Cenderawasih Bay has three possible gateway airports, Biak (BIK), Nabire (NBX) and Manokwari (MKW), and which one your voyage uses depends on the operator's actual route. Biak is generally considered the primary entry point, with the most reliable onward connections.
Common routes into Biak
Most international travellers arrive through Jakarta (CGK), then take a domestic connecting flight to Biak. Makassar (UPG) is another common connection point. Manokwari can also be reached directly from Sorong (SOQ) or Jayapura (DJJ) if your itinerary already includes those areas, and Nabire connects onward from Biak or Manokwari.
Plan an overnight buffer
Because reaching any of these three gateways typically involves at least one connection, and eastern Indonesia's domestic schedules can shift, most operators recommend arriving the day before your liveaboard departure rather than flying in on the same day.
Cenderawasih Bay operators do not all use the same airport. Booking a flight to the wrong one is a real risk here, so confirm with PhinisiGO or the operator directly once your booking is being arranged.
Getting from the airport to the harbour
Transfer arrangements from these airports to the departure harbour vary by operator and by which gateway is used. Most operators arrange this pickup directly, so confirm your arrival flight details with the operator ahead of time.