The Paradise named CUBADAK ISLAND
As a beach and sacred islands lover, I always excited in finding an islands with white/bright sandy beach and beautiful coral view for snorkeling and diving session. Thanks’ god I live in Indonesia, the biggest archipelago country in the world. We have more than 13.600 islands spread in the equator line with length more that 1/16 this planet earth square. Komoda Islands, Wakatobi, Derawan, Raja Ampat, Krakatoa, Belitong, Bali just a few of that big number of stunning beautiful Islands in Indonesia.
On 2010 Ied (Islamic Holiday) vacation, I came home to Padang – West Sumatera, te city where I was born and growth. This is a typical coastal city which is facing the Indian Ocean at the west and walled by misty Bukit Barisan Mountain in the east, south and North of the city. By this demography, Padang blessed by Amazing mountain view at the east , some stunning bay and cove at the south and a straight long beach with moderate wave at the west and north.
Three years before that time, I often hear about a secret paradise island just close to my hometown. It’s called Cubadak Island. For some reasons, I always skip this island in my itinerary in my vacation in Padang. The rumor said that this island only permitted for foreigner, and quite expensive for locals since anything will be charged by US Dollars.
The Resort in this island was built and run by an Italian Guys, names Nanni and Frederica (his wife, also Italian) from an empty inhabitant island to well served like nowadays. The name “Cubadak” , is a minangnese noun for Jack Fruit, because long time ago, this island was dominated by Jackfruit tree (but during my stay, I never seen any Jackfruit tree on the island..:)
After some email correspondence with Dominique (Nanni’s friend, also help him to serve the guest), I plan to take a one day diving trip. It’s only cost me USD 145 for 3 times dive, include meal and equipment rental. I thought it’s a special price for local people..:), because it quite make sense and pretty cheap. But close to the D Day, I cancelled the Diving Trip because I got some problem in my ears; light infection and my doctor forbid me for any water activity, especially diving, for a couple months. So, I just took one day tour (because I cannot stay overnight due to tight family schedule during ied celebration).
Cubadak located in Carocok Mandeh Bay, one hour drive from Padang. The trip is already stunning and you will served by beautiful scenery along the road. The road condition is good with hot mix asphalt. At the Carocok harbor, we were picked by a small speed boat cross the blue sea water to the islands. It’s only 10 minutes, much shorter that I thought before.
And here we are, the legendary paradise that has been spoken by many traveler all over the world. Cubadak Paradiso Island. Sacred, Hidden, Natural, Simply Enjoyable, and Perfectly Stunning view. I just cannot close my eyes and wish time running slower so I could stay there longer.
The island is quite large, Nanni ( Italian Guy who build and run this resort) only permitted by local government to run half side of this island and only use less than 30% on the area for cottage and other resort facilities. The rest of it is wet green lush tropical rain forest with wild animal, such as monkey, lizard, bird, and etc. So, sounds of wild animal will easily sounded in every part of the island.
Although the coral is quite average, but various of fishes are very easy to find, just a few meters from the main jetty. Some minutes by boat from the beach, there is a wreck ship and ready to be explored by scuba diving. What a perfect above and under sea view..:)
The cottages face to east and the mainland of Sumatera, with still covered by wet tropical forest (national preservation forest). The lagoon itself more look like a lake than sea because surrounding by Small Islands, hills and the bay. Some articles in internet said that this bay was formed from A Fire Mountain Explosion thousand hundred years ago.
After doing snorkeling, and walking around the beach, stay under the tree to avoid direct sun burn (for most Indonesian, we avoid sun light…lil bit different with western people who look for sun burn for getting tanned skin..:), we were served a big Fried Sea bus Fish and vegetables and Minang Sambal for lunch. What a lunch, perfetto.
At 4 pm, I decided to get back to Padang. I said to Dominique that this an introduction visit. I wish to have a real visit, stay one or two night and really want to feel the peaceful paradise named Cubadak Island.

The Cottages, no Air Con, no Swimming Pool, no TV Shows, who need that..Mother Nature has serve it all
Notes:
– Land Trip from Padang to Carocok takes 1 hours 20 mnts drive
– If you take public bus, from down town, take “angkot” to teluk Bayur, and stop in “simpang teluk bayur”, continue by Bus to Painan dan said to the driver that you will stop at “Simpang Carocok”, just right after the Market of Tarusan. and then continue by ojek.
– Nanny will provide transportation from airport to seaport if you book three days two nights stay or more
– Things to do ; anything that connected to nature, hiking, jungle trekking, bird watching, fishing, snorkeling, diving, or even just doing nothing..:)






t’rma kasih banyak, bang, untuk laporan yg menarik. Ada kemungkinan saya mau berkeliling di tempatnya tersebut. mungkin June tahun depan.
gimana sih? paul
Tks Paul. Jangan ragu kontak saya kalau ada yang ingin ditanyakan…salam
waah saya emang tertarik untuk trip yad mau ke daerah Padang … tapi saya cuman dengan berita tentang pulau Sikuai … tapi pulau Cubadak ini baru sekarang saya tau … (padahal saya orang Payakumbuh (SUMBAR juga hehehe) …
Sebenarnya ada belasan pulau yang tersebar di antara Bungus sampai Painan. Ini adlaah kekayaan bahari Ranah Minang terbesar, harus di jaga dan dikelola sebaik-baiknya…Salam
Thanks for sharing our beautiful kampuang to the world.
My Pleasure, Sir….
keren habis…. wish I can get there some days.
keren mas!! udah lama pengen ke Padang dan sekitar, cuma belum tau kapan bisa waktunya… 😦
wah baru tau nih ma ni daerah.. maybe next trip bs ke daerah sematera.. amiin
btw, foto2 yg lainnya ada gak mas?
Hi there!! Thanks for sharing this.
Could you please give more info on the accommodation? Like room rates, contact no/email?
I’m planning to go to Padang soon and this island is definitely in my itinerary. 😀
Thanks again!!
Dear Marlen…
Thank for the comments…
For more information, you could check their web: http://www.cubadak-paradisovillage.com
They will response any information you need soon. Even there is no swimming pool and the crowd of music in this island, but they have good internet connection, so they still be able to communicate with us by email.
Regards
hello, mau nanya dong, pulau cubadak ini sepenuhnya di pegang sama Nanni-Frederica ini ya? kalau disananya cuma sehari-tanpa menginap, harus melalui mereka jugakah?
yupe, contact them by email and they’ll reply soon:)
Da Bot,
Very nice posting…
We must find another spot of our motherland…
update taruih yo Da.
Pulau Cubadak masuk 14 destinasi romantis versi NatGeo Traveller, siap-siap didatangi lebih banyak wisatawan, mudah-mudahan tidak merusak alamnya yah. Ternyata akses kesana tidak terlalu susah kl baca notes-nya, semoga tercapai tahun ini kesana 🙂
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The Paradise Named Cubadak Island | infosumbar said this on February 12, 2012 at 8:56 pm |
Selamat siang,
Saya dan beberapa teman tertarik ke Pulau Cubadak. Ada yg ingin saya tanyakan :
1. Utk one day trip berapa ya biayanya per orang? Apakah sudah termasuk lunch?
2. Utk one day trip jadwal berangkat kapal dari pelabuhan Carocok jam berapa dan kembali ke pelabuhan jam berapa?
3. Utk contact person langsung ke Mr. Nanni atau bagaimana?Boleh minta nomor tlp atau email yg bisa dihubungi?
Terima kasih.
1 room for 3 adul 1 child
Chek in 02 jan 2013. 01 night only