Selayar is an island located just to the south of Bira. This island is stretching from north to the south for about a hundred kilometer or so. It is the biggest island in the Kepulauan Selayar Regency, South Sulawesi. It also has the biggest cities in the Regency.
In term of tourism, Kepulauan Selayar is more popular for its Taka Bonerate National Park. However, Selayar Island also has many beautiful beaches. Here are some of the best beaches you can find in Selayar Island.
Pa’badilang Beach
This is a white sand beach with a wonderful view. Located at Bongaiya Village, Bontomatene District, this beach is approximately 48 kilometers away from Benteng City, the biggest city on Selayar Island. This beach is dominated not only by its sand but also by the karst rock formations around it. There is even a small cape that goes to the sea.
Baloiya Beach
Sometimes this beach is called Baloyya. Located on Patikarya Village, Bontosikuyu District, this beach is only ten kilometers away from Benteng. You can expect white sand stretch and green hills around this beach. You can also see many small islands protruding on the sea, with some shallow waters around it.
Punagaan Beach
Located on the eastern shore of Selayar Island, this beach is quite accessible even though you have to walk a little. This beach is located on a small bay with calm waters. Since this one is not a too popular destination, there is a great chance that you will be a sole visitor here. Punagaan Beach is located at Patilereng Village, Bontosikuyu District.
Batu Karapu Beach
Some people call it’s the Uluwatu of Selayar simply because there is a hole in a cape’s base, just like in its Balinese counterpart. This is a calm beach with nearly no improvement whatsoever. This beach is located at Tongke-tongke, Lowa Village, Bontosikuyu District. There is a plan by the local government to make access to this beach easier.
Ngapaloka Beach
The eastern part of Ngapaloka Beach is very famous. It has a similar vibe as Punagaan beach, mostly because it is located just half a kilometer away to the north of it. You can find many trees on this beach. And when you want to jump to the water, you will find that its calm waters are so refreshing.
Pinang Beach
This is another exoticism that you might imagine what a tropical beach is. There is a long stretch of white sand, coconut trees on the beach, and calm turquoise water. This beach is managed professionally and you can find good accommodation and diving facility nearby.
Selayar Island is a unique place in the southern part of Sulawesi. With hundreds of kilometers of shoreline, you can expect lots of beautiful beaches on this island. The only problem that you might encounter is that there are not many improvements and accommodation you can find here. Other than that, Selayar Island is a great place to explore.
