Region
Banda Islands (Moluccas)
The Banda Islands in the Banda Sea were for centuries the sole source of nutmeg and the site of bloody colonial conflicts. Today, fortresses and plantations recall this era, and around the Gunung Api volcano lie intact coral reefs.
The Banda Islands in the Banda Sea were for centuries the sole source of nutmeg and the site of bloody colonial conflicts. Today, fortresses and plantations recall this era, and around the Gunung Api volcano lie intact coral reefs.
The Banda Islands are located in the Banda Sea, approximately 200 km southeast of Ambon, and consist of about ten inhabited and uninhabited islands. Its main town is Banda Neira, featuring forts and colonial houses. Opposite, the volcano Gunung Api rises, while on the larger island of Banda Besar, nutmeg trees grow in the shade of tall canarium trees. The reefs around Gunung Api, Pulau Hatta, Ai, and Run are among the best diving and snorkeling spots in the Moluccas. The islands are remote, and connections are rare and weather-dependent.
Food and Drink
Nutmeg
You buy nutmeg, mace, and pickled nutmeg fruit (manisan pala) directly from the farmers.
Kenari
Nuts of the Kenari trees, often processed into sweet bars.
Ikan Kuah Kuning
Fish in yellow turmeric broth, typical of the Moluccas, often with Papeda from sago.
Best Time to Visit
When is the best time for your trip?
27–28°C·110–260 mm(heavy rain)
Unlike Western Indonesia, the Moluccas receive most rain from May to August, when the sea is rough. October to December, plus March and April, are ideal for travel and diving.
The values are based on Ambon, the starting point for Banda. The Banda Islands receive slightly less rain, but the seasonal pattern is the same.
Seasons
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Rainy Season and Rough Seas
Calm Sea
Passage
Best Time to Visit
▶Show detailed monthly data
| Month | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sun (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.0 | 120 | 6.0 |
| February | 28.0 | 110 | 6.0 |
| March | 28.0 | 150 | 6.0 |
| April | 27.0 | 260 | 5.0 |
| May | 27.0 | 500 | 4.0 |
| June | 26.0 | 600 | 3.0 |
| July | 25.0 | 600 | 3.0 |
| August | 25.0 | 400 | 4.0 |
| September | 26.0 | 250 | 5.0 |
| October | 27.0 | 150 | 7.0 |
| November | 28.0 | 110 | 7.0 |
| December | 28.0 | 140 | 6.0 |
Culture and History
For centuries, Banda was the sole source of nutmeg and mace. To secure this monopoly, the Dutch East India Company conquered the islands in 1621, with much of the population killed, enslaved, or displaced. Afterward, plantation owners (perkenier) cultivated the land using forced laborers. In the Treaty of Breda in 1667, England and the Netherlands exchanged the small island of Run for Manhattan. In the 1930s, future independence leaders Mohammad Hatta and Sutan Sjahrir lived here in exile.
Getting There & Around
The starting point is Ambon. From there, speedboats and Pelni ships travel to Banda Neira; schedules often change, and trips are cancelled in rough seas. Occasionally, small planes link Ambon to Banda Neira. Between the islands, longboats run, which you arrange via your accommodation. Allow for buffer time.
