The name of Karimunjawa is taken from Javanese language 'Kremun kremun saking tanah Jawi' addressed by one of the Wali Songo [the Nine Saints who introducing Islam in Java to describe how far this mini archipelago from Java, to be exact from Semarang and Jepara.

The Karimunjawa archipelago is situated in the Java Sea, 45 nautical miles away from Jepara Regency and 60 Nautical miles from Semarang, the capital city of Central Java Province. Karimunjawa is known for its amazing fringing coral reefs, diving sites, and sandy beaches.

Karimunjawa archipelago consists of 27 islands scattered along the Java Sea. Five of them, namely Karimunjawa, Kemujan, Parang, Nyamuk and Genting, are inhabited. The area is 111,625 acres in width, consists of 7,033 acres of land and 104,592 acres of water; Most of the islands are untouched and beautiful, where visitors can indulge in diving, fishing and sunbathing.

Apart from the main island, Karimun, two of the larger islands are Kemujen and Parang. The island of Bawean lies east of this group, as part of Gresik District, West Java Province. The Karimunjawa islands are administered as an Indonesian sub district with five (5) villages (Karimun, Kamagin, Kemujan, Digimon, and Parang) administratively part of Jepara district of Central Java province.

Unlike Bali and other destinations, Karimunjawa offers you the perfect mix of nature with beauty. The virgin beaches along the 27 islands in the group are home to 64 different types of coral reef, 290 species of coral fish, 7 species of kima (giant clam), 3 species of turtles and other marine biota, including sponges, soft coral, and anemone. The 22 islands have been declared as a marine national park, leaves 5 other islands managed by private and Indonesian Navy. The islands have known with extensive coral reefs; a mixture of fringing and patchy reefs. There are a number of dive sites and an upmarket dive resort. The source of income for the local economy is fishing, followed by services and commerce.

Apart from use as a pirate base, the islands are believed to have been uninhabited until a penal settlement was established during the British occupation of Java in the early seventeenth century. The settlement was abandoned by the Dutch during the Java War (1825-1830), but the former convicts remained as settlers. Cotton plantations set up during the convict period became a major source of income, as did goldsmithing.

The Accesibility to Karimunjawa

From Jakarta, Karimunjawa can be reached by domestic flights served by Garuda Airways, Mandala Airlines, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air and Batavia Air to Semarang. And then from Semarang there are two options to reach Karimunjawa; using plane or speed boat. Visitors may use chartered flight from Ahmad Yani Airport or KMC KARTINI I speed boat from Tanjung Mas Harbor. Approximately it needs 3 hours sailing from Semarang to Karimunjawa by boat.

Beside the two options above there is public ferry KMP Muria departs from Kartini Harbor Jepara. It needs 5 - 6 hours to reach Karimunjawa from Jepara by KMP Muria, while transportation between the islands is served by local fishermen’s boats, which can be hired anytime.

The best time to visit the islands is from April through November. The most comfortable time to visit the Karimunjawa is from April to July and September to November because of the calm water and wind.

Please also check Portuguese Fortress as one of tourist destination in Jepara