Usukan Cove: Sabah’s Best-Kept Secret Lagoon (Pirates Would’ve Hidden Here!) 🏝️⚓

#kotakinabalutrip You know those *ridiculously* perfect tropical coves you see in movies? **Usukan Cove** is that—but real, empty, and just a 90-minute drive from KK. Between **Kota Belud and Kudat**, this half-moon bay with its **opal-colored water** and **jungle-fringed shores** feels like your own private slice of paradise. ### **First Impressions: “Wait… How Is This Not Packed?!”** - **The water:** A gradient of **turquoise to deep blue** so clear, you’ll see stingrays gliding beneath your kayak - **The sand:** Powdery white with **pink coral fragments** (nature’s glitter) - **The vibe:** So peaceful, the loudest sound is your own gasp when you see it ### **The “Oh WOW” Moment: Swimming Through the Keyhole** At low tide, swim through a **natural rock arch** to discover: 🔑 A **hidden lagoon** with bat caves in the cliffs (yes, actual bats!) 🐠 A **shallow coral garden** perfect for snorkel newbies 💎 **Giant clams** with neon-blue lips (they’re *way* cooler than they sound) ### **Hidden Gem: The Abandoned Pearl Farm** A 10-minute paddle away, this **creepy-cool overwater ruin** lets you: - Explore **collapsing wooden walkways** (Instagram gold) - Spot **reef sharks** patrolling the pylons - Pretend you’re in a post-apocalyptic pirate movie 🏴☠️ ### **Unexpected Encounter: The Midnight Bioluminescence** Camp overnight (with permission from local fishermen) to see: 🌌 The water **sparkling with blue fireflies** when you splash 🦀 **Ghost crabs** dancing under the moonlight with their shadows 10x their size ### **Must-Try: Jungle Picnic** Pack a lunch from Kota Belud’s **tamu** (market): 🍗 **Grilled bambangan chicken** (wild mango marinade = tangy heaven) 🍍 **Sweetest pineapples** you’ll ever taste 🧊 **ABC special** shaved ice from the roadside stall near the cove turnoff ### **Adventure Itinerary** 🕢 **7:30AM** – Depart KK (stop for curry puffs in Kota Belud) 🕘 **9AM** – Arrive, kayak to the keyhole 🤿 **10AM** – Snorkel the coral garden 🏝️ **12PM** – Picnic at the pearl farm ruins 🕒 **3PM** – Beach nap in a hammock 🌅 **5PM** – Sunset paddleboarding 🌙 **8PM** – Bioluminescence night swim (if staying) ### **Local Tips:** - **Hire a local guide** (the tides/channels can be tricky) - **Weekdays = empty** (weekends see a few KK day-trippers) - **Leave drones at home** (this is a sensitive marine area) **Verdict:** 11/10 – feels like discovering your own uncharted island. *Just don’t tell everyone…* 🤫 **Who’s brave enough to camp here? Or found other secret coves? Spill below! 👇** *(P.S. The bats are harmless… mostly. 😉)*