Tidore Island, Visiting Historical Tourist Destination In North Maluku

Tidore Island is one of islands in North Maluku, Indonesia. The location lies at the west of Halmahera Island and close to Ternate Island. As a historical island, Tidore has many interesting spots for tourist destinations. Besides that, the panorama in Akesahu which lies on the coastline looks so stunning because it has a background of Tidore Mountain and Maitara Island. This area becomes more popular because all of Indonesian people recognize Maitara Island on the banknote of IDR1,000.

As natural and historical tourism, the local government has been trying to develop the infrastructure and facilities here. It is not surprising because Tidore Island has potential tourism in Eastern Indonesia. With the natural scenery, beaches, peculiar tradition and culture, it makes Tidore becomes one of tourist destinations in Indonesia.

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Location

Tidore Island doesn’t have an airport. If you start your journey from Jakarta, you can take a flight to Babullah Airport at Ternate Island. You can take Garuda, Lion Air, or Sriwijaya Air that takes around four hours. As you arrive at the airport, you can continue your trip to Bastiong Port for about 10 minutes. From Bastiong, there are two options to go to Rum Port in Tidore Island, i.e. by a speedboat and ferry. If you choose a ferry, you need to pay IDR5,000 or US$0.5 per person for about 30 minutes. If you choose a speedboat, you need to pay IDR8,000 or US$0.8 per person for about five minutes.

After you arrive at Rum Port, you can take local transportation to Soasio City, the capital of Tidore Islands by paying IDR9,000 or US$0.9 for about 30 minutes. Along the journey to Soasio City, you will see the coastal area with beautiful scenery and witness Gamalama Mountain in Ternate. The easier way to reach Soasio City is by riding a bentor or motorcycle. for this, you only need to pay around IDR4.000 or US$0.4.

Accommodations

The accommodations in the Tidore Island are adequate. When you decide to stay in Seroja Hotel, you need to pay IDR200,000 or US$20 per night. Besides that, you also can stay in the guest houses. If you want to taste local dishes, you can come to Waroeng Alriska.

Activities

As you come to Tidore Island, you can visit many tourist destinations here. First, you can go to Keraton Tidore or Tidore Palace. In this place, you can see a luxurious Tidore Palace with the background of Kie Matubu Mountain that has altitude 1,730 meters. On the first floor, there is a museum. The museum collects the journey of Kesultanan Tidore and the arrival of colonizer to search condiments.  

The next destination is Gura Bunga. Gura Bunga is a village on the slope of Kie Matubu Mountain. This village is so popular as the residence for sowohi or the connector between Kesultanan Tidore and the spirit of the ancestors. As the residence of suwohi, you will see six houses there. The age of the house is considered about hundred years. 

But, don’t think you will find modern houses, electricity and sophisticated appliances because you will only see simple houses. It was made from bamboo, ground floor, and the roof made from sago leaves. To reach Gura Bunga, you can take public transportation and you need to pay around IDR10,000 or US$1 from Soasio Terminal. If you want the easy way, you can rent a car and pay IDR150,000 or US$15 per day.

The last destination is visiting Tahula Fort in Soasio City. The fort was made by Spanish sailors. To reach the fort, you need to come up on the stairs. Then, you can continue your trip to visit Tore Fort. The fort was made by Portuguese. Generally, it is easy to find these forts. As you come there, you can see the scenery of beaches that separates Tidore Island and Halmahera Islands.

Guraici Island, An Exotic Island With Potential Fishing Spots In North Maluku

Guraici Island is the group of exotic islands in Eastern Indonesia. The beauty of the beach becomes more fascinating because it has complete water activities, such as diving, snorkeling, fishing, and jet-ski. Besides that, Guraici Island is one of the best diving spots in North Maluku. At least, there are 10 diving spots found here. The white sand stretches along the beach with various coral reef. Underwater life of the island invites amateur and professional divers to come and explore the marine life. The panorama of Guraici is so stunning and completely different than other diving spots in Indonesia.

One of the uniqueness that is found on the seabed of Guraici is giant manta fish. They are tame animal and you can swim together with them. You also can fish around the island because the beach riches of fish. Because the location closes to the equator, it makes the Guraici Island having beautiful underwater life and fish.

As an uninhabited island, you will rarely meet residents. But, you still can enjoy the beauty of the island because from the distance, you can see Burung Island which becomes home for hundreds of birds. When the tide is low, you can cross the island by walking along the white sand that form a trail. 

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Location

Guraici Island lies at South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, Indonesia. There are two options to reach the island. First, you can take a regular ship that takes about eight hours. You need to pay IDR80.000 or US$8 per person and you will arrive at Lelei Port. Then, you can take a motorcycle to reach the destination. Second, you can take a speedboat that takes around 2 – 3 hours. You need to hire it and pay it for about IDR3,000,000 – IDR5,000,000 or US$300 – US$500 per speedboat.

Accommodations

Accommodations in the Guraici Island are quite adequate. Thus, if you want to spend your vacation longer, you can stay here. There are many hotels and lodges you can choose. Besides that, the restaurants will offer you peculiar dishes from Halmahera. You can stay in the cottages along the beach as well by paying IDR500,000 or US$50 per night.

Activities

Guraici Island is a paradise for one who love fishing. The island riches of fish and you will not go home without them. You can fish in the shoreline. Just wait for a few minutes and you will catch the fish. While waiting your fishing rod under the sea, you can enjoy the beauty of the island. 

The island is suitable for diving as well. You can explore 10 diving spots that become a favorite destination for divers. Guraici Island riches of coral reef and colorful fish. The water is very clear and calm. The equator position of the island influences the variety of underwater life. That is why you will see biodiversity of marine life here. Swimming together with manta fish, dolphins, and sharks become one of unforgettable moments.

In order to spread the popularity of Guraici Island, the local government organizes Guraici Festival during summer, especially in the middle of June. The festival offers you so many traditional cultures and competitions, such as traditional dancing, rowing race, swimming competition, underwater photography, and cooking competition. They will invite you to do coral reef transplantation as well.

Dodola Island, the Virgin Island in Morotai, North Maluku

Dodola Island is a real paradise. The beauty of the beach is very tempting. It is not surprise because the island becomes an icon of Morotai which is surrounded by huge white sand to connect Big Dodola Island and Small Dodola Island. The fine sand looks like flour and that is why local residents love to visit it. The echo of island is also more spreading nowadays.  The trail that connects Big and Small Dodola Island is white sand. You can use the trail only if the tide of water low around 10.30 – 17.30 local time.

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The sand stretches and creates outline pattern which is look so amazing. The outlines made by wind and wave of water. It will take 5 minutes to walk from Big Dodola to Small Dodola. You will see coral reefs and seaweed when the tide low, but you will see two islands when the tide high and it looks like a strait. Probably you will surprise knowing that Dodola Island is a reason why tourists visit Morotai. The panorama and its view are so fantastic. You can explore all of the edge of island.

Location

Dodola Island is located at Morotai Archipelago Regency, North Maluku Indonesia. You can take a flight from Jakarta to Ternate for 3.5 hours and transit in Manado for 30 minutes. When you arrived at Babullah Airport Ternate, you can start your journey to explore the city. Usually, the sea transportation to Morotai is at 19.00 local times by KM. Geovanie. When you choose a business class, you can rest because there are 2 beds and fan in a room. You will have to pay IDR250.000 per room or US$26. Within the ship, you will go toward Daruba Port for 12 hours. You also can take traditional boat named as ketinting to Dodola Island and you have to pay IDR50,000 or US$5 one way.

If you come from Tobelo, there is a ship which is available 3 times a week from Daruba to Morotai. If you want faster transportation, you can hire a speedboat from Daruba Port which is take around 20 minutes. Local government is trying to provide 2 units of speedboat to connect Daruba City to Dodola. Although the island can be reached only by sea transportation, but the facilities are complete, such as speedboat and jet-ski.

Previously, you have to pay IDR1,000,000 or US$103 to hire a speedboat. But now, you only need to pay US$50,000 or US$5.2 one way from Daruba to Dodola. The government has made a floating pier near Daruba Port. Next, local government will serve other small islands as tourist destinations in Morotai, i.e. Ngele-ngele island, Kolorai Island, Galo-galo island and Zumzum Island in order to be more recognized by tourists.

Activities

When you come to Dodola Island, you can do many activities and mostly has relation to water sport, such as fishing, swimming, sun bathing, snorkeling, jet-ski, or just laying on fine sand. As an exotic island, most of visitor prefers to come as a backpacker because they can explore and doing activities as much as they want. But, the most popular activity you can do in Dodola Island is snorkeling. With turquoise water, the beach will invite you to swim. You will be free to do water activities because this is a virgin island and quite calm. Only fishermen come and drop by to rest after sailing.

Accommodations

As you arrive at Dodola Island, you don’t need to worry about where you have to stay because there are many hotels and cottages. You can stay overnight at Ayu Guesthouses. The price ranging from IDR150,000 or US$15.5 per night. Small Dodola Island has no home-stay but the big one has wood pier and kind of villa. By spending your time in the island, you will have more chance to adore the nature.

Morotai Island, Enjoying Many Diving Spots and Historical Remnants in North Maluku

Morotai is one of the outmost islands in Indonesia and the beauty of its island is so popular for local residents. As an island that adjacent to Pacific Ocean and Philippine, Morotai was used as base defense by Japanese soldier during World War II. After that, the island took over by Allied Force and was used as runway to attack Philippine and East Borneo. But, before that happened, the island was belong to Sultanate of Ternate during 15 – 16 century. 
Therefore, the island keeps so many ruins of history, such as caves, runway and armor. One of famous cave is Nakamura which was became a hiding place by Japanese Soldier after Morotai Island took over by Allied Force. Nakamura itself was taken by the name of Japanese soldier and he known hidden there for 30 years.

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Location

Morotai is located at Halmahera Archipelago, North Maluku Indonesia. You can reach it from Ternate by sea transportation, plane and land transportation. However, combination between sea and land transportation are the most common. From Ternate, you can take a ferry or speedboat to Sofifi City in Halmahera Island. Then, you can continue to Tobelo City in North Halmahera by public transportation. The next travel is from Tobelo to Morotai by speedboat or ferry. By ferry, you will have to pay IDR50,000 or US$5,2 for 12 hours. The only one air transportation is Express Air which is serve route from Ternate – Morotai 3 times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Recently, local government is planning to build runway to serve international visitors from and to Morotai Airport, especially route from Tokyo – Morotai – Bali once a week. The local government wants to boost investment to build facilities of tourism in Morotai. When you have arrived at Morotai, you will see if the transportation is dominated by bentor or motor pedicab. If you plan to stroll around the island, the cheaper way is by taking bentor. Apart of public transportation, the sea transportation which is common in the island is speedboat. You can hire a speedboat to visit many closer islands, such as Zumzum, Kolorai, and Dodola Island.

Activities

When you come to Morotai Island, you can do many activities. First of all is marine tourism. The island is surrounded by group of small islands. Visitors will adore and enjoy the beauty of underwater marine life because it is rich of many coral reefs and species of fishes. The other thing you can do is diving. You can choose many diving spots around the island, such as Saminyamau, Tanjung Sabatai Point, Dodola Point, Tanjung Wayabula, and Batu layar Point. With clear water and carpet of beautiful corals, you will enjoy an amazing panorama. One of favorite diving spot is shipwreck. In this spot, you can easily to dive around the wreck from World War II.

Morotai Island also has many remnants of Allied Force during World War II. They kept the island as base because the position of its island was strategic to attack the enemies. The popular figure that left footprint in Morotai was General Douglas MacArthur from USA and you will see his statue at Zumzum Island.

Accommodations

Day by day, visitors to Morotai Island are increasing, both foreign and local tourists. When you come to the island, you don’t need to worry about hotels or guesthouse because there are many places you can stay, such as Pacific Inn that is located at the center of city. The prices are ranging from IDR250,000 or US$25. And if you want to get cheaper, you can choose cottage.

As a marine place, the most menus you will find in Morotai Island are seafood. You can taste fried fish and fresh lobster. And for the souvenir, you can buy handmade, like accessories and jewels, such as bracelet, ring, and necklace. Additionally, if you come to Morotai Island, don’t miss to visit Dodola Island. This is one of popular and beautiful island because you can enjoy fine sand and clear water. Besides Tanjung Sopi Beach well known because it has high wave which is one of the best in the world.