The Ultimate Travel Guide to Bunaken National Park

Bunaken National Park consists of 5 small islands; Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen, Montehage, and Nain. Only known to the discerning ski community and vacationing locals visiting. The marine park places many crystals clear of water and several of Indonesia’s most famous dive sites. Hopefully, our Bunaken National Park travel guide will give you a more in-depth insight into traveling this lovely little marine sanctuary in the north of Sulawesi.

Those tiny islands’ inland seas are shielded, which helps preserve an impressive array of coral and fish life. With visibility around 35 meters during the dry season, no wonder Bunaken National Park is firmly about the darkened ski circuit.

Bunaken Island

Of all of the islands, Bunaken is where most visitors stay with enchanting dive resorts and rustic bungalows dotted along its banana-shaped shore. This small coral-fringed gem is the heart of Bunaken National Marine Park, which is just a stone’s throw from Manado’s growing town and is readily accessible. Below are three favorite things to do in Bunaken

1. Snorkel and dive in Bunaken. Diving and snorkeling are world-class and can be a turtle fan paradise. On a mean snorkel/dive, expect to see at least 3 or 4. Snorkeling is accessible from the shore, and it’s easy to jump on a few of a lot of dive boats if you wish to go additional afield.
2. Rent a motorbike and become dropped on the island. It doesn’t take you long to get off the beaten track on Bunaken, and researching this island by bicycle is enjoyable. Walkthrough vibrant villages, jungle backdrops, and mad viewpoints while dodging wild pigs, snakes, and the odd tortoise!
3. Watching dolphins and whales. Arrange a boat trip with your hotel around the Marine Park to watch dancing pods of dolphins or suppose you’re lucky, a migrating pilot whale or 2!

Other things to do in Bunaken

• Require a PADI dive course — It would be challenging to beat Bunaken as a place to take your open water. There are quite a few PADI certified resorts to select. If you dive but want to take things to the next level, why don’t you try out the advanced rescue diver or master scuba diver program?
• Hike Manado Tua — If you require any on-land activity, consider an early morning increase of Manado Tua, the adjacent volcano door. A ship from Bunaken will take around 30 minutes, and it is simple enough to find a local manual. Enjoy spectacular dawn views of North Sulawesi’s volcanoes and islands below.
• Sunset and snorkel at Liang Beach, you will see all types of critters underwater at Liang Beach around sunset. Once you’re done, see the sky change color as the sun goes down over Manado Tua, Bunaken’s neighboring dormant volcano.
• 

Top 5 Bunaken Dive Locations

• Sachiko I and II — You will find wire corals, Napoleon wrasse, and a good deal of green turtles.
• Lekuan II — An impressive vertical wall that is home to macro and large life alike.
• Pangalingan — This thrilling website offers an opportunity to see schooling snappers, fusiliers, and other reef fish while ducking and diving around the present.
• Bualo — More relaxed than Pangalingan, this dive site features a couple of fantastic overhangs and chances of spotting pelagics as well as small stuff.
• Siladen Wall — A gentle present forces sailors along the panoramic wall with characteristically good visibility.

Top 5 Bunaken Snorkel Locations

• Lekuan II — Great overhangs from the vertical wall, covered in soft corals together with crystal clear water make Lekuan II a world-class snorkel spot.
• Pangulisang Beach — The best off-shore snorkeling is available here on the East Coast, between the main jetty and Lorenso’s Cottages. You are guaranteed to see turtles along the stretch.
• Siladen Point — The reef top has a massive number of colorful soft & hard corals, and the water clarity is second to none.
• Bunaken Timur — This site delivers the highest coral biodiversity in the entire area. If you’re fortunate, you can see turtles and eagle rays swimming in the blue.
• Sachiko’s Point — This is a vertical wall with excellent soft and hard corals. Thousands of red tooth Triggerfish could be understood in the blue. Additionally, there are plenty of critters, including moray eels, sea snakes, scorpionfish, nudibranchs, crabs, and fish.

Let’s start your trip to Bunaken shortly! Before you go, please discover more about Bunaken by visiting Wonderful Indonesia.