For travelers aiming to cross the border from Indonesia to Malaysia via Borneo, the journey from Tarakan to the border island of Nunukan is a necessary stepping stone. While speedboats connect these two transit hubs daily, navigating this route can be more than just a simple transfer—it can turn into an unexpected adventure.
Although booking a ticket and boarding is relatively straightforward, safety standards on these remote waterways are not always what you might expect. Overloaded vessels and a lack of visible safety gear are very real parts of the journey.
In this Tarakan to Nunukan Speedboat Guide, we share our firsthand experience making the 2.5-hour journey. From ticket prices and exact timetables to the reality of onboard safety (including our own run-in with a seaweed farm!), here is everything you need to know to prepare for this border-crossing transit.
🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む: タラカンからヌヌカンへのスピードボート移動ガイド！時刻表・料金と「乗客超過」のリアルな注意点
The Speedboat Route: Tarakan to Nunukan Timetable & Ticket Prices
Speedboats operate from Tarakan to Nunukan. The journey takes about 2.5 hours and costs Rp 280 000 per person for foreigners.
We arrived in Tarakan by boat from Maratua Island at nearly 1:30pm. Boats to Nunukan conveniently depart from the landing point where you arrived.
We bought our tickets and waited for some time in the terminal, as our departure was at 3pm.
Boarding the Boat: A Lesson in Indonesian Over-Capacity Transit
At around 2:30pm, the person who sold us our tickets came and guided us to board the boat.
Our boat was a small speedboat and there were already many other passengers on board. We managed to find space at the back, but it was likely to be another over-capacity boat. Oh Indonesia can be worrying sometimes.
Onboard Reality: The Worrying Lack of Safety Gear
The total weight may have been acceptable, but I looked around to see if there were enough life jackets for all of the passengers, but I couldn’t see any life jackets at all on board. Travelling by boat in Indonesia is not always 100% safe!
It was a Sunday, so the boat was probably overflowing with passengers more than on weekdays. It was not a good idea to travel on a weekend after the school summer holidays had started!
Navigating the Seaweed Farms: Arrival at Nunukan Harbour
The speedboat, packed with passengers, departed Tarakan harbour at 2:45pm, earlier than scheduled.
The boat went through mangrove swamps and seaweed farms, arriving at Nunukan Harbour at 5pm. We got stuck for a while in the seaweed farms:) We are very glad to have arrived safely. The next day, we finally crossed the border into Malaysia.
What’s Next? Read the Full Border Crossing Guide!
After surviving the speedboat ride to Nunukan, we spent the night rested and ready for the next big step: crossing the international border to Tawau, Malaysia by ferry. The ticketing process was quite unique, and we ran into some interesting situations at immigration!
To see exactly how we made the journey to Malaysia, check out our step-by-step guide here:
➡ How to Cross the Border from Nunukan to Tawau by Ferry: A Complete Guide
Comment