Biak or also known as Kota Biak is a city and a small island that is part of the Biak Islands found in the northern coast of Papua, being located in Cenderawasih Bay. Kota Biak has the highest concentration of residents, whereas other areas within the island consist of small villages. Biak has been mentioned in the historical records from as early as 1526 by a Portuguese navigator Jorge de Menezes. With a total population of 700,000 people as of 2010, this area has a rich collection of atolls, reefs and corals, as well as lush forest.

Airports in Biak

1. Frans Kaisiepo International Airport

Frans Kaisiepo International Airport or also known as Mokmer Airport is an international airport that is meant to serve Biak as well as the nearby areas, being located 9 kilometers away from the city. It is a public airport owned by the Pertiwi Daya Sembada and operated by PT Angkasa Pura I. The airport gets its name from the fourth governor of Biak, Frans Kaiseipo. Once used as a military airfield, now the airport has a runway extended to 3,571 meters and made of asphalt. Residing at an elevation of 14 meters above sea level, the airport has undergone upgrades over time and is now capable of handling wide-body aircraft. It also has a terminal building that is of 1.367 square meters in size capable of accommodating up to 100,000 passengers annually. Among the serviced airlines include Garuda Indonesia, Nam Air, Sriwijaya Air and Trigana Air Service for destinations to and from Jakarta, Jayapura, Makassar and Nabire. There is a handful of connecting flights from Manila to Biak offered by airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Garuda Indonesia in which the budget typically ranges from 59,470 pesos to 86,928 pesos.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Biak?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travelers to find the cheapest flights to Biak and the nearby areas within the islands. All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Biak.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Biak?

The off-peak season to visit Biak, as well as the nearby regions, is usually around December to March which is the most humid month in Biak with the highest precipitation. As such, one can expect travel costs to be much lesser if you are travelling around this month. The peak time to visit Biak is usually around April to May which is when the weather is terrific, however always anticipate that there are chances of rain to happen. Expect prices to rise around this time. If you plan your trip well, you can undoubtedly save your money because the price for hotels and flights during these peak seasons will cost you a lot of money.

Biak, just like other regions around Indonesia and neighboring countries, has a tropical rainforest climate which dry season is shorter, and rainfall usually is heavy throughout the year. The annual precipitation is about 2816 millimeters with the wettest months from January to March with the average rainfall of 270 to 278 millimeters. The average maximum temperature in Biak would typically reach around 29 and 32 degree Celsius while the average minimum would go to 22 and 24 degree Celsius. This minimal temperature variation is usually normal and is expected to go in that manner throughout the year. The hottest month is often July with an average temperature of 31 degree Celsius, while the coolest month is in September with an average temperature of 22.3 degree Celsius.

When in Biak, one can look forward to participating in festivals just like the locals would. To begin with, the demography here consists of people who practice Christianity. As such, it is natural to see Christmas being observed here. There are multiple open houses to look forward to with local performances being held to celebrate Christmas. Moving on, the Biak Munara Festival is an event that is organized to showcase the cultures in Biak. Therefore, the visitors can have the chance to join in traditional activities, taking part in a photography competition, as well as doing activities like diving and snorkeling. Last but not least, another festival worth celebrating in Biak is the Biak Munara Wampasi Festival which is a Thanksgiving feast of spearfishing, where traditional musical instruments, as well as dancing performances by the locals, can be observed and enjoyed.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Biak?

1. Wafsarak Waterfall – Wafsarak Waterfall or also known as Warsa Waterfall is an amazing waterfall one should look forward to come over when in Biak. While one would need to spend some time, roughly about two hours to get here from the city, the journey is guaranteed to be worth it upon seeing the soothing waterfall.

2. Samares Blue Lake – Samares Blue Lake is yet another natural attraction worth visiting when you are in Biak, a lake with a distinctive blue color that is sure to mesmerize all who come to visit. Hidden in the depths of the jungle, one needs to prepare to do some walking and look forward to a picnic while enjoying the scenery of the lake.

3. Bird & Orchid Garden – The Bird & Orchid Garden is the chance for visitors to be able to see the collection of orchid and bird species that are unique to Papua in general and specifically, Biak. It is arranged in a somewhat natural setup to preserve the natural feeling and allowing visitors to be close to the animals.