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    North Sulawesi
    Region

    North Sulawesi

    North Sulawesi is primarily a diver's paradise: Bunaken's sheer walls and the macrofauna-rich Lembeh Strait are among Southeast Asia's best-known dive sites.

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    7. North Sulawesi
    North Sulawesi is primarily a diver's paradise: Bunaken's sheer walls and the macrofauna-rich Lembeh Strait are among Southeast Asia's best-known dive sites. Inland, volcanoes and the Tangkoko Rainforest lure with tarsiers and crested macaques.
    North Sulawesi forms the northern tip of the island. The starting point is the capital Manado. Off the coast lies the marine park Bunaken with its steep wall reefs, and on the east coast near Bitung is the Lembeh Strait, known to divers for its unusual small creatures. In the Minahasa highlands, you'll find volcanoes, crater lakes, and the flower city of Tomohon; the Tangkoko Nature Reserve is home to tarsiers and crested macaques. Distances are short; most destinations can be reached in one to two hours from Manado.
    Tomohon

    Place 1 of 4

    Tomohon

    Tomohon is located in the Minahasa Highlands between the Lokon and Mahawu volcanoes. This small town is cooler than Manado, famous for its floriculture and a base for crater hikes and Lake Linow.

    Tomohon is located at an altitude of approximately 700 m and has a population of just under 100,000. The city calls itself “Kota Bunga,” the Flower City, as many nurseries cultivate flowers here for all of North Sulawesi.

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    Manado

    Place 2 of 4

    Manado

    Manado is the capital of North Sulawesi and a gateway to Bunaken, Lembeh, and the Minahasa Highlands. The predominantly Christian city is known for its spicy cuisine and views of Manado Tua volcano.

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    Lembeh Strait

    Place 3 of 4

    Lembeh Strait

    The Lembeh Strait, between the port city of Bitung and Lembeh Island, is considered one of the world's best sites for macro diving. On dark volcanic sand live octopus species, frogfish, and nudibranchs that are rarely seen elsewhere.

    The Lembeh Strait separates Lembeh Island from the mainland near Bitung on North Sulawesi's east coast. Underwater, there are few classic coral reefs, but rather dark sand slopes of volcanic origin.

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    Bunaken

    Place 4 of 4

    Bunaken

    Bunaken is a small island off Manado and the core of the Bunaken Marine National Park. The coral walls drop steeply into the deep offshore; turtles and reef fish are already seen while snorkeling.

    Bunaken is a small island off Manado, lending its name to the marine park, which also includes Manado Tua, Siladen, Mantehage, and Nain. It is famous for its steep wall reefs that drop sharply from the shallow reef edge.

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    Sights in North Sulawesi

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Danau Linow
    Attraction

    Danau Linow

    Volcanic lake near Tomohon, its sulfurous water appearing green, turquoise, or brown with the light. Hot springs steam on the shore.
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    Waruga Sawangan
    Museum

    Waruga Sawangan

    Park with pre-Christian Minahasa stone sarcophagi, where the dead were buried in a crouching position.
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    Bukit Kasih
    Attraction

    Bukit Kasih

    Kanonang Hills, with side-by-side places of worship for Indonesia's five major religions and steaming sulfur springs.
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    Tangkoko Nature Reserve
    Sakurai Midori / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
    National Park

    Tangkoko Nature Reserve

    Lowland forest at the foot of Mount Dua Saudara near Bitung. Late afternoon guided tours feature Tarsiers; by day, Crested Macaques and Hornbills.
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    Dining and Drinks

    Tinutuan

    Rice, pumpkin, corn, and leafy green porridge, also called Bubur Manado, a typical breakfast.

    Rica-Rica

    Meat or fish in a very hot paste of chili, ginger, and shallots.

    Cakalang Fufu

    Smoked bonito, often pan-fried with chili.

    Best Time to Visit

    When is the best time for your trip?

    April
    May
    June
    July
    August
    September
    October
    27–27°C·110–230 mm(heavy rain)
    From April to October, it rains less and underwater visibility is usually good. From December to February, it's the wettest, and boat trips may be cancelled due to rough seas.
    The values are for Manado on the coast. In the highlands around Tomohon at approx. 700m, it's noticeably cooler.

    Seasons

    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec
    The Driest Months
    The Rains
    Crossing
    Best Time to Visit
    ▶Show detailed monthly data
    MonthTemp (°C)Rain (mm)Sun (h)
    January26.04504.0
    February26.03505.0
    March27.02805.0
    April27.02306.0
    May27.02206.0
    June27.02006.0
    July27.01407.0
    August27.01107.0
    September27.01307.0
    October27.01806.0
    November27.02506.0
    December26.03805.0

    Culture

    The region is the land of the Minahasa. Unlike most parts of Indonesia, the majority here is Protestant, a legacy of the Dutch mission. Churches dot the highlands; Christmas is celebrated grandly. The stone sarcophagi Waruga date back to pre-Christian times. The cuisine is known for its spiciness.

    Getting There & Around

    Sam Ratulangi Airport near Manado offers connections to Jakarta, Bali, Makassar, and other parts of the country. Boats to Bunaken depart from Manado's port. To reach Lembeh Strait, you drive about an hour to Bitung. The highlands of Tomohon can be reached by Mikrolet minibuses, Grab, or a car with a driver.

    Nearby

    Tomohon

    Tomohon

    Tomohon is located in the Minahasa Highlands between the Lokon and Mahawu volcanoes. This small town is cooler than Manado, famous for its floriculture and a base for crater hikes and Lake Linow.
    Manado
    Sakurai Midori / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0

    Manado

    Manado is the capital of North Sulawesi and a gateway to Bunaken, Lembeh, and the Minahasa Highlands. The predominantly Christian city is known for its spicy cuisine and views of Manado Tua volcano.
    Bunaken
    Niek van Son / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

    Bunaken

    Bunaken is a small island off Manado and the core of the Bunaken Marine National Park. The coral walls drop steeply into the deep offshore; turtles and reef fish are already seen while snorkeling.
    Lembeh Strait
    Sakurai Midori / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.5

    Lembeh Strait

    The Lembeh Strait, between the port city of Bitung and Lembeh Island, is considered one of the world's best sites for macro diving. On dark volcanic sand live octopus species, frogfish, and nudibranchs that are rarely seen elsewhere.
    Wayag-Inseln

    Wayag-Inseln

    The Wayag Islands in the northwest of Raja Ampat are a labyrinth of forested karst cones in turquoise lagoons. The view from the summit of one of the rocks is the iconic view of Raja Ampat.