Togian Islands
Discover Togian Islands
Bomba is about 2½ hours from the mainland of Ampana. It may be reached by public boats from the small harbor near Marina Cottages. The boats depart on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. The price is about Rp 35,000 per person. Kadidiri is reached by boats from Wakai, provided free by the three resorts on the island. Melange can be reached by public ferry from mainland Ampana. There are no ATMs, so bring enough cash. There are ATMs for Mastercard and Visa available at the mainland of Ampana.
What to Experience in Togian Islands
Taste of Togian Islands...
All resorts include three meals per day in their prices. It costs Rp 50,000-65,000 for a large Bintang beer at the resorts. Other option for alcohol is the local Arak, a kind of stronger palm wine - all resorts can get it for you for around Rp 15,000. A large bottle of water costs Rp 10,000 in most resorts. Boiled water, tea and coffee are provided free by all resorts. Bomba is about 40 min from Ampana where you can find 4 places to stay. Kadidiri has four resorts, when change are next to each other on the very small beach. They all charge per person, per night and include all meals. Katupat Island is about 1 hour from Kadidiri Island where you can find 2 beautiful resorts 10 minutes with a small boat from Katupat Village Togian Island. Una Una is home to thriving reefs full of big schools of fish. Coral reefs are sharp and can cause serious injuries. Bring enough mosquito repellent containing DEET (others ware useless), as mosquitoes that bite day and night are a serious annoyance. To Gorontalo: take Tuna Tomini Ferry from Wakai: Rp 65,000 for Economy Class, Rp 75,000 for Tatami Class (you can lie down), or Rp89,000 for Business Class (with aircon). Departs on Monday and Thursday at 16:00, reach Gorontalo at 17:00.
Climate
The climate is all year around warm, due to the close position to the equator (40 km). The driest months are the summer months. The Togian Islands are now quite easy to reach, especially if you arrive from Ampana. Take a flight from Palu (connected well with Jakarta and Bali, for example) to Ampana and take a boat the same or the next day. From Ampana: The public ferries that run between Ampana to Wakai on the Togian Islands leaves every morning at 10:00, except Fridays. However, schedules often change due to breakdowns and weather. Under normal conditions it takes about 4 hr to Wakai, where resorts offer free connecting speedboats to Pulau Kadidiri. The fare for the main ferry is Rp 40,000 as of March 2012). Some of the boats stop in Melange which is another 1½ hr from Wakai. The resorts are waiting with their boats at the ferry terminal.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe Togian Islands are now quite easy to reach, especially if you arrive from Ampana. Take a flight from Palu (connected well with Jakarta and Bali, for example) to Ampana and take a boat the same or the next day. From Ampana: The public ferries that run between Ampana to Wakai on the Togian Islands leaves every morning at 10:00, except Fridays. However, schedules often change due to breakdowns and weather. Under normal conditions it takes about 4 hr to Wakai, where resorts offer free connecting speedboats to Pulau Kadidiri. The fare for the main ferry is Rp 40,000 as of March 2012). Some of the boats stop in Melange which is another 1½ hr from Wakai. The resorts are waiting with their boats at the ferry terminal. For Pulau Kadidiri: Black Marlin Dive Resort, Kadidiri Paradise and Pondak Lestari are charging nothing if you stay with them - if you change to one of the other ones, you have to pay a small fee of Rp 25,000 (all 3 resorts are in walking distance to each else)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Private boats of varying types can be chartered at anytime to and from the islands and usually cost Rp 1-2 million. Entrance tickets to the national park area consist of entrance tickets and tickets for nature tourism service. Entrance ticket is Rp 150,000/person (for foreign tourists) and Rp 5,000/person (for Indonesian residents). Togian is home to an indigenous population known as the Bajo colloquially called "Sea Gypsies". The Bajo are semi nomadic and rely on fishing for their income. Tours from all the resorts can take you to visit them. The young people love foreign visitors and will show off their humble village and school rooms. Diving! The best walls in the Togians can be found near Bomba, especially the huge atoll reef Bomba Atoll is a must visit for all divers. Taupan island has a fringing reef around it full of fish and lots of sharks. Araya Dive Resort and Poki Poki in Bomba also offer jungle trekking. Good chances to see Tarsius and Kuskus in this area.
Where to Stay
Bomba is about 40 min from Ampana where you can find 4 places to stay. Kadidiri has four resorts, when change are next to each other on the very small beach. They all charge per person, per night and include all meals. Katupat Island is about 1 hour from Kadidiri Island where you can find 2 beautiful resorts 10 minutes with a small boat from Katupat Village Togian Island. Una Una is home to thriving reefs full of big schools of fish. Coral reefs are sharp and can cause serious injuries. Bring enough mosquito repellent containing DEET (others ware useless), as mosquitoes that bite day and night are a serious annoyance. To Gorontalo: take Tuna Tomini Ferry from Wakai: Rp 65,000 for Economy Class, Rp 75,000 for Tatami Class (you can lie down), or Rp89,000 for Business Class (with aircon). Departs on Monday and Thursday at 16:00, reach Gorontalo at 17:00.
Money & Budget
Wakai is the biggest place with shops and a market. All the other villages have small shops to buy soft drinks and snacks. All resorts include three meals per day in their prices. It costs Rp 50,000-65,000 for a large Bintang beer at the resorts. Other option for alcohol is the local Arak, a kind of stronger palm wine - all resorts can get it for you for around Rp 15,000. A large bottle of water costs Rp 10,000 in most resorts. Boiled water, tea and coffee are provided free by all resorts. Bomba is about 40 min from Ampana where you can find 4 places to stay. Kadidiri has four resorts, when change are next to each other on the very small beach. They all charge per person, per night and include all meals.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Coral reefs are sharp and can cause serious injuries. Bring enough mosquito repellent containing DEET (others ware useless), as mosquitoes that bite day and night are a serious annoyance. To Gorontalo: take Tuna Tomini Ferry from Wakai: Rp 65,000 for Economy Class, Rp 75,000 for Tatami Class (you can lie down), or Rp89,000 for Business Class (with aircon). Departs on Monday and Thursday at 16:00, reach Gorontalo at 17:00.