9 Places to Snorkel with Stingless Jellyfish in Indonesia

Swimming with jellyfish might sound risky until you do it in Indonesia. In certain remote lakes, evolution has created something magical stingless jellyfish that pulse around you in calm, clear waters. These otherworldly encounters are quiet, surreal, and completely safe. From the famous Kakaban Island to lesser-known lagoons in Raja Ampat and Sulawesi, these nine places offer rare moments of underwater awe. No strings, no fear, just you, warm water, and thousands of gentle creatures.

1. Kakaban Island, East Kalimantan

Kakaban is Indonesia’s most famous jellyfish lake and for good reason. Tucked inside the Derawan Islands, its prehistoric ecosystem hosts millions of stingless jellyfish in a saltwater lake ringed by jungle. Swim through golden and translucent jellies that pulse silently in warm, greenish water. There are no fins allowed here to protect the fragile environment, so expect a slow, dreamlike float. Getting here takes effort but the feeling of swimming through a living galaxy is more than worth it.

2. Mariona Lake, Togean Islands, Central Sulawesi

Mariona Lake is a quiet marvel tucked deep in the Togean Islands, where time seems to pause. Its brackish, emerald water shimmers under the tropical sun, alive with thousands of stingless jellyfish that glide softly around you. With hardly any crowds, you might snorkel for an hour without seeing another soul, just gentle pulsing bodies and the distant rustle of jungle leaves. Locals consider the lake sacred, and that reverence is felt in the silence. It’s more than a swim, it’s a floating meditation in a place untouched by hurry or noise, where nature whispers and everything slows down.

3. Lake Lenmakana, Raja Ampat, West Papua

Tucked inside a rocky crater and reachable only by a steep, sweaty jungle climb, Lake Lenmakana feels like it was hidden on purpose. But the payoff? Unforgettable. You’ll slip into warm, clear water filled with golden, stingless jellyfish that glide in slow, hypnotic rhythm. Towering cliffs surround the lake, muffling sound and making the world feel far away. As sunlight streams through the canopy, the jellyfish glow like tiny lanterns in the depths. It’s easily one of Raja Ampat’s most surreal and otherworldly moments proof that magic still lives in the wild corners of the world.

4. Lake Karawapop, Misool, West Papua

Karawapop may be smaller than Kakaban or Lenmakana, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in pure, untouched beauty. Nestled between towering limestone cliffs and reachable only by boat and a short jungle hike, the lake feels like a secret. Inside, both golden and translucent jellyfish drift gently in the still, clear water. There are no docks, no crowds just you and the pulse of nature. Snorkeling here feels like stepping into a forgotten world, one that hasn’t changed in centuries. Even the jellyfish seem to glide toward you, curious and calm in this quiet sanctuary.

5. Lake Love (Danau Cinta), Raja Ampat

Named for its heart-like shape when seen from above, Danau Cinta is one of Raja Ampat’s most poetic and hidden treasures. Reached by a short forest trek, the lake sits quietly surrounded by dense jungle and the sound of tropical birds. Inside, stingless jellyfish drift in crystal-clear water, pulsing in slow, meditative rhythm. It’s a place with no noise, no rush just the soft sound of your breath and the gentle push of water as you float among these graceful creatures. Still unknown to most travelers, Danau Cinta offers an encounter that feels deeply personal, almost sacred in its stillness.

6. Lake Ayamaru, West Papua

Lake Ayamaru is the largest freshwater lake in West Papua’s Bird’s Head Peninsula, and while it isn’t a full jellyfish sanctuary, certain quiet coves are home to stingless jellyfish that have adapted over generations. The lake stretches wide, ringed by traditional villages where hospitality runs deep visiting often means shared meals, stories, and laughter. In the shallows, snorkelers may find translucent jellyfish drifting through reeds like pale ghosts. It’s not just about the creatures, it’s about the human connection and the peaceful rhythm of a lake where nature and culture meet.

7. Toli-Toli Jellyfish Lake, Central Sulawesi

Hidden near the remote Toli-Toli region of Central Sulawesi, this little-known jellyfish lake is just starting to emerge on travel maps. Each season, stingless jellyfish bloom in its calm, glassy waters, creating a rare chance to swim among them in solitude. Half the adventure expect a dugout canoe ride followed by a short trek through dense forest. There are no facilities, no crowds, and no noise just the soft hum of nature and the shimmer of jellyfish below. If you’re craving raw beauty and pure escape, this forgotten paradise delivers in full.

8. Lake Hanjalipa, Togean Islands

Hanjalipa is a quiet gem in the Togean Islands, often overlooked but just as magical as its bigger sibling, Mariona. Its smaller size makes the experience even more intimate. Slip into the warm water and you’ll find translucent, stingless jellyfish drifting in slow, hypnotic patterns, a graceful ballet beneath the surface. With no large boats, little tourism, and only the sounds of the forest nearby, it’s one of the most peaceful snorkeling spots in Indonesia. Here, time seems to pause, and the only thing you hear is the gentle swish of your own movement through still water.

9. Lake Samber Gelap, Kotabaru, South Kalimantan

Off the coast of South Kalimantan, Samber Gelap Island holds a quiet secret, a small calm lake where stingless jellyfish glide just beneath the surface. Still unknown to most travelers and even many Indonesians, this spot remains wonderfully off the radar. The lake’s delicate ecosystem invites careful exploration, rewarding snorkelers with rare, up-close encounters in total tranquility. After your swim, the island’s untouched beaches and swaying palms extend the sense of escape. This is snorkeling at its purest remote, raw, and gently pulsing with life just below the surface.