A view of Manado beach in North Sulawesi province / Courtesy of Indonesian Embassy

Manado is the provincial capital of North Sulawesi. Formerly known as Celebes by the Dutch, it is located in the Bay of Manado surrounded by a mountainous area.

The city is the starting point for exploration of the Minahasa region’s many attractions. The fun-loving and extroverted Minahasa people live in neat wood frame houses, with fences and flower gardens, giving Manado a European atmosphere.

Those who seek for adventure should try the famously hot and spicy Minahasa cuisine.

The city’s numerous shops and markets are filled with an abundance of consumer goods and agricultural products, while every building offers a glimpse of emerald hills and azure sea in the background.

Manado is accessible via international flights from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, Davao of the Philippines and domestic daily flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan and Denpasar.

In Manado, a trip through the Minahasa highlands will take you to intriguing prehistoric above-ground burial sites, volcanoes, hot springs, the highland lake Tondano and breathtaking panoramas of lush mountains, coffee and coconut plantations, orchid gardens and terraced hillsides.

When you are in Manado, make sure to visit the Dua Saudara Nature Reserve, home to birds and other wildlife unique to Sulawesi, such as the tarsier - the smallest monkey, cuscus, hornbills, and many more.

Dua Saudara is a nature reserve on open grassland covered with a great variety of plants.

Located on mountain slopes, the area is composed of impressive green hills and valleys with amazingly scenic views of natural beauty.

There are black apes, birds, snakes, wild pigs, hornbills and deer. From Manado, it takes around two hours and 30 minutes to this area.

Manado has also made its mark in the international community.

In May 2009, Manado was the host of the World Ocean Conference, which was a forum for the world community to discuss current issues in the marine field which are related to climate change.

The commitment to work together to improve marine resource management with regards to global climate change was enshrined in the Manado Ocean Declaration, which contained an agreement stressing the role of oceans in regulating climate change.

Bunaken National Marine Park

Bunaken on Manado covers a total surface area of 89,065 hectares, 97 percent of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water.

The remaining three percent of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen.

Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic ecosystem that attracts naturalists.

The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1,566 meters in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 meter-visibility), refreshing in temperature (27-29 degrees Celsius) and harbors some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world.
Seven of the eight species of giant clams in the world are found in Bunaken.

The park has around 70 genera of corals; compared to 10 genera in Hawaii.

Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, nearly 70 percent of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific are found.

For its richness, Bunaken has been chosen as one of the “World’s Top Snorkeling Spots” by Forbes Traveler (2008-2010). Non-divers can still enjoy the beauty of these under sea gardens, by snorkeling or just viewing the underwater marine life from glass-bottom boats.

Some 20,000 people live on the natural resources of Bunaken National Marine Park. Local communities, government officials, dive resort operators, local nature groups, tourists and scientists have played an active role in developing exclusive zones for diving, wood collection, fishing and other forms of utilization.

Bunaken can be reached by a speed boat or a motorized outrigger in about 30 minutes from Manado.