Bunaken, Sulawesi’s Underwater Wonderland

If you’re a fan of water activities, Bunaken’s subaquatic beauty is surely not to be missed. The destination is an island in the Bay of Manado covering an area of 8.08 square kilometers. To get there, you can take a shared speed boat or charter your own boat. The island is 30 minutes away from the port in Manado.

The island is where the biodiversity-rich marine park of Bunaken resides. The island even earns a spot among the world’s most biodiverse regions. You can explore the charm of this oceanic magic with scuba diving, an activity you can do here that never fails to leave visitors in awe.

The Bunaken Marine Park hosts 20 diving spots, which vary in depth, with the deepest being 1,344 meters. Of all these spots, 12 are located in the vicinity of the island, and these are divers and underwater spectacle lovers’ favorite places.

Most of these 12 diving spots lie on a line that stretches from the island’s southeastern side to the northwest. Across this region, you will find the underwater great walls, also called the hanging walls. These coral-formed gigantic sunken panels tower high and curve at the top. The coral walls provide food for fish in Bunaken Island’s waters.

4 Facts About Bunaken

Accommodations

Lodgings on the island are abundant with a variety of options, from homestays to resorts. You can stay in one of the locals’ houses while traveling as a solo backpacker. It’s certainly a more affordable lodging option than staying in a designated homestay or a resort, though you need to make some arrangements with the owner.

Whereas, homestay and resort prices vary according to the amenities they offer, but they usually start from IDR 200,000 to 1,000,000.

Bunaken National Park’s Ticket Prices

You only need to pay a small amount for the marine park ticket. Domestic tourists only pay IDR 5,000, while foreigners will be charged IDR 150,000. The park also offers various snorkel gear options for rent, starting from IDR 100,000 per day. The costs couldn’t be cheaper, right?

Best Time to Visit Bunaken

“What’s the most suitable time to visit Bunaken?” you might ask. Before you enjoy all the excitement, you need to consider the events scheduled when you visit the island. One of the island’s events is the Bunaken Festival, held annually in October.

Nevertheless, May to August are the best months to go to Bunaken as the water looks so pristine during this time window. So, even without taking a dive, you can still get to enjoy the marvel of marine life in all its glory.

Bunaken’s Visit-Worthy Attractions

On your trip to Bunaken, we recommend you visit these attractive diving spots, which should make it to your itinerary. We recommend the shipwreck (at 23 meters below the surface), Mandolin, with lofty coral walls and their naturally formed tops, and Puncak Barakuda (Barracuda Crest).

Bunaken Island is also non-swimmer friendly. There are a couple of other tourist attractions that are no less fun. One of them is the Muka Gereja (Church’s Frontcourt) diving spot, where you can still enjoy nature’s under-the-sea grandeur by snorkeling or enjoying it from the warmth of the boat’s deck.

And that’s some information and facts we can tell you about the subaquatic paradise of North Sulawesi’s Bunaken. Now, are you ready to pack your bags? For greater safety and convenience while traveling, you can use rental cars from TRAC to get around Manado.

For an easy booking experience, you can book via the TRACtoGo app. Get the app now from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Don’t forget to join the membership program and enjoy all the convenience of TRAC products.

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