Batam

About 20km south of Singapore, Batam is one of the fastest growing parts of the Riau Islands and the easiest to reach from Singapore. Though in Indonesian waters, in recent years Batam has become popular with day trippers and weekend visitors, who flock to the island for its golf, duty free shopping, beaches and delicious seafood restaurants.

More than 600,000 tourist visit Batam each year, more than any other place in Indonesia except for Bali. Ferries ply every 30 minutes during daylight hours between the World trade centre in Singapore and either Sekupang or Batu Ampur on the north coast of Bintam.

Sekupang is just 30 minutes by high speed ferry from the World Trade centre dock.The ferry terminal at Sekupang has numerous duty free shops selling everything from European cognac to Balinese handicrafts and Sumartran wood carvings. Prices are about half of those in Singapore for the same items. There is a taxi stand in front of the ferry terminal (the cross island journey takes about 40 minutes and cost about 20,000 Rupiah).

Batu Ampar is Batams second port, with more duty free shopping. Connection again by ferry from Singapore.

The sunny days within dry season between May and September are warm and pleasent, while the rainy season is between October and April, tropical showers will alternate with clear sky and sunshine. The average temperature of the day in coastal areas varies from about 28ºC (82ºF) during May, June, July to about 30ºC (86ºF) in March and October.

It is approximately one and half hours drive to the highland where temperature varies from 16ºC to 26ºC and it is known to drop about 8ºC during the night. The humidity is high (from a minimum of 70% to a maximum of 96%). The weather is most pleasent between May to September.