The anchorage at Saumlaki leaves a lot to be desired, but it is a nice place to visit, and formalities were very easy and straightforward.

Ester is not at the hotel, and the staff doesn’t speak English. However, you are free to use their dock, and the restaurant is decent. The dock isn’t accessible at low-low tide. I was able to get in at the higer low tide, but another cruiser took mud into his engine and clogged it, so be careful and maybe paddle the last bit when the water gets shallow.

From the water, you can find the hotel by looking for the church above it. The hotel has a deck in back with palm trees, and 2 sets of stairs from the deck down to the water.

The quarantine office is located just outside the main gate to the harbor pier, on the NE corner. After health and quarantine clearance, the other officials met me there, and I took them to my yacht.

There are tourism employees that hang out at the Hotel, and will act as a translator, or arrange transport or suggest sights to see.

Across the street from the hotel is a shop that sells clean drinking water by the 5 gallon jug.