How to get to Bunaken Island from Manado?

Shortly after my Australia trip, I missed the flight to Manado, Indonesia again.

I was feeling pretty jaded. And speechless (at myself).

But still, it didn't deter me. I flew in a few days later to join my batch of dive buddies.




Manado is a small town located at the tip of the North Sulawesi Island of Indonesia.

It's the capital of the province there too.




I have to admit, it's not a popular travel destination spot. And most people who travels here uses it as a transit to travel to other parts of the Island or Indonesia.




So why travel there?

Well, my destination was actually a small tiny island off the town Manado, called Bunaken.




An island so un-commercialized that you can't even find a proper road made out of cement or concrete on it. So under developed that internet is non-existent on the island, and electricity only comes in the evening after 6pm and goes away just after sunrise.

BUT because of this, it offers one of the world's Top 10 Best Diving Destinations due to its unspoiled nature and it's amazing geography situating in the middle the South Pacific Ocean.




HENCE my exact reason of going there.




Arriving at the airport, I was flooded by random taxi drivers who wanted to earn a few quick tourist bucks.

My take, skip all the taxis. walk to the road, catch yourself one of these blue mini vans which they called public buses, pay 5000 rupiahs (RM2) and take a ride to the town and then transfer again to the jetty (total: RM4). Better than paying 200,000 rupiah (almost RM80) for a one way trip.


Lady in the middle was squatting on air in between seats.


Just endure the cramp in the vans, they tend to take more passengers than they can handle.

If you have the chance to stay in a hotel beside the harbour of Manado, you will be greeted with quite a splendid view of the city.




It's not a spotless perfect view, but somehow the imperfections of it all make this shot a worthwhile wallpaper of its own that captured the essence of Manado.


Click for wallpaper size. (ah hah! Manado wallpaper to your collection!)


Now head down to the jetty, don't ask or rent for a boat which would cost you quite a bomb (roughly RM40 ~ 80 per person).




Rather, go local and pay less (haggle with the local fisherman or boatmen). You should be paying around 40k to 80k rupiah one way.




That's what I did.




Though if you are dark enough and can pass off as a local, learn a few quick Indonesian lines and hop onto the boat for 15,000 rupiah into Bunaken.

Sitting on top of the boat, I was the only Chinese there (fairest of them all).

Careful not to wear heels, else I'll be praying for you when you board this boat.




We waited quite long till the entire boat was filled with villagers who came to mainland to buy veggies and groceries and daily supplies that's needed on the island.







It took over an hour but the boat was soon filled with locals. You could tell that they were pretty used to traveling in this manner.


Lady, I like your Red Umbrella!


I chatted with a few locals on the boat about the weather, the dive season on the island, the tourist population on the island and mainland, etc. The sea view was nothing spectacular after my visit to Sipadan.

But an hour later, my journey was just about to start.




Bunaken Island! Here I come!