NK Jaya
NK Jaya phinisi fleet
Taka Makassar snorkel: the crescent sandbank on the longer NK Jaya routes
Updated 20 October 2026
Taka Makassar is a crescent-shaped sandbank surrounded by reef. The sand shows only at low tide, and shade is minimal. It is a snorkel stop on the 3 days 2 nights and 4 days 3 nights routes of NK Jaya 1 and NK Jaya 2, listed with free time and a snack.
Sand at low tide, water at high
Taka Makassar is a crescent of sand with reef around it. The sand is visible only at low tide. At high tide it can be underwater, so the same stop can look like a beach in the morning and like open sea in the afternoon.
Operators call it a place not to walk when the tide is high. On the day the crew decides whether the tide allows a landing.
There is no shade on the sand. A hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen matter more here than at most stops.
- Taka Makassar, day 2. Crescent of sand, reef around it, tide decides the beach.
Time on the sand is a bonus, not the point. The snorkel around the reef is what the stop is for.
Its slot on the 3-day and 4-day lists
On the 3 days 2 nights route it is stop 7 on day 2, between the Komodo Island trek and Manta Point, with free time and a snack. On the 4 days 3 nights route it is stop 6 on day 2, right after Manta Point and before the Komodo trek.
It is often paired with Manta Point on the same day. That is why the two appear side by side on both lists, and why the captain can swap them if the tide asks for it.
The one-day tour and the 2 days 1 night route do not reach it.
On our routes, Taka Makassar is a snorkel stop with time on the sand.
- Best window
- morning
- Time ashore / in water
- 30–60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Depth
- 1–5 m
- Current
- mild
- Tide
- Depends on tide
- Busiest months
- July, August
What it is not: the sandbar is visible only at low tide · not a place to walk if the tide is high: it may be underwater
Real photo from a KEXI trip · 12 photos
Kit and tips for a sandbar stop
Plan like a beach stop with a swim added. Bring a wide-brim hat or a cap and a light shirt, and put sunscreen on before you leave the boat. Take a bag for wet things so the tender stays dry.
- Hat or cap, with a chin strap if there is wind.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, reapplied after the swim.
- A rash guard for the water and the sun.
- Sandals you can wade in.
- A waterproof pouch for your phone.
Photographers like the stop because the sandbar sits in open water. The light changes with the day, and the tide changes the shape. Take a few frames early and a few later if the stop gives you time.
Snorkeling is covered by the park entry ticket. A foreign visitor pays IDR 250,000 a day.
When the tide says no
Plan for both versions of the stop. At low tide you get a sandbank and a ring of reef. At high tide you get reef and open water, and the sand is gone.
The tide sets how much sand shows. The itinerary can change with the weather, and the captain can swap the stop with Manta Point or shorten it.
The tide on your date decides how much sand you get. We reply in writing with what the tide table shows, and we say so if we cannot tell.
If the sand is gone, the swim still counts. Bring the same mask, the same rash guard and a smaller expectation of photographs.
FAQ
Is Taka Makassar always above water?
No. The sandbar is visible only at low tide, and at high tide it can be underwater. The captain plans the stop around the tide, and a mid-tide landing can still give you a reef swim. There's no fixed tide time on the plan, so we confirm what we can for your date.
What do you do at Taka Makassar?
A snorkel and time on the island, with free time and a snack. Bring a mask and reef shoes if you plan to walk the sand. It is a crescent sandbank ringed by shallow reef, and it shows only at low tide.
Does Taka Makassar have shade?
Almost none. Shade is minimal on the sand, so bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen. The boat's sundeck and awnings are the place to cool off between swims. The sandbank is exposed, so drink water before you swim and take a hat when you step ashore.
Which comes first, Taka Makassar or Manta Point?
It depends on the route and the tide. The 3 days 2 nights list shows Taka Makassar as stop 7 and Manta Point as stop 8. The 4 days 3 nights list reverses them, Manta Point stop 5 and Taka Makassar stop 6. The captain can swap them on the day.
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NK Jaya is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia.