The province of North Sulawesi is an excellent place for those looking to step off Indonesia’s beaten track.
From the biodiverse waters of Bunaken National Marine Park to Tomohon’s volcanic highspots as well as Tangkoko-Batuangas Dua Saudara Nature Reserve’s diverse array of wildlife, those who visit will traverse one of Southeast Asia’s most underrated regions.
Where is Sulawesi?
Sulawesi is the world’s 11th largest island. Find it to the north-east of Java and Bali.
How Do You Get to North Sulawesi?
The main transport hub is Manado, with the city’s Sam Ratulangir airport offering domestic and international connections. Gorontalo has also seen an increase in air traffic and can provide a useful link for travellers. Bitung acts as the seaport for Manado. The Pelni ferry fleet stops at ports along Sulawesi’s coastline.
Currency
The Rupiah. Expect to pay around 200,000R for a budget room, 20,000R for cheap street food, 2,500R for a bottle of water and 18,000R for a packet of cigarettes. Travel costs will vary depending on the destination. Private transport tends to cost much more than its public counterpart.
(2025 update: People use Google, social media and Whatsapp much more for things like accommodation, tours and guides these days.)
When to Go
Temperatures remain pleasant all year round. The driest months tend to fall between July and October. Unsurpisingly, the tourism high season extends from June to September. Expect room prices to rise by a lot in this time.
Useful Transport Information
Aside from walking, visitors will soon get used to other modes of transport in the region.
Ubiquitous blue mikrolet vans swarm around on their set routes while ojeks, the iconic Indonesian motorbike taxis, weave in and out of traffic.
Horse-drawn bendi carts are another option. They stick to main routes and cost around 3,000R a trip. Manoeuvrability may prove trickly, as can the rickety carts. And questions may well arise about how well the horses are looked after. But if all goes well and animal welfare is established, journeys on these carts are a nice way to get from a to b.
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