Paradise found!
This tiny dot on the world map is super remote and untouched, and that’s what makes it so special.
Hoga Island is a Robinson Crusoe style tropical island complete with endless hot white sand beaches, swaying coconut palm trees and crystal clear water in every shade of blue imaginable.
After our morning visiting the Bajo Tribe on a neighbouring island, we arrived by boat, moored alongside a jetty and then set off down the pier and across the beach. The sun was blisteringly hot at its’ peak in the sky and we grabbed a sarong (and some an old palm leaf) for protection! Every direction you looked provided another perfect picture opportunity. You didn’t even have to try…
At the end of our beach walk we were delighted to find a long table set up for lunch under the welcome shade of a few trees. We filled our plates with simple Indonesia cuisine, took our chances on the tightrope strung up between two palm trees, waited our turn for a fresh coconut drink and relaxed in the most picturesque scene ever… a veritable screen saver if ever you saw one (in fact this very picture IS now my screen saver!)
Unfortunately our stay in this piece of paradise was far too short – and we had to head back to our boat far too soon for my liking! The return journey found us walking through a back path behind the beach so as to avoid the scorching sun and this took as via a few of the dive centres that this island is most well known for…
Hoga Island in the Wakatobi National Park of Indonesia is located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, one of the most bio-diverse regions of the Indo-Pacific region and the world. Fortunately we were able to spend a few hours snorkelling the coral reef surrounding the island and, once again, I loved exploring the colourful corals and fascinating marine life.
Indonesia really does offer some of the very best snorkelling in the world. Read this post if you’re looking for more amazing places to snorkel in Indonesia.
For more info about diving at Hoga Island visit the Hoga Island Dive Resort website
This was such a special day in Indonesia, possibly even my best, part of me wants everyone to have the chance to visit such a pristine part of the world and enjoy it’s delights, but another part of me is a bit reluctant to share such a special secret because an influx of tourists might just ruin it’s untouched beauty!! I would like to think that if you’re lucky enough to find your way to Hoga Island in your lifetime that you would be one of the people who appreciates it’s unspoilt beauty and leaves it that way for the next visitor!!
Read more about my #TripofWonders experience in Indonesia here:
A cruise through the Borneo jungle on a Klotok
Orangutan encounters in Borneo
The incredible islands of Wakatobi
Visiting the Bajo Tribe of Water Gypsies
Experiencing the culture of Melo Village in Flores Island
A visit to Uluwatu Temple in Bali
A beautiful day spent at a Balinese home -cooking Balinese food and ploughing the rice paddies!
If you enjoyed this post about the picturesque Hoga Island please consider pinning it to Pinterest using the graphic below so you can find it again for when you plan your visit to Hoga Island, Indonesia or so that others can find it and plan their own trip. Thanks so much!
Images: Kathryn Rossiter; Snorkelling image: Cynthia from Every footstep an adventure
Disclosure: 8
My trip to Indonesia was on the invitation of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism as part of the Trip of Wonders. For more information on travelling to Indonesia please visit www.indonesia.travel and follow @indtravel on Twitter or Instagram and search the hashtags #WonderfulIndonesia #TripofWonders for more incredible photos from our journey
I write reviews and feature beautiful places on my blog in order to inspire others to find new, exciting and different places to visit. As always all thoughts, opinions and images are my own (unless otherwise credited).
One of the islands I recommend most are the Gili Islands. A short trip from Bali takes you to these amazing islands with great snorkel and scuva diving