The easternmost corner of Maluku, the flat, forested Aru Islands are just off the southwest coast of Papua.
They are mostly of interest for their Papuan fauna, which includes kangaroos, cassowaries, palm cockatoos and 4 species of birds of paradise. Marine life is also very rich, and Aru's capital Dobo, situated o the small island of Wamar, has long been a busy regional trading centre for pearls, sea cucumbers, shark fins and the like. The local people are racially and culturally more Malukan than Papuan, but they still preserve some interesting traditions, and are among the friendliest in Maluku.
Few tourists ever visit Aru. Since the main way to get here is via the Keis, it would be foolish to come here for beaches, even though a few decent ones can be found here and there. Same goes for snorkelling - the relatively few good spots for that are mostly very far from Dobo.
There are virtually no facilities for visitors outside the regional capital, but Dobo can be visited easily enough. Same goes for the neighbouring part of Wokam, which has the pick of Aru's few historical sites. For those interested in Aru's unique environment and wildlife, both marine and terrestrial, remote South-East Aru is the most interesting region.
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