Drone picture of Eneko Island

How to get to Eneko Island, and what to expect?

If you’re like us, you’ll likely not find much information online about the Marshall Islands before your visit. In particular, information about accommodation. Our countless emails to accommodations (only one place was available on Booking.com) either went into the void or were returned with the unwanted “there are no rooms available.” During our Oceania trip, the Marshall Islands was the only island we had no bookings. Even up until the day we arrived.

However, we knew enough through what little was online to go straight to Robert Reimers Hotel. And this turned out to be the best decision. We aimed to get to Eneko Island, where we could camp (in the tent we brought). Eneko Island is labeled a ‘Weekend Getaway’ for locals who want to escape the hustle and bustle of Majuro. And indeed, it was a fantastic, albeit a little dirty, getaway.

How to get to Eneko Island

Getting to Eneko is relatively easy, regardless of how little there is about it online. We arrived at the Robert Reimers Hotel reception first thing from the airport, asking how to get to Eneko. Robert Reimers Hotel organizes both Eneko boat transfers and accommodation. They will take payment for the boat transfers and accommodation (cash or credit card) and write your booking on their big pad of paper that tracks transfer times and availability.

The boat transfer does not run at fixed times but instead runs when there are people to shuttle. The times are roughly 8 am to 5 pm; however, when we arrived at 11:30 am on a Friday, they told us the last boat had gone to Eneko for the day. So we stayed at Robert Reimers (a hotel that was unavailable via email, but miraculously had a room when we asked in person). The next day we left on a full boat for Eneko at 10 am. Boat transfers are USD 30 per person for a round trip.

Boats to Eneko Island drop you off at the beach

Accommodation Options on Eneko Island

While we chose to camp to save money (USD 10 per person per night), Eneko has two other accommodation types with a total of four rooms available. Three are called ‘Regular Rooms’ and consist of two beds, a fan, and a shared bathroom. Basic, but it has everything you need for USD 45 per person per night. The best option, albeit the most expensive, is the ‘Eneko Cottage’. Located right on the beach with a verandah. This unit has a small private kitchenette and bathroom, costing USD $150 for the first night and $125 for the second night.

Day visits to Eneko are also possible and very common. People on our 10 am boat returned at various times on the same day, simply telling the boat driver at drop-off what time to pick them up. The boat was very on time, arriving early, in fact, for our 8 am pick-up on the last day. Day trips cost USD $10 per person on top of the $30 per person boat transfer cost.

Camping on Eneko Island next to the beach

The great thing about camping on Eneko is that you can camp anywhere on the island. We chose a spot right next to the beach and the outdoor shower. There is also a kitchen available (no refrigerator, but has a gas stovetop and pots), which is also accessible to the day visitors. Please note that the kitchen and toilets were not clean when we visited; however, they could easily be cleaned, so they might be enjoyable during your stay.

What to expect at Eneko Island

Eneko Island is a small islet that is entirely owned, meaning you have the whole island to explore when you’re there. There is a small public toilet block for day visitors and one large shelter with some grills that could be used. People on our boat brought coolers, charcoal and even inflatable toys. The beach is more for snorkelling; however, they have a pontoon further out past the reef. We spent two nights there and chose to relax, not even walking around the island (even though we read it only takes 2 hours).

Eneko Island accomodation and facilities

With free-to-use beach chairs and a freshwater shower, we relaxed with intermittent snorkelling to stay cool. Make sure to bring insect repellent and coils, as there are lots of mosquitos on Eneko. Insect repellent and mosquito coils are available in Majuro shops. There are no shops on the island, so make sure to also bring all of your food with you.

Altogether, we really enjoyed our stay at Eneko. The facilities were untidy; however, we were happily camped on the beach next to an outdoor shower with access to a kitchen to cook our dinners. The only thing is that you seemingly can’t book in advance.

Drone video of Eneko Island

Visited: August 2024