Piaynemo is one of the most beautiful spots in Raja Ampat. It’s no surprise that the famous Piaynemo viewpoint is featured on the 100,000 Indonesian rupiah bill. Around 40 islands form a unique landscape of large and small spherical islands surrounded by turquoise lagoons. The nearby Fam Islands – sometimes also called Pam Islands – serve as the perfect base for your visit to Piaynemo. There are many other remarkable islands and beautiful snorkeling and diving spots in the area. Below, you’ll find our tips for visiting Piaynemo and the Fam Islands.
Choose a Day Trip or Stay at the Fam Islands and Piaynemo?
You can stay at the Fam Islands and Piaynemo, but it’s also possible to visit these places as a day trip from islands like Gam, Kri, or Mansuar. Depending on the weather, it takes about two to three hours by boat one-way. If you’re short on time in Raja Ampat, a day trip is your best option, but if you have more time, it’s more efficient and cost-effective to stay at the Fam Islands and Piaynemo, as we recommend in our Raja Ampat itinerary. This way, you can visit Piaynemo early in the morning before the day trip boats arrive, and you won’t have to travel back and forth in a single day. If you still want to visit Fam Islands and Piaynemo as a day trip, it’s cheaper to share a boat with other travelers. Many dive schools also offer regular day trips to Fam Islands and Piaynemo.
The Best Spots at Fam Islands and Piaynemo
You only need one full day to visit the best spots at Fam Islands and Piaynemo since they are all close to each other. If you stay here, two nights is sufficient, but of course, it doesn’t hurt to plan more nights if you have more time.
Rufus Island
The tiny Rufus Island lies next to Piaynemo and has a unique shape. From a distance, Rufus appears to be an elongated, solid limestone island, but hidden between the limestone walls is a bright blue lagoon. Through a small opening, you can paddle in and swim in the turquoise waters. Along the outer walls of Rufus Island, snorkeling is breathtakingly beautiful.
Melissa’s Garden
Melissa’s Garden is one of the most beautiful dive spots in Raja Ampat, known for its stunning coral garden. This spot is less suitable for snorkelers because it’s a bit too deep to fully enjoy the corals. Melissa’s Garden consists of three shallow coral plateaus rich in biodiversity. Here, you’ll be treated to a spectacular landscape of colorful hard and soft corals teeming with life. You’ll spot schools of brightly colored reef fish like clownfish, snappers, and fusiliers, as well as larger sea creatures like reef sharks, turtles, and eagle rays. Melissa’s Garden is an ideal dive spot for both beginner and experienced divers. The shallow zones are perfect for long, relaxing dives, while the slightly deeper areas offer more of a challenge for advanced divers.
Piaynemo Viewpoint
Piaynemo is beautiful to explore by boat, but to truly appreciate the number of islands, you need to climb the steps to the Piaynemo Viewpoint. From the top, you have a panoramic view of all of Piaynemo, with limestone islands rising almost straight up from the sea. Palm trees sway atop the rocks, and the shallow waters between the islands create varying shades of blue.
Entrance Fee for Piaynemo: There is a small entrance fee for your visit to Piaynemo, but most tours include this in the price. Always check beforehand with your homestay to confirm whether this is included.
Star Lagoon Viewpoint
Within the islands of Piaynemo, there’s another viewpoint. The Star Lagoon Viewpoint is a bit lower than the Piaynemo Viewpoint but still offers a spectacular view of the lagoon, which resembles a star shape, with turquoise waters. It’s a great stop to make while visiting Piaynemo!
Fam Wall
Lastly, we recommend Fam Wall for both snorkelers and divers. This almost vertical coral wall is richly covered with colorful corals like large fan corals and enormous barrel sponges. The corals grow on the wall just below the water’s surface, making it an excellent spot for snorkelers to get up close to the corals. We found this to be one of the best snorkeling locations in Raja Ampat.
Great Homestays at Fam Islands and Piaynemo
Fam Islands is the perfect base and offers some great homestays. One of the best options is Or Mandira Guest House, located on a long beach with powder-white sand, crystal-clear water, and a beautiful coral reef. From your bungalow, you can walk straight into the sea to snorkel with hundreds of tropical fish. There are four bungalows in total, simple but cozy. Host Thomas is always ready to help, and the meals are delicious. Another great place to stay is Meos Ambower Homestay. Host Nick speaks good English and will welcome you warmly with his family. This accommodation is a bit larger, with eight bungalows in total. It’s a friendly place, and you’ll easily connect with other travelers during meals.
 Or Mandira Guest House |
 Meos Ambower Homestay |
