Northern Sulawesi

Northern Sulawesi consists of the provinces of North Sulawesi and Gorontalo in Indonesia.

Manado — the largest city and main gateway to the north
Tomohon — cool off in the central highlands
Bitung — the main deep-water port and access to the Lembeh Strait
Gorontalo — Gateway to the Togeans

More Destinations in Northern Sulawesi

Bunaken — world-famous diving site
Tangkoko Nature Reserve
Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park
Bangka — group of small islands just off the coast

Northern Sulawesi Halal Explorer

Inhabited by the Minahasa, Hulontalangio, Bantik, and Sangirese, much of Northern Sulawesi is a solidly Christian (mostly but not entirely Protestant) enclaved in mostly Muslim-majority Indonesia. A centre of Dutch settlement in colonial times the region still retains many traces of Western influence. An exception is Gorontalo Province which has more than 95 percent Muslims.

Local Language in Northern Sulawesi

The local language is Manado (Malay) phrasebook|Manado (Malay) (bahasa manado), commonly called Minahasa (Malay).

Travel to Northern Sulawesi

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Northern Sulawesi

Manado has an airport (IATA Flight Code: MDC) with international Flights from Singapore (by SilkAir) and from China (Changsha, Guangzhou, Shanghai_Pudong_International_Airport|Shanghai-Pudong, Shenzhen) by Lion Air and domestic Flights from major cities in Indonesia, including Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Denpasar/Bali.

The airport of Gorontalo (IATA Flight Code: GTO) mainly serves Flights from Makassar in South Sulawesi.

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in Northern Sulawesi

Manado has a harbour with ships going to and from the more Northern Islands (Sangir Talaud area).
Bitung is the major port of North Sulawesi and you can get on board a Pelni ship to sail towards other area's of Indonesia. Some of the larger cruise ships that travel from Australia towards Thailand or other Asian countries also stop at Bitung.

By vehicle or bus

You can travel by vehicle or bus from South Sulawesi towards Manado, however, because of security problems in Central Sulawesi, this is not recommended. So, if you plan on travelling by land, check the local situation first.

How to get around in Northern Sulawesi

By motorcycle

By car

Rental cars are available in Manado, but like most other areas of Indonesia, hiring a vehicle with driver is advisable because of traffic woes and knowledge of local conditions. That wiggly line on the map may or may not be passable. A bilingual driver with a vehicle in condition may cost roughly Rp 700,000 per day, or self-drive may cost Rp 700,000 per day.

By mikrolet

You won't go far without seeing a torrent of light blue Mitsubishi Colts (aka bemos elsewhere) trolling the streets for clients. Although usually used within towns, you can take mikrolets intercity as well.

Travel on a Bus in Northern Sulawesi

What to see in Northern Sulawesi

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Northern Sulawesi

Scuba diving is the main draw for tourists to North Sulawesi. Popular diving areas are:

Bunaken National Marine Park
Bangka area, for its brilliant soft coral and diversity in dive sites (from beginner to very advanced)

Go snorkeling or diving to see slowly-endangered whale sharks, which can be found in the edge of Molluca sea near the Botubarani beach about 6 kilometers from Gorontalo every May.

You can also visit the Minahasan Highlands to climb some of the volcanoes in the area. Taxis can be arranged from your hotel in Manado to the town of Kinilow and Tomohon. From there, it is easy to reach the nearby peaks. Also worth a visit is a local market in Tomohon (not for the faint-hearted) where local residents sell various delicacies e.g. dog, bat and the rather boring pig (North Sulawesi is largely Christian).

Travel Next from Northern Sulawesi

Togian Islands - an archipelago in the Gulf of Tomini, directly south of Northern Sulawesi