à part en montant en haut de l’île (5-10mn de marche). Notre hôte venait partager ses connaissances sur la culture locale après chaque repas, avec une excellente maîtrise de l’anglais très appréciable.
La nourriture était très bonne et nous avions un snack au milieu de l’après midi.
Nous avons pu faire une sortie à Piaynemo juste à côté ainsi qu’à Mélissa garden pour du snorkelling.
Mais le plus beau reste le snorkelling à l’extérieur de l’île, avec de magnifique coraux qui abritent de beaux poissons, tortues et requins.
Gros point positif également, les bungalows avec de supers sommiers et matelas et aussi l’électricité qui tournait jusqu’au matin pour nous permettre d’avoir le ventilateur.
I had a great stay on this incredible island. The cabin is above the lagoon with a beautiful color, it is even more beautiful seen from the viewpoint. The reefs around the island are amazing for snorkeling and the excursions are great with the famous Pianemo a few minutes away. I was able to dive with the club on the island and I loved it, the sites around are really beautiful
I had a great stay on this incredible island. The cabin is above the lagoon with a beautiful color, it is even more beautiful seen from the viewpoint. The reefs around the island are amazing for snorkeling and the excursions are great with the famous Pianemo a few minutes away. I was able to dive with the club on the island and I loved it, the sites around are really beautiful
Lagoon is a nice and basic homestay. The other travelers were very social and kind, so it was a great atmosphere and was nice to share boattrips together.
Hammock, ven which was nice, higher bed and you can see the fishes from your porch.
The location is great, super close to Piaynemo and snorkelspots. However we didn’t see much of the famous coral reefs, also due to the weather probably. But maybe the boatdriver could have pointed out where the good spots were?
I was glad that we bought raincoats for the boattrip from Waisai to the homestay, since it’s an open boat and was raining a lot.
Food is nice and varieted, always had several options as a vegetarian.
In the end of our stay there were more people staying than what they have been taken in account to. 1 bathroom shared with 10 people is not much.
We didn’t have internet/phone connection because something is broken, but if you climed up to the view point you have a great scenery and a bit of connection.
Joshua is very kind and helpfull.
Lagoon is a nice and basic homestay. The other travelers were very social and kind, so it was a great atmosphere and was nice to share boattrips together.
Hammock, ven which was nice, higher bed and you can see the fishes from your porch.
The location is great, super close to Piaynemo and snorkelspots. However we didn’t see much of the famous coral reefs, also due to the weather probably. But maybe the boatdriver could have pointed out where the good spots were?
I was glad that we bought raincoats for the boattrip from Waisai to the homestay, since it’s an open boat and was raining a lot.
Food is nice and varieted, always had several options as a vegetarian.
In the end of our stay there were more people staying than what they have been taken in account to. 1 bathroom shared with 10 people is not much.
We didn’t have internet/phone connection because something is broken, but if you climed up to the view point you have a great scenery and a bit of connection.
Joshua is very kind and helpfull.
We booked two nights at lagoon, but it was overbooked, so we stayed in Rufas Homestay which isn’t the same quality at all. Our room wasn’t properly built, and it was raining inside and on our mattress – They came to put a plastic on top of the room, but the humidity was already on the mattress unfortunately.
They gave us the money back for mostly the full amount paid.
We also did two dives, and our diving instructor didn’t took care of us even tho we told him that we have not done many dives before. Glad other people from the group helped us, because it could have been dangerous (went 28m down).
We booked two nights at lagoon, but it was overbooked, so we stayed in Rufas Homestay which isn’t the same quality at all. Our room wasn’t properly built, and it was raining inside and on our mattress – They came to put a plastic on top of the room, but the humidity was already on the mattress unfortunately.
They gave us the money back for mostly the full amount paid.
We also did two dives, and our diving instructor didn’t took care of us even tho we told him that we have not done many dives before. Glad other people from the group helped us, because it could have been dangerous (went 28m down).
I enjoyed my stay at Lagoon Homestay. It is quiet, peaceful, and in a beautiful location. The food was good and they tried very hard to accommodate everyone’s culinary needs.
The con is that the owner is not on site and seems to accept every booking request. When I arrived I was nervously asked if I had a reservation. I was given a bungalow, but three other guests were put into the neighboring homestay due to Lagoon being overbooked even though they had confirmed reservations.
The rope on my hammock was frayed and snapped when I was in the hammock. I fell a meter to the ground and hit my tailbone and head very hard.
The dive operation is basic but adequate. Ono is a decent guide, but needs to point out things he sees more and, especially when there are other boats around, he should be inflating an SMB to protect himself and his divers from harm.
The dive is boat is painfully slow, but gets you to the sites.
The staff is extremely nice.
I enjoyed my stay at Lagoon Homestay. It is quiet, peaceful, and in a beautiful location. The food was good and they tried very hard to accommodate everyone’s culinary needs.
The con is that the owner is not on site and seems to accept every booking request. When I arrived I was nervously asked if I had a reservation. I was given a bungalow, but three other guests were put into the neighboring homestay due to Lagoon being overbooked even though they had confirmed reservations.
The rope on my hammock was frayed and snapped when I was in the hammock. I fell a meter to the ground and hit my tailbone and head very hard.
The dive operation is basic but adequate. Ono is a decent guide, but needs to point out things he sees more and, especially when there are other boats around, he should be inflating an SMB to protect himself and his divers from harm.
The dive is boat is painfully slow, but gets you to the sites.
The staff is extremely nice.
We stayed at Lagoon Homestay for 3 nights and we absolutely loved it!
The bungalow was nice and confortable (best bed and mosquito net we had during our 2 weeks in Raja Ampat), the food was great and always in satisfying quantities for everybody, we even had afternoon snacks.
All the staff were nice, welcoming and friendly, and did their best to help us in any way. Transfers were organized, always right on time. And for the diving part, the gear is in good condition and the divemaster is great.
And above all, the place is just amazing!
We stayed at Lagoon Homestay for 3 nights and we absolutely loved it!
The bungalow was nice and confortable (best bed and mosquito net we had during our 2 weeks in Raja Ampat), the food was great and always in satisfying quantities for everybody, we even had afternoon snacks.
All the staff were nice, welcoming and friendly, and did their best to help us in any way. Transfers were organized, always right on time. And for the diving part, the gear is in good condition and the divemaster is great.
And above all, the place is just amazing!
Nous avons sejourné 4 nuits à Lagoon Homestay.
Notre transfert de Waisaï à Rufas s’est très bien déroulée, notre driver était à l’heure.
Nous avons été accueilli par Joshua qui nous a présenter notre bungalows et le Homestay. Accueil très convivial et chaleureux, William et sa famille sont au petit soin pour vous garantir un séjour inoubliable !
Ono, le dive master est très gentil, il fait son maximum pour vous montrer les merveilles des fonds marins ! Le matériel de plongée est de bonne qualité, l’air aussi.
Les repas sont bon, mention spécial pour le goûter proposé dans l’après midi !
Nous avons sejourné 4 nuits à Lagoon Homestay.
Notre transfert de Waisaï à Rufas s’est très bien déroulée, notre driver était à l’heure.
Nous avons été accueilli par Joshua qui nous a présenter notre bungalows et le Homestay. Accueil très convivial et chaleureux, William et sa famille sont au petit soin pour vous garantir un séjour inoubliable !
Ono, le dive master est très gentil, il fait son maximum pour vous montrer les merveilles des fonds marins ! Le matériel de plongée est de bonne qualité, l’air aussi.
Les repas sont bon, mention spécial pour le goûter proposé dans l’après midi !
Una delle più belle location di Raja Ampat! Vicinissima a Piaynemo. Staff super disponibile e gentile. Da tenere conto che l’elettricità è presente solo per poche ore dal tardo pomeriggio, come quasi tutte le strutture di raja ampat. Bagni in comune ma perfettamente funzionanti.
Una delle più belle location di Raja Ampat! Vicinissima a Piaynemo. Staff super disponibile e gentile. Da tenere conto che l’elettricità è presente solo per poche ore dal tardo pomeriggio, come quasi tutte le strutture di raja ampat. Bagni in comune ma perfettamente funzionanti.
Outre l’environnement exceptionnel du lagon, nous avons bien aimé notre passage à Lagoon. Les bungalows sont pas mal avec le lit en hauteur, la nourriture convenable avec une mention pour le goûter qui est tres appréciable. La famille est tres gentille ( petit coucou à Captain Benny) et le snorkelling à l’extérieur du lagon de très belle qualité. Si le vent n’avait pas été si fort nous serions sans doute resté plus longtemps pour utiliser notre kayak dans les environs. Bel endroit en tout cas, à recommander.
Outre l’environnement exceptionnel du lagon, nous avons bien aimé notre passage à Lagoon. Les bungalows sont pas mal avec le lit en hauteur, la nourriture convenable avec une mention pour le goûter qui est tres appréciable. La famille est tres gentille ( petit coucou à Captain Benny) et le snorkelling à l’extérieur du lagon de très belle qualité. Si le vent n’avait pas été si fort nous serions sans doute resté plus longtemps pour utiliser notre kayak dans les environs. Bel endroit en tout cas, à recommander.
We stayed for 3 nights in July of 2024. Considering the remoteness, the food was good, the staff were helpful (Ariens the owner was readily available on Whatsapp, but not present) and the location was small but beautiful. We recommend staying a short while as its close to nearby attractions, and it saves you from doing long boat trips every day to get out there. House reef is nice to snorkel in as well. We visited fam island, snorkeled with mantas, snorkeled at melissas garden, visited some nearby beaches, as well as the look out at piaynemo.
I wanted to dive, but divemaster was not present. Was good, use, the dive shop itself did not inspire confidence and was not certified PADI or SSI, where other homestays do offer that status.
Thank you very much for our stay! We enjoyed it very much.
We stayed for 3 nights in July of 2024. Considering the remoteness, the food was good, the staff were helpful (Ariens the owner was readily available on Whatsapp, but not present) and the location was small but beautiful. We recommend staying a short while as its close to nearby attractions, and it saves you from doing long boat trips every day to get out there. House reef is nice to snorkel in as well. We visited fam island, snorkeled with mantas, snorkeled at melissas garden, visited some nearby beaches, as well as the look out at piaynemo.
I wanted to dive, but divemaster was not present. Was good, use, the dive shop itself did not inspire confidence and was not certified PADI or SSI, where other homestays do offer that status.
Thank you very much for our stay! We enjoyed it very much.
L’accueil par Béni était très souriant.
Le staff, bien qu’il ne parle pas en Anglais sauf William, est serviable et souriant.
La chambre est correcte.
La nourriture est bonne et en quantité suffisante.
Le gérant est totalement absent. Nous avons choisi expressément cet endroit pour plonger au plus près des sites de Rufas, mais n’en faites rien ! Le dive compte parmi les abonnés absents !
L’accueil par Béni était très souriant.
Le staff, bien qu’il ne parle pas en Anglais sauf William, est serviable et souriant.
La chambre est correcte.
La nourriture est bonne et en quantité suffisante.
Le gérant est totalement absent. Nous avons choisi expressément cet endroit pour plonger au plus près des sites de Rufas, mais n’en faites rien ! Le dive compte parmi les abonnés absents !
We had an excellent experience on our staying, the Island is truly unique and the accommodation has everything you might need.
The food was good, and they were able to provide a gluten free option for breakfast for my wife, tho it was a little bit complicated at first to explain as people in the island do not speak english 🙂
The only downside of Rufas is that it is 2 hours away from Waisai, so be sure to have time before travelling there, as there is a big open sea part to navigate, and you do not want to do that at night.
We had an excellent experience on our staying, the Island is truly unique and the accommodation has everything you might need.
The food was good, and they were able to provide a gluten free option for breakfast for my wife, tho it was a little bit complicated at first to explain as people in the island do not speak english 🙂
The only downside of Rufas is that it is 2 hours away from Waisai, so be sure to have time before travelling there, as there is a big open sea part to navigate, and you do not want to do that at night.
Good stay in Lagoon homestay, which is situated on the very beautiful island of Rufah, very close to Pianeymo. The accommodations have been some of the best I have seen in Raja Ampat, with very good beds and a terrace that leads right to lagoon waters. William has been very helpfull during this stay, always trying to please his guests. The very highlight of this homestay to me was the incredible sborkeling you get right around the island, with loads of fishes in the clearest water.
Only downside might be communication, since I didnt always get answers on whatsapp from the owner and got some unexpected changes in prices for trips ; but most sadly I was told, only the night before, that there would be no diving as planned since there was no divemaster around, a shame since I chose this homestay specifically for diving. It might be best to ask the owner before coming to avoid an unpleasant surprise.
Good stay in Lagoon homestay, which is situated on the very beautiful island of Rufah, very close to Pianeymo. The accommodations have been some of the best I have seen in Raja Ampat, with very good beds and a terrace that leads right to lagoon waters. William has been very helpfull during this stay, always trying to please his guests. The very highlight of this homestay to me was the incredible sborkeling you get right around the island, with loads of fishes in the clearest water.
Only downside might be communication, since I didnt always get answers on whatsapp from the owner and got some unexpected changes in prices for trips ; but most sadly I was told, only the night before, that there would be no diving as planned since there was no divemaster around, a shame since I chose this homestay specifically for diving. It might be best to ask the owner before coming to avoid an unpleasant surprise.
We stayed at Lagoon HS for 3 nights in early April 2024. This slice of quiet paradise was divine. Our bungalow was named Napoleon. It had power for about 10-12 hours per day starting in the late afternoon. The meals were a light breakfast and substantial lunch and dinner. Estika the cook does a great job with the food. While there, Ariens the owner was away for the first 2 nights getting new beds for his bungalows. The homestay continued to operate well. We did 4 dives with Lagoon’s diveshop. Onno, the guide did a great job. He was very attentive, happy and made sure we had a great experience. There were also 2 others assisting in the boat which ensured for smooth and easy diving. There’s plenty said about Melissa’s Garden and other dive sites and they lived right up to their reputations. Snorkelling from the island is easy too. On the eastern side where the boats enter, there is a good long wall to explore and on the western side there a reef with lots to see. No shops but I did see a sign saying there was beer for IDR100k. Telkomsel worked ok for texting . This was our first time to the Fam Islands but it certainly won’t be the last.
Thank you David for your comments, we hope to see you again🙏
We stayed at Lagoon HS for 3 nights in early April 2024. This slice of quiet paradise was divine. Our bungalow was named Napoleon. It had power for about 10-12 hours per day starting in the late afternoon. The meals were a light breakfast and substantial lunch and dinner. Estika the cook does a great job with the food. While there, Ariens the owner was away for the first 2 nights getting new beds for his bungalows. The homestay continued to operate well. We did 4 dives with Lagoon’s diveshop. Onno, the guide did a great job. He was very attentive, happy and made sure we had a great experience. There were also 2 others assisting in the boat which ensured for smooth and easy diving. There’s plenty said about Melissa’s Garden and other dive sites and they lived right up to their reputations. Snorkelling from the island is easy too. On the eastern side where the boats enter, there is a good long wall to explore and on the western side there a reef with lots to see. No shops but I did see a sign saying there was beer for IDR100k. Telkomsel worked ok for texting . This was our first time to the Fam Islands but it certainly won’t be the last.
Thank you David for your comments, we hope to see you again🙏
We stayed 3 nights here and the lagoon is pretty cool. Especially the view from the viewpoint is great and there is some nice snorkeling around the island.
It gets really hot there as there is no wind, so the nights are a bit difficult once electricty is cut and the fan stops.
The food was good, not too varied but tasty.
Unfortunately we felt a bit unwelcome as when we arrived no one came to greet us or talk to us. Until today we don’t even know who runs the homestay.
The shower is great but the toilet needs attention. It hadn’t been cleaned a single time while we were there, nor was the bin emptied or toilet paper filled up.
We stayed 3 nights here and the lagoon is pretty cool. Especially the view from the viewpoint is great and there is some nice snorkeling around the island.
It gets really hot there as there is no wind, so the nights are a bit difficult once electricty is cut and the fan stops.
The food was good, not too varied but tasty.
Unfortunately we felt a bit unwelcome as when we arrived no one came to greet us or talk to us. Until today we don’t even know who runs the homestay.
The shower is great but the toilet needs attention. It hadn’t been cleaned a single time while we were there, nor was the bin emptied or toilet paper filled up.
the position is simply amazing. The shape of the small island is unique and the view from the panoramic point is great. Don’t loose it. Unfortunately inside the lagoon there is no breeze and can be rather hot. Friendly treatment always trying to please.
the position is simply amazing. The shape of the small island is unique and the view from the panoramic point is great. Don’t loose it. Unfortunately inside the lagoon there is no breeze and can be rather hot. Friendly treatment always trying to please.
Rufas Island must be one of the most beautiful places we have ever been! We stayed at Lagoon Homestay for 5 nights and had a wonderful time there!
The cabins on the water were perfect in size and due to the hamock, you could just relax on your own little terrace. The food was fresh cooked and always very delicious.
We most appreciated that it was actually a homestay in the traditional way which means to us: staying with the family at the same place (not like at other honestays in Raja Ampat). The family and staff was always very friendly and helpful and arranged all that we were asking for. We will definitiy come back!
Terima kasih atas komentar anda temanku semoga kita bisa bertemu lagi di lain waktu
Rufas Island must be one of the most beautiful places we have ever been! We stayed at Lagoon Homestay for 5 nights and had a wonderful time there!
The cabins on the water were perfect in size and due to the hamock, you could just relax on your own little terrace. The food was fresh cooked and always very delicious.
We most appreciated that it was actually a homestay in the traditional way which means to us: staying with the family at the same place (not like at other honestays in Raja Ampat). The family and staff was always very friendly and helpful and arranged all that we were asking for. We will definitiy come back!
Terima kasih atas komentar anda temanku semoga kita bisa bertemu lagi di lain waktu
Quel lieu magnifique ! Perdu au bout du monde tout en étant proche de Piaynemo et de Melissas’s Garden.
Accueil très sympa et pro, bonne bouffe, attention quand même à bien vérifier le matos de plongée, à avoir une bonne maitrise, et à être assez autonome…
Mais vraiment quel endroit merveilleux ! 🙂
Quel lieu magnifique ! Perdu au bout du monde tout en étant proche de Piaynemo et de Melissas’s Garden.
Accueil très sympa et pro, bonne bouffe, attention quand même à bien vérifier le matos de plongée, à avoir une bonne maitrise, et à être assez autonome…
Mais vraiment quel endroit merveilleux ! 🙂
Très bien accueilli par Jonas, la chambre était propre, la vue magnifique sur le lagon, les repas étaient meilleurs que sur les autres îles, les femmes confectionnaient des beignets pour le petit dej, c’était super. Le snorkelling autour de l’île vers le point de vue est génial, tortue ,requin et milliers de poissons s’y retrouvent.
Très bien accueilli par Jonas, la chambre était propre, la vue magnifique sur le lagon, les repas étaient meilleurs que sur les autres îles, les femmes confectionnaient des beignets pour le petit dej, c’était super. Le snorkelling autour de l’île vers le point de vue est génial, tortue ,requin et milliers de poissons s’y retrouvent.
What an extraordinary stay we had at beautiful Lagoon Homestay. As soon as we arrived we were amazed by the stunning view this bungalow over the water had to offer. The hammock was our favourite spot to gaze at the horizon. The food made with love by Ibu Lagoon was excellent and diverse. Always plenty and a lot of variety. A brand new shower (yes running water out of a nozzle) and a brand new toilet were awaiting us. The view from the lookout tower next to the bungalows gives you a magical view of the lagoon and its surroundings and is excellent for sunset. Snorkelling around the island is astonishing, we saw many turtles, blacktip reefsharks and plenty of healthy coral and colourful fishes. The island is the perfect homebase for daytrips to Piaynemo, Star Lagoon Melissa’s garden, Fam & Napoleon wall and last but definitely not least: Manta Point at Andau. We highly recommend this homestay as it was one of our absolute favourites here in Raja Ampat. Terimakasih untuk semuanya, Selamat Tingal, say hi to Ariens, William, Mossar, Joesef, Ibu Lagoon and all the others for us. Kind regards, Ines & Reinert (Rain) from Belgium.
Terima kasih Ines & Rainer sudah datang dan memilih Lagoon homestay untuk dikunjungi🙏
What an extraordinary stay we had at beautiful Lagoon Homestay. As soon as we arrived we were amazed by the stunning view this bungalow over the water had to offer. The hammock was our favourite spot to gaze at the horizon. The food made with love by Ibu Lagoon was excellent and diverse. Always plenty and a lot of variety. A brand new shower (yes running water out of a nozzle) and a brand new toilet were awaiting us. The view from the lookout tower next to the bungalows gives you a magical view of the lagoon and its surroundings and is excellent for sunset. Snorkelling around the island is astonishing, we saw many turtles, blacktip reefsharks and plenty of healthy coral and colourful fishes. The island is the perfect homebase for daytrips to Piaynemo, Star Lagoon Melissa’s garden, Fam & Napoleon wall and last but definitely not least: Manta Point at Andau. We highly recommend this homestay as it was one of our absolute favourites here in Raja Ampat. Terimakasih untuk semuanya, Selamat Tingal, say hi to Ariens, William, Mossar, Joesef, Ibu Lagoon and all the others for us. Kind regards, Ines & Reinert (Rain) from Belgium.
Terima kasih Ines & Rainer sudah datang dan memilih Lagoon homestay untuk dikunjungi🙏
Really beautiful accommodation in a beautiful location. snorkeling around the entire lagoon wonderful. lots of fish, turtles, sometimes sharks and beautiful coral gardens. the nicest snorkeling under the lookout. there are amazing views and sunsets from the viewpoint.
the accommodation is fine, we jumped directly into the water from the terrace. everything was clean. sweet running water in the bathroom.
food good but 6 days the same breakfast, lunch and dinner every time.
Really beautiful accommodation in a beautiful location. snorkeling around the entire lagoon wonderful. lots of fish, turtles, sometimes sharks and beautiful coral gardens. the nicest snorkeling under the lookout. there are amazing views and sunsets from the viewpoint.
the accommodation is fine, we jumped directly into the water from the terrace. everything was clean. sweet running water in the bathroom.
food good but 6 days the same breakfast, lunch and dinner every time.
I Were at lagon Homestay, it was such amazing to enter in the Island with the boat.
I snorkel around the Island, and each Time someone of the homestay follow me for safety. I have seen turtle, shark, thousand of fish and a huge and beautiful « benitier » as I never see before.
The owner was very disponible, they take me to pyanemo for wonderfull sunset and good place to snorkelling.
They bring Also the lunch for the snorkel day.
I were surprised because the water of shower was unsalty!! It was so Nice to have a shower with sweet water.
The atmosphere is very happy with children playing, it seems like a Paradise.
Food was enough and hot drink often available.
You have tow view when you are in the Island : one of the lagoon inside the Island and one outside.
The family was very smiling and kind.
I really recommand this place which it’s one of raja Ampat symbol.
I Were at lagon Homestay, it was such amazing to enter in the Island with the boat.
I snorkel around the Island, and each Time someone of the homestay follow me for safety. I have seen turtle, shark, thousand of fish and a huge and beautiful « benitier » as I never see before.
The owner was very disponible, they take me to pyanemo for wonderfull sunset and good place to snorkelling.
They bring Also the lunch for the snorkel day.
I were surprised because the water of shower was unsalty!! It was so Nice to have a shower with sweet water.
The atmosphere is very happy with children playing, it seems like a Paradise.
Food was enough and hot drink often available.
You have tow view when you are in the Island : one of the lagoon inside the Island and one outside.
The family was very smiling and kind.
I really recommand this place which it’s one of raja Ampat symbol.
We had a nice stay there on this beautiful Island with great snorkeling.
The rooms are very basic but ok. What would improve it would be a shelf or hooks at the walls.
The food was good but it is the same every day, without variety. But it is enough and tasty.
Communication was hard because of almost no englisch.
We decided not to go diving because the staff didn’t gave us a good feeling about the compressor and air. They told us that they never changed the filters on the compressor and one lady had a headache after her dive. Afterwards we were told that there shouldnt be any issues but no good feeling.
Thats why we left after 3 nights instead of one week. But for that it was good because it is close to Piaynemo and has a beautiful snorkel reef.
Thanks for your comment. but you were looking for the wrong information about this when you came I was the one who welcomed you but you didn’t ask anything about the dive center the staff didn’t really know much about the dive center except me and the dive guide. and about the woman you mean she has done 4 dives with us and her headache appeared on the first dive. If his headache was due to the air from our tank how could he still want to dive 2,3 and 4 with us?
We had a nice stay there on this beautiful Island with great snorkeling.
The rooms are very basic but ok. What would improve it would be a shelf or hooks at the walls.
The food was good but it is the same every day, without variety. But it is enough and tasty.
Communication was hard because of almost no englisch.
We decided not to go diving because the staff didn’t gave us a good feeling about the compressor and air. They told us that they never changed the filters on the compressor and one lady had a headache after her dive. Afterwards we were told that there shouldnt be any issues but no good feeling.
Thats why we left after 3 nights instead of one week. But for that it was good because it is close to Piaynemo and has a beautiful snorkel reef.
Thanks for your comment. but you were looking for the wrong information about this when you came I was the one who welcomed you but you didn’t ask anything about the dive center the staff didn’t really know much about the dive center except me and the dive guide. and about the woman you mean she has done 4 dives with us and her headache appeared on the first dive. If his headache was due to the air from our tank how could he still want to dive 2,3 and 4 with us?
LAGOON HOMESTAY:
The location of Lagoon Homestay is absolutely stunning. The facilities are basic. The room was clean but lacked some essential amenities like shelves and hooks. The bathroom was ok, and the shower had a good water pressure.
The staff was friendly and helpful, but communication was a bit challenging due to language barriers. The food served was local dishes and always more than we could eat.
Overall, it’s an affordable option for those on a tight budget, but you can’t expect luxury or extensive comforts. The real highlight is the natural beauty of Rufas Island itself.
LAGOON DIVESHOP:
Safety should always be a top priority for a dive shop, and this aspect was severely lacking, or to be honest: not existing.
Due to CO in the tanks, we had CO poisoning (see our report).
FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY: PLEASE REFRAIN FROM DIVING THERE!
Choose a more reputable dive shop to visit these dive sites.
In case you want to take the risk to dive there, please abort the dive immediately when you are feeling a scratch in the throat, heartburn or you start feeling dizzy during the dive. CO is an odorless gas, so you can’t smell it.
The equipment is quite new, but they are not aware that it has to be rinsed with fresh water after diving. This bears the risk that the first stage of the regulator can freeze due to corrosion. The mouthpieces of the regulators are already dry and might soon start to crumble. Also be aware that there is nobody capable around to maintain the equipment.
The dive guide Jonas is a nice guy, but he is not sufficiently trained to guide dives. In the water, he is still busy with himself and therefore can’t keep an eye on his divers. He is unable to recognize a critical situation, and to respond appropriately. Therefore, diving with this guide is not advisable for divers who do not have a lot of experience and can take care of themselves, especially in strong currents.
LAGOON HOMESTAY:
The location of Lagoon Homestay is absolutely stunning. The facilities are basic. The room was clean but lacked some essential amenities like shelves and hooks. The bathroom was ok, and the shower had a good water pressure.
The staff was friendly and helpful, but communication was a bit challenging due to language barriers. The food served was local dishes and always more than we could eat.
Overall, it’s an affordable option for those on a tight budget, but you can’t expect luxury or extensive comforts. The real highlight is the natural beauty of Rufas Island itself.
LAGOON DIVESHOP:
Safety should always be a top priority for a dive shop, and this aspect was severely lacking, or to be honest: not existing.
Due to CO in the tanks, we had CO poisoning (see our report).
FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY: PLEASE REFRAIN FROM DIVING THERE!
Choose a more reputable dive shop to visit these dive sites.
In case you want to take the risk to dive there, please abort the dive immediately when you are feeling a scratch in the throat, heartburn or you start feeling dizzy during the dive. CO is an odorless gas, so you can’t smell it.
The equipment is quite new, but they are not aware that it has to be rinsed with fresh water after diving. This bears the risk that the first stage of the regulator can freeze due to corrosion. The mouthpieces of the regulators are already dry and might soon start to crumble. Also be aware that there is nobody capable around to maintain the equipment.
The dive guide Jonas is a nice guy, but he is not sufficiently trained to guide dives. In the water, he is still busy with himself and therefore can’t keep an eye on his divers. He is unable to recognize a critical situation, and to respond appropriately. Therefore, diving with this guide is not advisable for divers who do not have a lot of experience and can take care of themselves, especially in strong currents.
Nous avons eu le plaisir de séjourner 2 nuits dans ce petit bout de paradis , vous avez l’impression d’être au milieu de l’océan , c’est vraiment magnifique , la famille sur place s’occupe très bien de nous , les repas sont copieux , et ils sont toujours là en cas de besoin.
Merci à vous pour ce séjour
Nous avons eu le plaisir de séjourner 2 nuits dans ce petit bout de paradis , vous avez l’impression d’être au milieu de l’océan , c’est vraiment magnifique , la famille sur place s’occupe très bien de nous , les repas sont copieux , et ils sont toujours là en cas de besoin.
Merci à vous pour ce séjour
Wonderful time there! The Lagoon is very beautiful and quiet, the owner and the staff are so kind, the food is very good with big proportions, the bathroom is better than the other places in Raja Ampat and the snorkeling around is so beautiful!
Best place to stay near pyanemo if you love snorkeling and quiet place!
Thanks again Ariens for those beautiful days 🙂
Thank you Camille, we look forward to meeting you next time🙏
Wonderful time there! The Lagoon is very beautiful and quiet, the owner and the staff are so kind, the food is very good with big proportions, the bathroom is better than the other places in Raja Ampat and the snorkeling around is so beautiful!
Best place to stay near pyanemo if you love snorkeling and quiet place!
Thanks again Ariens for those beautiful days 🙂
Thank you Camille, we look forward to meeting you next time🙏
Rufas island is the paradise. Really close to Piaynemo. They built a view point to enjoy the view of the lagoon. The snorkelling around the island is amazing.
Jonas, dive instructor, is the only one speaking english. We ask him to go fishing and it was a magical moment. Lot of fish and they cooked it for us when we came back from fishing.
Food is really basic.
Really enjoyed our stay there.
Rufas island is the paradise. Really close to Piaynemo. They built a view point to enjoy the view of the lagoon. The snorkelling around the island is amazing.
Jonas, dive instructor, is the only one speaking english. We ask him to go fishing and it was a magical moment. Lot of fish and they cooked it for us when we came back from fishing.
Food is really basic.
Really enjoyed our stay there.
Don’t come here if you want to dive…
The following two WhatsApp have I already sent to Ariens, the owner of this place:
1.
Hello Ariens,
we have already meet you 3 days ago at Fam Island and we are now at your homestay at Rufus. We are since 3 weeks in Raja Ampat, only homestays. Sorry for telling you honestly, but your homestay is really not what we had expected. The shared bathroom is dirty, the quality of the water in the mandi is terrible, the bed is like a hammock, the quantity and quality of the food is poor. It’s impossible to stay here 7 nights as I have booked. We will leave already tomorrow and ask you friendly to give as a refund or maybe a free transfer back to Gam.
Best regards
MJ
2.
Please let me also inform you about that situation of the “dive shop”:
There is no oxygen in the dive shop, no first aide kit, no hangers to dry our own scuba equipment, nothing to rinse our own gear or the foto equipment, no filter at the compressor, just the smell of oil.
We will leave tomorrow because we came here to Lagoon for diving but in such a place it is even for us not safe to dive and we are both very experienced divers (Divemasters).
As you know we have paid for 7 nights and we can just stay one night. This is really terrible for us, because now we will pay again for an accommodation where we really can go diving.
We really hope that due to this situation and the bad informations about this place we can have a refund. If we had had better and true information about Lagoon Homestay at Stayrajaampat before, we would have never booked here. We would have come on a day trip to dive the spots here around and to visit the Lagoons.
I’m looking forward for your answer.
I didn’t get any answer yet :-/
So sorry to hear this, and thank you for warning other divers of the issues you have encountered.
As we’ve already informed you by email, refunds are guaranteed when basic Homestay Association standards are not being met. We will be back in touch with you as soon as the Association investigation is complete.
Thanks MJ for your comments but please if you just want to come to our disservice please find another place, how do you say oxygen smells while at the same time other guests are diving with us? You say we don’t have medical oxygen and emergency kits but when the guide wants to show you, you say you have no business with the guide? How can you say that the dive shop smells of oil when the only place you go to is a special house for compressors for filling tubes, but you refuse to go to the dive shop where we prepare other equipment? I have contacted stayrajaampat to return your money, you have also ruined our plans because you insisted on using a speed boat that was supposed to make another trip, so what else do you want from us?
Don’t come here if you want to dive…
The following two WhatsApp have I already sent to Ariens, the owner of this place:
1.
Hello Ariens,
we have already meet you 3 days ago at Fam Island and we are now at your homestay at Rufus. We are since 3 weeks in Raja Ampat, only homestays. Sorry for telling you honestly, but your homestay is really not what we had expected. The shared bathroom is dirty, the quality of the water in the mandi is terrible, the bed is like a hammock, the quantity and quality of the food is poor. It’s impossible to stay here 7 nights as I have booked. We will leave already tomorrow and ask you friendly to give as a refund or maybe a free transfer back to Gam.
Best regards
MJ
2.
Please let me also inform you about that situation of the “dive shop”:
There is no oxygen in the dive shop, no first aide kit, no hangers to dry our own scuba equipment, nothing to rinse our own gear or the foto equipment, no filter at the compressor, just the smell of oil.
We will leave tomorrow because we came here to Lagoon for diving but in such a place it is even for us not safe to dive and we are both very experienced divers (Divemasters).
As you know we have paid for 7 nights and we can just stay one night. This is really terrible for us, because now we will pay again for an accommodation where we really can go diving.
We really hope that due to this situation and the bad informations about this place we can have a refund. If we had had better and true information about Lagoon Homestay at Stayrajaampat before, we would have never booked here. We would have come on a day trip to dive the spots here around and to visit the Lagoons.
I’m looking forward for your answer.
I didn’t get any answer yet :-/
So sorry to hear this, and thank you for warning other divers of the issues you have encountered.
As we’ve already informed you by email, refunds are guaranteed when basic Homestay Association standards are not being met. We will be back in touch with you as soon as the Association investigation is complete.
Thanks MJ for your comments but please if you just want to come to our disservice please find another place, how do you say oxygen smells while at the same time other guests are diving with us? You say we don’t have medical oxygen and emergency kits but when the guide wants to show you, you say you have no business with the guide? How can you say that the dive shop smells of oil when the only place you go to is a special house for compressors for filling tubes, but you refuse to go to the dive shop where we prepare other equipment? I have contacted stayrajaampat to return your money, you have also ruined our plans because you insisted on using a speed boat that was supposed to make another trip, so what else do you want from us?
We stayed as a couple for 3 nights at Lagoon Homestay at the start of July
Rufas Island where the homestay is located is beautiful. With a nice lookout point which serves as a great place to enjoy the sunset.
The room at Rufas is clean and firmly built. You can tell they put a lot of work into making solid buildings. You have a hammock which gives you great views of the lagoon. The food is varied and seasoned well.
We did 4 dives with Miton who was our dive guide during our stay. All the equipment was new and we felt safe during all our dives. Contrary to earlier reviews the air in the tanks were clean and good. Melissa’s Garden dive site is so amazing we went there twice!
If you don’t dive you can also do amazing snorkeling just around the (half built) jetty which is behind the island
Overall we definitely recommend Lagoon Homestay!
Terima kasih Ariens, Joshua, Miton dan semua keluarga di Lagoon Homestay!
Thank you for your visit to our place
We stayed as a couple for 3 nights at Lagoon Homestay at the start of July
Rufas Island where the homestay is located is beautiful. With a nice lookout point which serves as a great place to enjoy the sunset.
The room at Rufas is clean and firmly built. You can tell they put a lot of work into making solid buildings. You have a hammock which gives you great views of the lagoon. The food is varied and seasoned well.
We did 4 dives with Miton who was our dive guide during our stay. All the equipment was new and we felt safe during all our dives. Contrary to earlier reviews the air in the tanks were clean and good. Melissa’s Garden dive site is so amazing we went there twice!
If you don’t dive you can also do amazing snorkeling just around the (half built) jetty which is behind the island
Overall we definitely recommend Lagoon Homestay!
Terima kasih Ariens, Joshua, Miton dan semua keluarga di Lagoon Homestay!
Thank you for your visit to our place
Honestly, we didn’t love it here. Yes, the Island and lagoon are beautiful and unique, but our Homestay experience was not a great one. The family were not very friendly, communicative or helpful and we felt like captives there, as they do not even have a boat to run us to Piaynemo or out diving. So any time we wanted to go somewhere we were left waiting for hours for transport to come from elsewhere. I was also concerned about the dives I did, as they fill their tanks in a small room next to their old generator and the air in the tanks did not smell or taste good.
Honestly, we didn’t love it here. Yes, the Island and lagoon are beautiful and unique, but our Homestay experience was not a great one. The family were not very friendly, communicative or helpful and we felt like captives there, as they do not even have a boat to run us to Piaynemo or out diving. So any time we wanted to go somewhere we were left waiting for hours for transport to come from elsewhere. I was also concerned about the dives I did, as they fill their tanks in a small room next to their old generator and the air in the tanks did not smell or taste good.
What a beautiful place. The lagoon is unique, the little houses are just above the sea and swimming directly from the room is amazing. The place is very quiet, perfect to relax. Tours are organised directly from the homestay, and Piaynemo worth the visit. Food is simple but ok, bathroom is shared and ok as well.
One negative thing at the end of our stay: the price they asked for the transfer to another island wasn’t the one they told us before. I accept everything except rips-off. We payed because we didn’t want to discuss, but I’ve read a comment before with the same trouble, so be careful.
We apologize for this error but if an employee asks you to pay more than the stated price please contact or ask Anderson to contact me because I am responsible for everything that happened there. And I don’t want that to happen either
What a beautiful place. The lagoon is unique, the little houses are just above the sea and swimming directly from the room is amazing. The place is very quiet, perfect to relax. Tours are organised directly from the homestay, and Piaynemo worth the visit. Food is simple but ok, bathroom is shared and ok as well.
One negative thing at the end of our stay: the price they asked for the transfer to another island wasn’t the one they told us before. I accept everything except rips-off. We payed because we didn’t want to discuss, but I’ve read a comment before with the same trouble, so be careful.
We apologize for this error but if an employee asks you to pay more than the stated price please contact or ask Anderson to contact me because I am responsible for everything that happened there. And I don’t want that to happen either
The place is nice and the dive guide Mikael (hope I write correct) is perfect. I and also the other people have a lot of trouble about the agreed prices. After tour / diving / transport I / we should pay more as agreed before. Nobody like to have these discussions on holiday. Also spent hours for payment with wise, because the account of the owner is not working. When I leave the Island they let us wait 4 1/2 hours for the transportation.
The place is nice and the dive guide Mikael (hope I write correct) is perfect. I and also the other people have a lot of trouble about the agreed prices. After tour / diving / transport I / we should pay more as agreed before. Nobody like to have these discussions on holiday. Also spent hours for payment with wise, because the account of the owner is not working. When I leave the Island they let us wait 4 1/2 hours for the transportation.
This is a perfect place for advanced snorkelling and some freediving.
This is a perfect place for advanced snorkelling and some freediving.
We stayed here for two nights in March 2023. The atmosphere was nice with the lagoon, the little beach (low tide) and the view point. Negative but difficult to change because of the small island: the generator was very loud. Swimming in the Lagoon was great at night with some bioluminescent plankton. Not much to see in the lagoon during the day but we really enjoyed snorkeling around the island. Beautiful reefs! Just be aware that current conditions are changing. A wonderful spot for advanced snorkelers.
Important note: We had planned diving there as well, but canceled it. They don’t know what they are doing. Filling the bottles with the fresh air tube pointing directly into the smoke of a fire. We opened all the bottles to make sure nobody got the bad air and tried to explain the problem. After this we got a massage from the owner that they sent the gardener home who was responsible for the fire. That does not make sense. The dive guide who filled the tanks is responsible. The gardener doesn’t know anything about diving of course. I don’t think they understood the danger, so be careful.
For snorkeling it’s a beautiful place with a special atmosphere.
I agree with your comments about the bad air for diving. I did do two dives there and the air did not smell or taste good. It was very concerning.
We stayed here for two nights in March 2023. The atmosphere was nice with the lagoon, the little beach (low tide) and the view point. Negative but difficult to change because of the small island: the generator was very loud. Swimming in the Lagoon was great at night with some bioluminescent plankton. Not much to see in the lagoon during the day but we really enjoyed snorkeling around the island. Beautiful reefs! Just be aware that current conditions are changing. A wonderful spot for advanced snorkelers.
Important note: We had planned diving there as well, but canceled it. They don’t know what they are doing. Filling the bottles with the fresh air tube pointing directly into the smoke of a fire. We opened all the bottles to make sure nobody got the bad air and tried to explain the problem. After this we got a massage from the owner that they sent the gardener home who was responsible for the fire. That does not make sense. The dive guide who filled the tanks is responsible. The gardener doesn’t know anything about diving of course. I don’t think they understood the danger, so be careful.
For snorkeling it’s a beautiful place with a special atmosphere.
I agree with your comments about the bad air for diving. I did do two dives there and the air did not smell or taste good. It was very concerning.
This homestay is perfect for experienced snorkelers who want a great house reef. The reef extends almost around the entire island and was among the most varied we’ve seen. We snorkeled around the island three times.
Huts are over water with direct snorkeling access and have a nice terrace with comfy chairs. The toilet and shower (not dip mandi) are within an easy stroll. When Pam fell and cut her foot, Esti responded quickly with anti bacterial ointment and expertly bandaged it so she could continue snorkeling.
We had some great meals with whole fish, prepared many ways!
Negative- The generator was quite close to the huts and loud, but there isn’t much land to place one farther away. We did not notice the trash others refer to, perhaps because we have been to Raja several times and trash is a bit of a problem in many locales.
All in all, a nice, remote homestay with some fantastic snorkeling.
This homestay is perfect for experienced snorkelers who want a great house reef. The reef extends almost around the entire island and was among the most varied we’ve seen. We snorkeled around the island three times.
Huts are over water with direct snorkeling access and have a nice terrace with comfy chairs. The toilet and shower (not dip mandi) are within an easy stroll. When Pam fell and cut her foot, Esti responded quickly with anti bacterial ointment and expertly bandaged it so she could continue snorkeling.
We had some great meals with whole fish, prepared many ways!
Negative- The generator was quite close to the huts and loud, but there isn’t much land to place one farther away. We did not notice the trash others refer to, perhaps because we have been to Raja several times and trash is a bit of a problem in many locales.
All in all, a nice, remote homestay with some fantastic snorkeling.
As mentionned the place is unique, a beautiful lagoon, surrounded by an amazing reef, just in front of Pyanemo.
View point is incredible, we went there for every sunset.
Bungalows were basic but cosy, good mattress, hammock.
Family was nice and helpful.
Food was not bad but basic and as mentionned there are only 4 chairs in the dinning room.
Toilet was dirty.
Also, it was such a shame to see all that plastics in such a beautiful place.
As mentionned the place is unique, a beautiful lagoon, surrounded by an amazing reef, just in front of Pyanemo.
View point is incredible, we went there for every sunset.
Bungalows were basic but cosy, good mattress, hammock.
Family was nice and helpful.
Food was not bad but basic and as mentionned there are only 4 chairs in the dinning room.
Toilet was dirty.
Also, it was such a shame to see all that plastics in such a beautiful place.
+: A unique place. Amazing snorkeling directly outside of the lagoon around the island, especially the south side. Beautiful corals, lots of fish, turtles, sharks. The water in the lagoon is quite warm, which is great for warming up after snorkeling outside. Swimming at night in the lagoon after the generator turns off is magical because it’s full of bioluminescent plankton! The views from the lookout point were a big bonus. We stayed 5 nights and could have enjoyed ourselves longer. Our bungalow was nice with an ok mattress, and a hammock. Food was good, a lot of fish and often mango as a dessert. The owners are shy and don’t speak much English, but you can arrange what you need.
-: We did not know in advance that Rufas and Lagoon homestay are actually combined, everyone eats together. With 7 or 8 bungalows it got more crowded than we expected.
-: Our windows were covered with plastic screens, it would have been better without as it was pretty hot at night
-: The generator from the dive center makes a lot of noise during the day, luckily we were not directly next to it.
-: It would be better if the plastic waste on the island could be cleaned up
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review Anne
Just a note for subsequent readers: The dining room situation Anne mentions has since been resolved. Sharing Rufas’ dining room was only temporary while Lagoon rebuilt its own facility.
+: A unique place. Amazing snorkeling directly outside of the lagoon around the island, especially the south side. Beautiful corals, lots of fish, turtles, sharks. The water in the lagoon is quite warm, which is great for warming up after snorkeling outside. Swimming at night in the lagoon after the generator turns off is magical because it’s full of bioluminescent plankton! The views from the lookout point were a big bonus. We stayed 5 nights and could have enjoyed ourselves longer. Our bungalow was nice with an ok mattress, and a hammock. Food was good, a lot of fish and often mango as a dessert. The owners are shy and don’t speak much English, but you can arrange what you need.
-: We did not know in advance that Rufas and Lagoon homestay are actually combined, everyone eats together. With 7 or 8 bungalows it got more crowded than we expected.
-: Our windows were covered with plastic screens, it would have been better without as it was pretty hot at night
-: The generator from the dive center makes a lot of noise during the day, luckily we were not directly next to it.
-: It would be better if the plastic waste on the island could be cleaned up
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review Anne
Just a note for subsequent readers: The dining room situation Anne mentions has since been resolved. Sharing Rufas’ dining room was only temporary while Lagoon rebuilt its own facility.
We stayed 3 nights and our feeling is mixed.
Communication with the owner was good before we arrived until the second day of our stay and then didn’t reply anymore.
It happened to other guests too.
No one was there to welcome us and show us around and our room was not ready. Nothing biggie but it would have been nice to have someone showing us the facilities and explain about the snorkeling out of the lagoon or the access to the view point. Luckily the lagoon is very small so you can’t get lost. Very little English is spoken so it may not be easy to communicate. We had to explore the water without knowing if there was strong current or big waves which can be dangerous.
Good that the east side out of the lagoon is calm and the under water life is amazing. We found it incredible with turtles, sharks, fishes and beautiful corals.
The best snorkeling we’ve had in our trip in Raja Ampat.
The bungalow is nice, with a great view on the lagoon, close to the toilets and 50 meters away from diner room.
Food was good and enough.
The people living and working there are nice and helpful.
We took a trip to Pyanemo and it was very nice and affordable. They took us to both views points and even on a small bonus boat trip around which we appreciated.
Overall a good stay but could have been perfect if the communication and welcome were better.
We stayed 3 nights and our feeling is mixed.
Communication with the owner was good before we arrived until the second day of our stay and then didn’t reply anymore.
It happened to other guests too.
No one was there to welcome us and show us around and our room was not ready. Nothing biggie but it would have been nice to have someone showing us the facilities and explain about the snorkeling out of the lagoon or the access to the view point. Luckily the lagoon is very small so you can’t get lost. Very little English is spoken so it may not be easy to communicate. We had to explore the water without knowing if there was strong current or big waves which can be dangerous.
Good that the east side out of the lagoon is calm and the under water life is amazing. We found it incredible with turtles, sharks, fishes and beautiful corals.
The best snorkeling we’ve had in our trip in Raja Ampat.
The bungalow is nice, with a great view on the lagoon, close to the toilets and 50 meters away from diner room.
Food was good and enough.
The people living and working there are nice and helpful.
We took a trip to Pyanemo and it was very nice and affordable. They took us to both views points and even on a small bonus boat trip around which we appreciated.
Overall a good stay but could have been perfect if the communication and welcome were better.
This is a lovely unique place where the homestay is very basic, But:
– [ ] On arrival no one greets you. Your left to fend for yourself to find out meal times and where dinning and shower rooms are. There is no interaction with owners.
– [ ] There are no mirrors in any bungalow’s or toilets. So bring your own
– [ ] Our bungalow is about 200m from dinning room. The pathway is difficult with rocks etc, easy to fall. At night/ high tide path is coverd in ankle deep water. INCREDIBLE there is only one light to see at night. If you dont have a torch, you have no hope getting to dinning room and back.
– [ ] Lots of plastic, rubbish, bottles, either side of pathway. In 4 days there, no one cleans up. Awful and dirty to look at. Disgusting.
Dining room has 1 table and chairs for 4, for the rest of guests there are knee high tables with basic benches. Awful way to enjoy a meal.
Come on, owners of Ruffus/Lagoon Homestay. Lift your standards. Have some pride in your business.
Definitely not a place I would stay more than one night
This is a lovely unique place where the homestay is very basic, But:
– [ ] On arrival no one greets you. Your left to fend for yourself to find out meal times and where dinning and shower rooms are. There is no interaction with owners.
– [ ] There are no mirrors in any bungalow’s or toilets. So bring your own
– [ ] Our bungalow is about 200m from dinning room. The pathway is difficult with rocks etc, easy to fall. At night/ high tide path is coverd in ankle deep water. INCREDIBLE there is only one light to see at night. If you dont have a torch, you have no hope getting to dinning room and back.
– [ ] Lots of plastic, rubbish, bottles, either side of pathway. In 4 days there, no one cleans up. Awful and dirty to look at. Disgusting.
Dining room has 1 table and chairs for 4, for the rest of guests there are knee high tables with basic benches. Awful way to enjoy a meal.
Come on, owners of Ruffus/Lagoon Homestay. Lift your standards. Have some pride in your business.
Definitely not a place I would stay more than one night
Nous avons séjourné 4 jours en août à lagoon homestay. Début laborieux, nous n’avons jamais vu notre hôte mais son frère qui tient un autre homestay sur la même île, notre bungalow était accupé suite à un malentendu… Oublions cela et disons que le lieu est merveilleux avec le plus beau snorkeling que nous ayons fait durant notre séjour autour de l’île. Nous avons également pu sortir en bateau vers des endroits magnifiques. Je pense qu’il vaut mieux réserver avec rufas et bien mettre les choses au point avant d’arriver car par ailleurs l’endroit vaut vraiment le déplacement!
Nous avons séjourné 4 jours en août à lagoon homestay. Début laborieux, nous n’avons jamais vu notre hôte mais son frère qui tient un autre homestay sur la même île, notre bungalow était accupé suite à un malentendu… Oublions cela et disons que le lieu est merveilleux avec le plus beau snorkeling que nous ayons fait durant notre séjour autour de l’île. Nous avons également pu sortir en bateau vers des endroits magnifiques. Je pense qu’il vaut mieux réserver avec rufas et bien mettre les choses au point avant d’arriver car par ailleurs l’endroit vaut vraiment le déplacement!
Rufas was the first place we stayed (2 nights) after arriving to Indonesia and raja Ampat. The room was over the lagoon. Toilet and shower a few meters further. Food was good and sufficient. Snorkeling in the lagoon and around the island was exceptional. Many black tips, turtles, parrot fish, barracuda etc. The reef is full of life. We had one dive day (Melissa’s garden + Fam wall) and a snorkel trip to Andau manta. Very good experience in total.
Rufas was the first place we stayed (2 nights) after arriving to Indonesia and raja Ampat. The room was over the lagoon. Toilet and shower a few meters further. Food was good and sufficient. Snorkeling in the lagoon and around the island was exceptional. Many black tips, turtles, parrot fish, barracuda etc. The reef is full of life. We had one dive day (Melissa’s garden + Fam wall) and a snorkel trip to Andau manta. Very good experience in total.
Nice homestay, small island, beautiful reef, the best is the cook Hesni she fulfills every wish, first one shower was empty, then the other, she has requested water from Pyanemo, Wc u shower outside the room, 3 days are perfectly enough there, no beach, no outlet, no sunbeds on the terrace, we were there 6 days, wanted to shorten, but they have not allowed us. On the last day they messed up our plans and we had to leave the homestay at 8.30am because other guests arrived
Nice homestay, small island, beautiful reef, the best is the cook Hesni she fulfills every wish, first one shower was empty, then the other, she has requested water from Pyanemo, Wc u shower outside the room, 3 days are perfectly enough there, no beach, no outlet, no sunbeds on the terrace, we were there 6 days, wanted to shorten, but they have not allowed us. On the last day they messed up our plans and we had to leave the homestay at 8.30am because other guests arrived
We spend a wonderful 6 days at Lagoon Homestay in Batu Rufas. The mattresses were new and the cabanas are right on the lagoon. You can spot baby sharks, parrot fish and other juvenile marine life right from your porch! The food was good and plentiful. There is also a great observatory on the highest point of the island from which you can see pianemo and the surrounding area. The best part is the the homestay offers diving and has brand new equipment. The prices are reasonable and the coral reefs in Pam are sublime! Lagoon homestay is therefore a great base from which to explore the Pam Islands, highly recommended.
We spend a wonderful 6 days at Lagoon Homestay in Batu Rufas. The mattresses were new and the cabanas are right on the lagoon. You can spot baby sharks, parrot fish and other juvenile marine life right from your porch! The food was good and plentiful. There is also a great observatory on the highest point of the island from which you can see pianemo and the surrounding area. The best part is the the homestay offers diving and has brand new equipment. The prices are reasonable and the coral reefs in Pam are sublime! Lagoon homestay is therefore a great base from which to explore the Pam Islands, highly recommended.
Very unique place to be. Lagoon is pretty amazing and has a special vibe.
The snorkeling outside the lagoon is beautiful! The bungalows are very very basic and pretty hot during the night because there is not much wind. The food was good but nothing special.
Would recommend to spend there a night or two to relaxingly explore the Fam Islands.
Very unique place to be. Lagoon is pretty amazing and has a special vibe.
The snorkeling outside the lagoon is beautiful! The bungalows are very very basic and pretty hot during the night because there is not much wind. The food was good but nothing special.
Would recommend to spend there a night or two to relaxingly explore the Fam Islands.
an extraordinary place, which you will only see once in your life
the lagoon and the view are incredible
many fish and baby sharks all over the lagoon and incredible snorkelling spots around
the family is lovely and helped us a lot when we needed it (we got sick)
the prices of the excursions are more than reasonable
only negative point: the food a bit simple but you’re on the middle of nowhere… maybe it’s normal !
an extraordinary place, which you will only see once in your life
the lagoon and the view are incredible
many fish and baby sharks all over the lagoon and incredible snorkelling spots around
the family is lovely and helped us a lot when we needed it (we got sick)
the prices of the excursions are more than reasonable
only negative point: the food a bit simple but you’re on the middle of nowhere… maybe it’s normal !
Hello,
I commented other day at ruffs homestay but as I understand lagoon and ruffs are on the same tiny island however lagoon asks 1.500.000ird for transport where rufas ask 2.500.000ird for the same place. Is there a specific reason or is it just free marker economy?
Hi Kerem
Lagoon Homestay has cheaper transport than Rufas Homestay because Lagoon’s default transfer option is by longboat, not speedboat. Single-engined longboats are much slower and carry fewer people than speedboats, but they also use half the fuel.
We stayed at Lagoon Homestay at the beginning of April. The view from the observation tower is pretty amazing during sunrise and sunset!
Bungalows are good with matresses (not the best) on the floor and propper chairs + small hammock on the veranda. Toilet facilities are okay, but have a real (!) shower.
Meals are served in the dining area. Breakfast was not the best, very sweet and sugarrich. Lunch and dinner were good, but not always enough for the number of guests staying.
From the bungalows you have direct access to the lagoon. Here we saw different fish species, of which a group of bumphead parrotfish, a black tip reef shark and a manta. The reef outside the lagoon (just in front of the entrance but also around the island) is pretty amazing with good visibility and plenty of fish and coral species! One of the best reefs we have seen (snorkeling)!
The English translator (for both Rufas and Lagoon HS) is very helpful. However, he made a wrong estimation of the time needed to get to Waisai (2h instead of the estimated 1,5h), causing us to miss the morning ferry by 10 minutes. Be aware to leave on time!
Hello,
I commented other day at ruffs homestay but as I understand lagoon and ruffs are on the same tiny island however lagoon asks 1.500.000ird for transport where rufas ask 2.500.000ird for the same place. Is there a specific reason or is it just free marker economy?
Hi Kerem
Lagoon Homestay has cheaper transport than Rufas Homestay because Lagoon’s default transfer option is by longboat, not speedboat. Single-engined longboats are much slower and carry fewer people than speedboats, but they also use half the fuel.
We stayed at Lagoon Homestay at the beginning of April. The view from the observation tower is pretty amazing during sunrise and sunset!
Bungalows are good with matresses (not the best) on the floor and propper chairs + small hammock on the veranda. Toilet facilities are okay, but have a real (!) shower.
Meals are served in the dining area. Breakfast was not the best, very sweet and sugarrich. Lunch and dinner were good, but not always enough for the number of guests staying.
From the bungalows you have direct access to the lagoon. Here we saw different fish species, of which a group of bumphead parrotfish, a black tip reef shark and a manta. The reef outside the lagoon (just in front of the entrance but also around the island) is pretty amazing with good visibility and plenty of fish and coral species! One of the best reefs we have seen (snorkeling)!
The English translator (for both Rufas and Lagoon HS) is very helpful. However, he made a wrong estimation of the time needed to get to Waisai (2h instead of the estimated 1,5h), causing us to miss the morning ferry by 10 minutes. Be aware to leave on time!
J’y ai passé 3 nuits, tout était nickel. Le bungalow sur pilotis au-dessus de l’eau du lagon vert. Possibilité de voir des poissons très colorés, des petits requins et des petites raies depuis la terrasse du bungalow (c’est davantage le cas depuis les bungalows proches des extrémités du lagon). Autre point positif : le Viewpoint ! Nourriture : repas très bons et copieux (des gros poissons !), petits déjeuners sucrés, ainsi que des bananes, de la pâte à tartiner et du pain de mie en libre service. Eau en libre service aussi. Au niveau sanitaires, toilettes à l’occidentale et vraie douche. Concernant l’organisation (pick up à wasai, transfert vers autre homestay, sorties snorkeling), tout était impeccable : ponctualité, bateau un peu meilleur que la moyenne, équipement snorkeling de bonne qualité (ce n’est pas toujours le cas), prix corrects comparés aux autres. A noter qu’Uria, le guide, a beaucoup contribué à ce bon séjour car il parle bien Anglais et est compétent et très sympathique (Il se peut que ça soit pas votre guide lors de votre venue). Le propriétaire, Ariens, ne parle pas trop Anglais. Globalement, la famille n’est pas très chaleureuse, mais plus par discrétion, timidité et manque d’Anglais (assez courant dans les Raja Ampat).
I stayed there for 3 nights, everything was perfect. The overwater bungalow above the water of the green lagoon. Possibility to see very colorful fish, small sharks and small rays from the bungalow terrace (this is more the case from the bungalows near the ends of the lagoon). Another positive point: the Viewpoint! Food: very good and hearty meals (big fish!), Sweet breakfasts, as well as self-service bananas, spread and sandwich bread. Self-service water too. At the sanitary level, western toilets and a real shower. Regarding the organization (pick up at wasai, transfer to another homestay, snorkeling trips), everything was impeccable: punctuality, boat a little better than average, good quality snorkeling equipment (this is not always the case), price correct compared to others. Note that Uria, the guide, contributed a lot to this good stay because he speaks good English and is competent and very friendly (he may not be your guide when you come). The owner, Ariens, doesn’t speak too much English. Overall, the family is not very warm, but more out of discretion, shyness and lack of English (quite common in Raja Ampat).
J’y ai passé 3 nuits, tout était nickel. Le bungalow sur pilotis au-dessus de l’eau du lagon vert. Possibilité de voir des poissons très colorés, des petits requins et des petites raies depuis la terrasse du bungalow (c’est davantage le cas depuis les bungalows proches des extrémités du lagon). Autre point positif : le Viewpoint ! Nourriture : repas très bons et copieux (des gros poissons !), petits déjeuners sucrés, ainsi que des bananes, de la pâte à tartiner et du pain de mie en libre service. Eau en libre service aussi. Au niveau sanitaires, toilettes à l’occidentale et vraie douche. Concernant l’organisation (pick up à wasai, transfert vers autre homestay, sorties snorkeling), tout était impeccable : ponctualité, bateau un peu meilleur que la moyenne, équipement snorkeling de bonne qualité (ce n’est pas toujours le cas), prix corrects comparés aux autres. A noter qu’Uria, le guide, a beaucoup contribué à ce bon séjour car il parle bien Anglais et est compétent et très sympathique (Il se peut que ça soit pas votre guide lors de votre venue). Le propriétaire, Ariens, ne parle pas trop Anglais. Globalement, la famille n’est pas très chaleureuse, mais plus par discrétion, timidité et manque d’Anglais (assez courant dans les Raja Ampat).
I stayed there for 3 nights, everything was perfect. The overwater bungalow above the water of the green lagoon. Possibility to see very colorful fish, small sharks and small rays from the bungalow terrace (this is more the case from the bungalows near the ends of the lagoon). Another positive point: the Viewpoint! Food: very good and hearty meals (big fish!), Sweet breakfasts, as well as self-service bananas, spread and sandwich bread. Self-service water too. At the sanitary level, western toilets and a real shower. Regarding the organization (pick up at wasai, transfer to another homestay, snorkeling trips), everything was impeccable: punctuality, boat a little better than average, good quality snorkeling equipment (this is not always the case), price correct compared to others. Note that Uria, the guide, contributed a lot to this good stay because he speaks good English and is competent and very friendly (he may not be your guide when you come). The owner, Ariens, doesn’t speak too much English. Overall, the family is not very warm, but more out of discretion, shyness and lack of English (quite common in Raja Ampat).
We stayed for a few days at the lagoon last year, and it’s still one of the places we always mention to friends when we talk about raja Ampat.
The family is very friendly and the food was great. A place to relax your mind!!
I forgot to give the starrs haha
We stayed for a few days at the lagoon last year, and it’s still one of the places we always mention to friends when we talk about raja Ampat.
The family is very friendly and the food was great. A place to relax your mind!!
I forgot to give the starrs haha
I stayed at the Lagoon homestay for 7 days and enjoyed my stay immensely, the food was good and sometimes very good, we were served fresh whole fish 4 times as well as the usual vegetables, noodles, omelets and fruit. My bungalow was apart from the others and private with a hammock as well as clean, mind you it could use a new mattress, I got used to it though. The house reef is huge and excellent with many fish and 90% live coral and a 5 foot white tipped shark amongst others.
I stayed at the Lagoon homestay for 7 days and enjoyed my stay immensely, the food was good and sometimes very good, we were served fresh whole fish 4 times as well as the usual vegetables, noodles, omelets and fruit. My bungalow was apart from the others and private with a hammock as well as clean, mind you it could use a new mattress, I got used to it though. The house reef is huge and excellent with many fish and 90% live coral and a 5 foot white tipped shark amongst others.
This is the best homestay out of 4 places we stayed in Raja Ampat. We have our own private island with a lagoon, which has baby sharks and stingray visiting daily! It is absolutely amazing.
We have newly built bungalows built on water and can just jump off from the balcony into the water. The homestay and the rooms are clean.
There is a hut built on the top of a hill in the lagoon. It’s just a 5 mins hike up. The view is spectacular from the top and that’s where you can receive strong 4G network.
The family hosting us are lovely and friendly. They give us our privacy and there to assist when needed. They are so flexible and accommodating with our request and plans.
Food is basic but I guess that’s what you have to expect when you are staying somewhere so remote.
Rufas/Lagoon homestay is absolutely amazing. We will definitely recommend this place.
This is the best homestay out of 4 places we stayed in Raja Ampat. We have our own private island with a lagoon, which has baby sharks and stingray visiting daily! It is absolutely amazing.
We have newly built bungalows built on water and can just jump off from the balcony into the water. The homestay and the rooms are clean.
There is a hut built on the top of a hill in the lagoon. It’s just a 5 mins hike up. The view is spectacular from the top and that’s where you can receive strong 4G network.
The family hosting us are lovely and friendly. They give us our privacy and there to assist when needed. They are so flexible and accommodating with our request and plans.
Food is basic but I guess that’s what you have to expect when you are staying somewhere so remote.
Rufas/Lagoon homestay is absolutely amazing. We will definitely recommend this place.