Maheswari
Maheswari Phinisi
Taka Makassar: a sandbar that appears with the tide
Updated 20 October 2026
Maheswari reaches Taka Makassar on day 2 of the 3D2N and day 2 of the 4D3N. It is a crescent-shaped sandbank ringed by shallow reef, visible only at low tide. The water is 1 to 5 metres deep and the current mild, so most snorkellers manage it.
A sandbar on day two
On the 3D2N, Taka Makassar comes in the afternoon of day 2, after lunch. The plan is a snorkel and some time to enjoy the bar, then a snack, then Manta Point. On the 4D3N it follows the Manta Point snorkel and a snack on day 2, with the Komodo trek next.
The 2D1N and the full day do not stop here, and neither does day 1 or day 3 of any route.
The two routes show one thing. The bar and the reef at Manta Point are visited as a pair, and which comes first depends on the tide. The captain decides that on the day.
- 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
How the tide sets the afternoon
Visible only at low tide, the sandbar is no place to walk when the tide is high, because it can lie underwater. So the tide sets the hour of the visit, not the timetable.
That is why the order of this stop and Manta Point can swap. A low tide near the bar puts Taka Makassar first, and a stronger current at the reef can put Manta Point first.
The boat carries AIS, radar, a compass, GPS, an SBB radio and a VHF radio. None of it moves the tide, but it helps the crew place the boat where the bar is.
Photo taken on a Komodo Explorer trip · 12 photos
Snorkelling off the bar
Reef around the bar is shallow, with water between 1 and 5 metres deep and a mild current. Snorkelling here is easy, and it suits most levels. The stop lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
Compare it with the other water stops on the route. Manta Point has a strong current and asks for confident swimmers, and Pink Beach has deeper reef. Taka Makassar is the gentle one.
The tide sets the size of the bar. Snorkelling gear and life jackets are on board. A snorkel mask that fits matters more here than any other gear.
A bag for the tender
A tender comes with every fare. Whether it ferries you to the bar or you swim across from the boat is the captain's call on the day. Pack one dry bag, and you are ready for either. The tender, a 6 m fibreglass boat with a Yamaha 15 HP engine, is small beside a 30 m phinisi, so a light bag is easier to hand across.
Put a hat, reef-safe sunblock and a towel in it. There is no cover from the sun on the sand, and the light from the water is strong in the afternoon.
Leave phones and cameras in the bag until you have your footing. Park fees are charged per visitor per day, IDR 250,000 for a foreign visitor, and sit outside the fare.
FAQ
What is Taka Makassar?
A crescent-shaped sandbank surrounded by shallow reef. It is visible only at low tide, and it sits among the stops of day 2 on the 3D2N and the 4D3N. Snorkelling around it is easy. It is a stop for snorkelling and standing in shallow water.
Does the tide change the plan?
Yes. The bar shows only at low tide, so the order of Taka Makassar and Manta Point can swap. The captain decides on the day. Weather can change the itinerary too.
Is there cover from the sun on the sandbar?
Very little. The sand gives no cover, so bring a hat and reef-safe sunblock. The boat is a short swim or tender ride away when you want cover.
Is Taka Makassar on the 4-day route?
Yes. On the 4D3N it falls on day 2, after Manta Point and a snack and before the Komodo trek. The 3D2N also stops here, on its day 2. The 3D2N reaches it earlier in the day.
Is there a ticket for Taka Makassar?
We do not sell a ticket for a single stop. The park ticket is per visitor per day, and we mark the park days for your route with your booking. KEXI's park package covers the government entrance ticket (PP 36/2024), the ranger and the local levies, and it comes on top of the boat price unless your written quote lists it as included.
Check availability — Maheswari
Maheswari 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.