Raffles Cruise
Raffles Cruise
Taka Makassar: a sandbar that appears at low tide, a reef on both sides
Updated 24 October 2026
Taka Makassar turtles and snorkelling: Raffles Cruise visits the crescent sandbar after Manta Point on day one of the 3D2N and on day three of the 4D3N, and the 2D1N offers it as a sandy-beach choice. The bar surfaces at low tide only, and no turtle is promised.
Taka Makassar on each sailing
On the 3-day trip Taka Makassar is the third snorkel of day one, after Sebayur and Manta Point, and dinner follows. On the 4-day trip it comes on the morning of day three, straight after Manta Point, with lunch and Mawan afterwards.
On the 2-day trip, day two lists Taka Makassar as a sandy-beach option beside Manta Point. The full day does not reach it.
The two stops are paired, and the order between them can swap with the tide. The captain decides on the day.
A sandbar that depends on the tide
Taka Makassar is a curved sandbank ringed by shallow reef. Only the low tide uncovers the bar. Come high water the bar can vanish, and nobody walks there. The captain reads the tide and decides whether the group lands.
The reef around it is 1 to 5 m deep with a mild current, and the planning range for the snorkel is 30 to 60 minutes. The park data rates the stop easy and open to every level, and the shallow water suits most snorkellers.
The table below lists those facts. They come from the park data and not from a measurement taken on your date.
- 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
Photo taken on a Komodo Explorer trip · 12 photos
Turtles: what the sea decides
In the water, the first thing a guest sees is shallow reef on both sides of the sand. Anyone unsure in the water puts on a life jacket, and the crew chooses the moment and the place for entry.
The park data we use says nothing about turtles at this stop, so this page promises none and states no likelihood. If one swims by, that is the sea's gift on the day. The reef is what the stop is built around.
A snorkeller who wants a particular animal is better served by choosing the length for its stops than by choosing it for a creature. Ask us what each length reaches.
What to carry onto the sand
Shade is minimal on the sand. Bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen, and keep a shirt within reach for the walk back to the tender. The bring list also names sunblock and a backpack, and a dry bag helps if you carry a phone.
Landing depends on the tide. If the bar is under water, the stop becomes a snorkel from the boat, and the captain tells you before anyone goes in.
The tariff here is the route's tariff: IDR 250,000 for foreigners and IDR 50,000 for Indonesian citizens on weekdays. Nothing is added to the fare for them.
FAQ
Will I see turtles at Taka Makassar?
We promise none. The park data we use says nothing about turtles at this stop, so we state no likelihood. The stop is a sandbar with shallow reef on both sides, and what swims past on the day is the sea's decision.
Is Taka Makassar a sandbar?
Yes, a crescent-shaped sandbank surrounded by shallow reef. It shows at low tide, and the high tide covers it. The captain reads the tide and decides whether the group lands.
Is Taka Makassar easy for a first snorkel?
Yes. The park data rates it easy, with shallow water of 1 to 5 m and a mild current, and open to every level. A guest who swims weakly wears a life jacket, and the crew picks the time to enter.
Can I swim there?
Yes, around the sandbar on the reef side, in a life jacket if you are not a confident swimmer. The crew decides when and where you go in. At high tide the bar is under water and the stop becomes a snorkel from the boat.
Check availability — Raffles Cruise
Raffles Cruise is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia. We arrange the pickup, take the payment and keep your booking in order. The boat sails with its own crew of 8.