The Selayar Archipelago is inhabited by the majority of Makassar ethnicity and a small portion of ethnic Bajo, Bugis and Chinese ethnicities as well with the main livelihood of the community as farmers and fishermen.

The population is spread from the mainland of Selayar Island to remote islands (132 small islands) inhabited and uninhabited, with a population of around 135,809 people.

Meanwhile, the topography of the Selayar archipelago extends north to south with the length of the island = 100 km, and the width of the island ± 15 km. The east coast is generally hilly and steep and along the coast there are many bays; while the west coast of the island is generally flat, sloping, to hilly where almost 100% of the population of Selayar Island is settled.

The eastern side of Selayar Island can be said to be still sparsely populated, in the area there are also many places that are still very natural. Some part of the area are also the habitat o Tarsiers, which are considered the smallest monkeys in the world. It is also possible to find many species of birds, small reptiles, marsupials, varan and even wildboars.

The eastern side of the island of Selayar is surrounded by coral reefs that offer beautiful underwater views and the scenery is a paradise for diving or snorkeling enthusiast.

From the city of Makassar, the Selayar Islands Regency can be reached by land transportation and then crossing from the Ferry port in Bira, Bulukumba Regency to the Pamatata Crossing Port in Pamatata Village, Bontomatene District. From Pamatata Harbor then to Benteng City which can be reached around one hour.

The Selayar Islands is an attractive tourist destination because of its unique natural scenery and beautiful beaches. The western side of the island is mainly inhabited by fishermen, who live in small villages who continue to follow and adhere to their traditions.

One of the favorite places on the west side of Selayar Island is Gusung Island. The island is visited by many tourists who want to tour and relax on beautiful and natural white sand beaches.

Apart from Selayar Island, which offers many tourist attractions, this regency is also the location of the Takabonerate National Park.

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Takabonerate National Park is known as an underwater paradise for diving and snorkeling activities and is well-known among tourists, both foreign and domestic tourists. Takabonerate which means “coral island on the sand” is the largest atoll in Indonesia, and the third largest in the world after Kwajifein Atoll in the Marshal Islands and Suvadiva Atoll in the Maldives.

Selayar Island offers a wide variety of tours that are worth a visit, from Nature, Culture, Trekking, Cycling, Beaches, Culinary, Snorkeling to Diving.

Visitors will be treated to natural, beautiful and amazing natural scenery so they will get a lot pleasant experience while vacationing on Selayar Island.

The post The Unspoiled Selayar Island of South Sulawesi appeared first on Authentic Indonesia.

Access to Hoga Island can be started from Kendari District or Bau-Bau City first, then crossing to Hoga Island. Visitors can also rent a speedboat from the pier in Wanci, Wakatobi Regency, with a rental fee of around IDR150,000, which takes about two hours for the journey.

Hoga Island is one of favorite destinations for visitors visiting Wakatobi National Park. On this island, visitors will get a calm island atmosphere, away from the crowds with a combination of coconut trees and white sand covering its beaches.

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This island is very suitable to be enjoyed to relax for a moment from the saturation of the city, while accompanied by the caressing of the sea breeze and the waves that are not too big. With this calm atmosphere, many visitors spend their time just relaxing with family or traveling companions after doing diving activities.

For diving and underwater lovers, there are 29 dive spots that are scattered in Wakatobi waters, including Pinnacle, Kaledupa Reef on Kaledupa Island with a typical view of table coral (table-shaped coral) with a size of 2-3 meters and also Mari Mabuk Coral in Tomia Island.

Even for those who don’t want to do diving or snorkeling activities, you can enjoy the underwater scenery on Hoga Island without having to dive deeper. This island has 750 species of coral from about 850 in the world.

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Apart from corals with all their uniqueness, you will also find various types of fish and even sea horses. There are at least 83 types of colorful fishes that visitors will encounter on this island. The best time to visit Hoga Island is around April to June or from October to December each year. If visitors come at the right time, they can see attraction of turtles laying eggs on the coast.

If you are planning to stay on Hoga Island, you don’t need to worry, because there are many types of accommodations or homestays that are comfortable and of course can be adjusted according to your travel budget. The cost of lodging on the island of Hoga ranges from IDR 150,000 per night, and almost all types of lodging are made of wood which adds to the atmosphere of a typical beach house.

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Hoga Island is one of amazing places to visit in Sulawesi Island. It is also famous for its beautiful combination of sky colors at dusk, really tempting everyone so that they are even more curious to visit this beautiful island.

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This National Park is a tourist destination that offers many types of natural objects. Existing natural attractions such as the steep limestone valleys with tropical vegetation, waterfalls and caves are habitat for various species of fauna, including butterflies.

Bantimurung features butterflies as its main attraction. In this place there are at least 20 protected species of butterflies. Some unique species are even categorized as endemic.

Bantimurung by researcher Alfred Russel Wallace was dubbed as The Kingdom of Butterfly. He researched this location between the years 1856-1857. According to Wallace’s research, there are at least 250 species of butterflies in this park. It has also two caves that can be used as special interest tours. The two caves are Batu (Stone) Cave and Mimpi (Dream) Cave.

Meanwhile, around the Bantimurung National Park there are also various interesting ecotourism locations. There are more than 80 natural caves and prehistoric caves scatter around the karst area of Bantimurung National Park.

Bantimurung National Park Location

According to government administration, Bantimurung National Park area is located in Maros and Pangkep Regencies. This park is not far from the South Sulawesi provincial capital, Makassar.

Route to Bantimurung National Park

Bantimurung National Park can be reached using private vehicles, both motorbikes and cars. You can also take “pete-pete” or public transportation in the local language. The access is also quite easy with smooth asphalt roads. From Makassar, this place can be reached in about 1-2 hours.

To go to Bantimurung, the most reliable public transportation is pete-pete. From Makassar City, look for pete-pete that heading to Terminal Daya. Then from Terminal Daya take a pete-pete to Pangkajene and get off at Maros. After getting off in front of the Maros Market, look for another pete-pete heading to Bantimurung.

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Bantimurung National Park Tourist Attraction

Various types of interesting tourist activities can be done in Bantimurung National Park area. Here are eight of the top tourist attractions, which Authentic Indonesia summarize as reference for potential visitors.

1. Bantimurung Tourism Area

This tourist area has indeed been opened to the public and has become a leading tourist destination in Maros Regency. Here, you can see various kinds of natural beauty such as waterfalls, river flows between steep cliffs, clear lakes and many more.

You will also be offered to a very soothing view of the hundreds of butterfly species flying freely. There are about 250 species of butterflies that live in this area. That’s why this place is called The Kingdom of Butterfly.

2. Helena Sky Bridge

In the butterfly dome of Bantimurung National Park, visitors will be offered to a world of butterflies. Your eyes will be amazed endlessly watching the beautiful fluttering of butterfly wings, dancing nimbly, snaking around visitors and then perching on flowers.

The Helena Sky Bridge rides is right across the butterfly captivity of Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park. Standing firmly with twin towers as high as approximately 20 meters, the suspension bridge has a length of 50 meters stretching over a butterfly breeding area of 7000 square meters.

To reach the Helena Sky Bridge, visitors must do tracking first. After that, the journey continues by crossing a 50 meter long suspension bridge on a cliff slope with an altitude of approximately 100 meters above sea level.

3. Leang-Leang Prehistoric Region

This location offers a tour of the cultural history of ancient human civilization. You can trace prehistoric human life here. There are paintings of human palms and deer pigs emblazoned on the cave walls as well as various artifacts in the area.

This prehistoric area also offers captivating views. Clusters of rock cliffs with distinctive towering shape forms a distinctive panorama of karst walls. The distance is about three kilometers from Bantimurung Tourism Park.

4. Pattunuang Tourist Area

If you like challenging adventurous activities, this is the place to be. There are many options that you can do here, such as rock climbing on towering karst walls, going along vertical or horizontal caves or going along rocky rivers and clear water. You can also camp to enjoy the outdoors, explore trails in the forest or hike in the karst hills.

The Pattunuang area also offers various types of wild plants and animals that roam their natural habitat. Such as the rare primate Tarsius Fuscus, Soa-Soa and dozens of bird species. In a separate location, there is also the legend of “Biseang Labboro” or the petrified overturned boat on the banks of the Pattunuang River. Pattunuang is located in Samangki Village, Simbang District, Maros.

5. Leang Puteh Vertical Cave Area

Still in Labuaja Village, this place is a perfect location for the most challenging adventurers in Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park. The vertical cave is wide open and deep enough to pump up adrenaline seekers. With a width of 50-80 meters and a depth of about 273 meters, Leang Puteh is a cave with the deepest single pitch category in Indonesia.

At the base, this cave connects with Dinosaur Cave which is located not far from the mouth of Leang Puteh Cave. To navigate this location, it takes special skills and expertise and standard equipment as well.

6. Karaenta Animal Observation Area

Karaenta, in Labuaja Village, is known as natural laboratory that offers a variety of interesting knowledge and experiences. It is because of the richness of flora and fauna and the unique natural scenery that is interesting to explore.

In the Karaenta there is a group of Macaca Maura primates. With the special expertise of the local officers, the black ape group can gather and become natural animal attractions in their natural habitats. There is also a cluster of ebony, which is a rare and highly valuable type of wood.

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Ju Panggola is actually a title, which means “elder leader”. The people of Gorontalo in ancient times had always known Ju Panggola as an old man in a white robe that reaches to the knees. He is also known as Ilato or Lightning because of his struggle against the Dutch invaders. Legend says he was able to disappear and re-emerge if the country was in dire circumstances. Because of his services, Ju Panggola received a custom designation as “Ta Lo’o Baya Lipu” or a person who contributed to the people “, as a symbol of the honor and nobility of the country.

Ju Panggola is also known as a propagator of Islam religion. Thanks to his mastery of high religious knowledge, he is not only known as an Ulama (Cleric), but also as a Wali Allah (Guardian of Allah). And as a fighter, he is also known as a skilled warrior in martial arts which in Gorontalo is called Langga. Thanks to his supernatural powers also, he does not need to physically train his students, but simply by dripping water on the pupil’s eyes, and after that, the student gets amazing martial arts moves spontaneously.

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But there is another version of the legend that says Ilato is a King. However, no one can confirm whether Ilato Ju Panggola was also King Ilato, the son of King Amai who ruled the Gorontalo Kingdom from 1550 – 1585, and established Islam as the official religion of the kingdom. To be sure, on a stone inscription on the hill which is also the foundation of the Quba Mosque, inscribed the words: Masjid Quba, the grave of Ta’awuliya King Ilato Ju Panggola, Ta Lo’o Baya Lipu, 1673 AD, died Sunday 1 Muharam 1084 H.

Like many legends, a version says, Ju Panggola passed away in Mecca. But another version says, he did not pass away, but disappeared magically. So what about the tomb behind the mihrab of the Quba Mosque which is believed to be the tomb of Ju Panggola? According to local tourism officials, the sacred grave was built by local residents only to value a miracle in the land where the graveyard is now located.

The white ground on the hill is very fragrant. According to the elder stories, Ju Panggola once had a testament, “Wherever there is a fragrant smell and the soil is white, that’s where I am.” That is the reason why the local residents assume the hill is where Ju Panggola “had a long rest.”

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The Ju Panggola’s sacred grave is contained in a room measuring 3 x 3 meters. The floor is made of white ceramic, the same color as the valance covering the wall hanging down to the floor. A fan stuck to the ceiling of the tomb.

According to the graveyard keeper, the white and fragrant soil is often taken by pilgrims, because they believe that a pinch of the graveyard soil can be used as medicine. In fact there are even girls who bring home a lump of land to be used as a powder scrub. They believed the soil can make them more beautiful. Miraculously, even though the soil is often taken by pilgrims, the burial ground is never hollow or diminished.

When the dry season comes, many people visit the grave. At Ju Panggola’s sacred grave, they usually pray for seven days while fasting and praying fervently. There are also some pilgrims who carry out special rituals by placing a bottle of water in the tomb for three days and three nights. They hope that the water will be the cure for all kinds of diseases.

The post The Mysterious Figure of Ju Panggola in Gorontalo appeared first on Authentic Indonesia.

Fort Rotterdam is a silent witness of the struggle of Makassar people in expelling invaders. There were hundreds or even thousands of warriors had died in the battlefield at that time. Fort Rotterdam or also called The Ujung Pkamung Fortress was built in 1545. The architectural style of this building is also from the 16th century era.

Fort Rotterdam was originally named Ujung Pandang Fortress which was built during the Kingdom of Gowa as a place for war defense. This fort underwent a change in function and name after the Dutch arrival in the Makassar area. The fort was changed into a storage area for herbs and spices and then was renamed Fort Rotterdam until now.

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Fort Rotterdam is a silent witness to the struggle of Makassar people and playing a most essential role in its development. This fort has a unique ancient shape and very sturdy. Formerly, Fort Rotterdam in Makassar was originally built by King Gowa in the shape of a turtle. So this fort is also known as turtle fortress. The turtle-shaped building also has a very strong philosophy. Turtles are animals that can live in the water or on the land so that it became a symbol of the Gowa Kingdom that can be glorious both at sea and land.

Currently Fort Rotterdam is still standing strong and open to public. It is now not only as a tourist attraction and become the icon of the city of Makassar, but also as a place to carry out various events. One of the events which is conducted annually at Fort Rotterdam is the Makassar International Writers Festival. There are also student activities, culinary festivals, music event and many more.

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As one of the historical tourism objects in Makassar, the fort is also located not too far from Losari Beach which is the Landmark of Makassar City. The distance from Losari Beach to Fort Rotterdam is approximately one kilometre and you can travel using private vehicles. To get to the location of the Fort Rotterdam you can travel using the Jalan Somba Opu route. The access road to the fortress is also very good. Not only that, on the way there you will also see beautiful sea view.

Fort Rotterdam Makassar in South Sulawesi Province is always visited by tourists on weekend and school holidays. Inside the Rotterdam Fortress, visitors can also visit a museum, called the La Galigo Museum. It is a place to store various historical objects about humans in ancient times.

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Rammang-rammang is listed as the third largest karst mountains in the world after Tsingy in Madagascar and Shilin in China. The width is about 45,000 hectares. UNESCO has also included the Rammang Rammang karst mountains as one of Indonesia World Heritage Sites.

The name of Rammang-rammang is from the Makassar language and are interpreted as clouds or fog. It can be seen from the condition of the Rammang-Rammang area which is always foggy, especially in the morning or when it rains.

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The limestone mountains (karst) which are the main attractions of this place are formed due to the process of dissolving an area of carbonate rock (easily dissolved rocks), resulting in a unique shape of the earth’s surface with the characteristics exokarst (above the surface) and indokarst (below the surface).

Rammang-Rammang is known to have formed a long time ago, which is about 30 million years ago. But for this area, it is estimated that first humans settled in this place are around 40 years ago. Human footprints in the past can still be seen by visitors through handwriting or symbols scattered on some of the mountain walls.

Not only limestone mountains (karst), Rammang-rammang also presents many other tourist attractions that are quite interesting such as the Telaga Bidadari (Angel Lake), Limestone Forest Park, Palm Cave, Bulu Barakka Cave, Pute River and Berua Village.

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The impression that arises among ordinary people is that the karst area is arid and barren and unattractive as well. But in fact, the reality of the beauty of the Rammang-rammang can be equated with Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and Guilin in China.

To reach Rammang-rammang Village, tourists must travel for two hours using motor vehicle from the center of Makassar City. Then, when arrived at Rammang-rammang, visitors can rent a boat and explore the beauty of Rammang-rammang area via Pute River. Through this river too, tourists can visit the two existing tourist attraction in Limestone Forest Parks area, which are the Telaga Bidadari (Angel Lake), Bulu Barakka Cave, Palm Cave, Pasaung Cave and Berua Village.

Another choice to enjoy Rammang-rammang is by boat to Kampung Berua. For boat rental prices are different and depend on the load. Boat rental prices range from IDR300.000 to IDR500.000. Later, after arriving in Kampung Berua, you can do tracking around the limestone mountains. We recommend using shoes or mountain sandals to make trekking more comfortable. The condition of the paths between wet and slippery fields is indeed an obstacle.

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Furthermore, the Toraja Tribe has many traditions to perpetuate the corpse which is quite popular in various ways, similar to mummification in Egypt. Although it sounds scary, this variety of traditions actually becomes a local tourist attraction that is very unique and interesting to explore.

For your reference, Authentic-Indonesia has a recommendation of five sacred and unique funeral traditions in Toraja which you must see when visiting Sulawesi for a holiday.

1. Tau-tau

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If you go to Toraja and see some cute wooden dolls resting on a cliff, well, they are actually not toy dolls. They are called Tau-tau. They are sculptures that resembles a deceased person buried in the cliff. The goal of doing this, so that the spirit of someone who dies will be eternal stored there. Because they are considered sacred, Tau-tau should not be touched.

2. Ma’nene Festival

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Ever imagined seeing a dead body walking? Well, in Tana Toraja you can really see dead bodies when you come to the Ma’nene Festival to see one of local’s death ritual. In this ritual the body of the deceased person is removed from his place and then put on new clothes by his family or grandchildren.

After being dressed up, the bodies will “walk” to return to their homeland. This ritual is believed to protect them and their families who are left behind from danger and evil disturbances, both from inside and outside.

3. Bori Kalimbuang

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Bori Kalimbuang is one of UNESCO’s world heritages which is located in Bori Village, Sesean District, North Toraja Regency. This tourist atrraction which has existed since 1718 is similar to Stonehenge in England. Both have stones that stand tall with various sizes or what is known as menhirs.

The difference is that the stones in Bori Kalimbuang are not through a natural process, but formed first and planted in the soil. The formation and planting of stones cannot be carried out by just anyone.

This ancient stone row is a medium for the Toraja people to worship their ancestors. What makes it unique is that Bori Kalimbuang is a place where Rante Kalimbuang rituals are held, the typical burial of the Rambu Solo tradition which involves the sacrifice of meats.

4. Kambira

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Death is a sacred issue for the Toraja, including for the newborn babies. The Toraja people believe that if a baby who dies at the age of under six months must be returned to the mother’s womb. The Tarra Tree, which is rich in sap, acts as a substitute for breast milk, which is the perfect baby’s place. This baby’s death ritual procession is called Kambira.

5. Londa

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Of all the funeral traditions in Toraja, Londa is probably the most special. Located in the Village of Sandan Uai, Londa is a cave that serves as a burial ground. Because it is located in the hilly area, you can see clearly many coffins and hundred of years old skeletons. In between, there is a statue of Tau-tau which is a reflection of each body buried there.

Interestingly, the laying of the casket or “Erong” here is arranged based on its position in the community. The higher the position, the higher the person’s position in life is.

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While Sombori itself is a conservation area consisting of group of beautiful coral islands. It is located in the southern part of Tolo Bay, Morowali Regency, between two sub-districts, which are the South Bungku and Menui Islands.

Similar to other amazing islands in Indonesia which have their own nicknames, Sombori Island also has one. The Office of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DKP) and the Culture and Tourism Office (Disbudpar) of Morowali Regency, refer to Sombori as “A Piece of Heaven Falling in the Ocean of Morowali Earth”.

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Clusters of coral islands overgrown with lush trees on this island will remind you of Raja Ampat in Papua. Even though it is known for its miniature, the beauty of Sombori Island is almost the same to Raja Ampat.

Khayangan Peak is the main destination of Sombori Island. To feel the atmosphere like in Misool Raja Ampat, you can go to the top of Khayangan cliff to enjoy panoramic views of Sombori and take photos of rocky cliffs adorned with clear water mixed with green and blue color.

It’s not easy to get to Khayangan cliff, because tourists have to climb steep cliffs which are granite and coral rocks. There is no flat land just to stand on so tourists have to aware of this condition.

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From the Khayangan cliff, you can go to Dua Darat Island and Dua Laut Island. Dua Laut Island has the best diving point called “the Aquarium Point” where divers can see coral reefs and colorful fish up close.

If you want to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the beach, you can go to Koko Island, where you can see the swaying coconut trees. The water on Koko Island is also very clear, so you can see clearly small fishes swimming around.

The Bajau, Indonesia Sea Gypsies Tribe residents also become an attraction when traveling to Sombori. Tourists can see the daily life of this tribe which is well known as tough sailors. You can even learn to swim with Bajau people who can dive freely.

Besides being dubbed as the miniature Raja Ampat, Sombori is also known as the Indonesian version of Phi Phi Island. The beautiful Phi Phi Islands are located in Thailand, between the islands of Phuket and Thailand mainland. The color of the water which is tosca and the surrounding coral islands make Sombori Island called the Indonesian version of Phi Phi Island.

The Path to Sombori Island

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When entering the Sombori area, tourists will be welcomed with amazing natural landscape. High cliffs and rocks stand on the left and right sides of the island. And the expanse of clear turquoise sea water.

For tourists who want to go to the Sombori area, the route can be taken through Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi. Furthermore, tourists can choose to travel by land or sea.

If you choose the land route, it will take about 6 hours to reach the Lafeu Harbor, Bungku Pesisir District. The route terrain is also quite challenging to pass. Arriving at the harbor, tourists can continue their journey through the sea for about one hour to the location.

Meanwhile, if you travel by sea, it will take around half a day using commercial boat. But if using a speedboat, the trip can be taken around 4-5 hours.

The Sombori Waters Conservation Area in Morowali is currently being predicted to become the next Raja Ampat of Central Sulawesi. In the future, the popularity of Sombori Island will attract more tourists.

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Sulawesi is considered as one of the most popular travel destinations due to its domestic tourism market and also the amazing view and attractions. Although many people tend to go to either Bali or Lombok, you will find the same breathtaking view in Sulawesi.

Before you go to travel to Sulawesi, you need to know that Sulawesi is divided into three sides. The first one is North Sulawesi, the second one is the South Sulawesi and the third one is the Central Sulawesi. Not only that but Sulawesi is also surrounded by many islands so you will need days to explore all of these islands.

You can also go the big city and then change to one of the tropical islands. Also, in Sulawesi, you will be able to see and experience a mixture of different religions. For your guideline, here are 10 amazing places to visit in Sulawesi.

1. Makassar

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The first place that you can visit when you go to travel to Sulawesi is Makassar which is the capital of the South Sulawesi. Do not be surprised if some people referred Makassar as Ujung Pandang. Believe it or not, many tourists and people use Makassar to enter and exit Sulawesi. With that being said, Makassar has many amazing views and attractions. One of them is Fort Rotterdam which was built during the Dutch colonial period. There is also Losari Beach with an amazing view and pristine seawater.

2. Wakatobi Islands

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The next amazing place that you can visit when you go to travel to Sulawesi is Wakatobi Islands. The name of Wakatobi Islands is actually derived from the first letters of the four islands in the south of Sulawesi. Those islands are Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko. Many tourists come here to experience good snorkeling and diving.

3. Tana Toraja

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The next exotic place that you can visit when you go to travel to Sulawesi is Tana Toraja. Tana Toraja is the most popular tourist attraction in Sulawesi as you can learn all of the things about the Torajan indigenous group. Here, you will be able to witness how people lived for centuries and there are Tana Toraja unique traditions that are held which one of them is the funeral celebration.

4. Lindu National Park

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The next place that you can visit when you go to travel to Sulawesi is Lindu National Park which is located in Palu. A bit of warning, to get to this national park is already a fun yet challenging experience as this national park is located at the end of mountain roads. Once you get to the national park, you will be able to see the lush rainforest and all kinds of animals such as butterflies, hornbills and monkeys as well. You can also see many different exotic plants in a secluded place.

5. Tentena

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The next place that you can visit when you go to travel to Sulawesi is Tentena which is located in Central Sulawesi. The main attractions here are the Saloupa Waterfalls and Poso Lake which has a stunning view with the azure water. However, if you go to Tentena at the end of the year, you will not be able to enjoy the annual Poso Festival which is held in the lake.

6. Manado

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Another exciting things to do in Sulawesi is to visit Manado which is the capital city of North Sulawesi. Besides Makassar, Manado is the second-largest city in Sulawesi and has many tourist spots. Manado is also famous for the mixture of many different religious buildings. Not only that but Manado has a statue of Jesus Christ which is the fourth tallest statue in the whole world.

7. Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park

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The next place that you can visit when you go to travel to Sulawesi is this Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park. This national park is located in the North Sulawesi. You can get to this national park through Gorontalo. The main attraction of this national park is the lush rainforest which is not too crowded so you can enjoy your time in this national park. You can also choose whether you want to explore alone or you want to hire a guide. Whichever, you will be able to see gorgeous animals such as birds, snakes, and monkeys.

8. Togean Islands

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The next spots to visit when you are travelling to Sulawesi is the Togean Islands. If you love diving with some gorgeous underwater creatures, then these islands are perfect for you. A bit of warning, the route to get to these islands will be a bumpy and wavy route as these islands are located in the Tomini Sea in North Sulawesi. But, you will be amazed by the beautiful sand and sea of these islands once you get there.

9. Tomohon

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Your next destination to go while in Sulawesi is Tomohon. This place has all of the things that nature lovers seek. The stunning scenery, the natural highlights, you name it. The main attraction of this place is the Mount Mahawu Volcano which is the most popular spot for trekking. There are many different trekking routes that you can choose depending on your budget and time. After you are done with trekking, you can head to handicraft villages to enjoy the view and buy some souvenirs.

10. Tangkoko National Park

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The last place that you can visit when going to travel to Sulawesi is Tangkoko National Park. This national park is actually a 9,000-hectare of land and the home of many gorgeous animals in North Sulawesi. In this park, not only you will be able to see the Tarsiers which are the smallest primate in the world, but you can also see the Black Crested Macaques. You also do not have to worry about the crowds as not many tourists visit this national park. So you can enjoy your time here at peace.

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Buton is also one of the many natural beauties in Indonesia. This beautiful island has charming soft white coastlines combined with the waves. Not only the maritime, Buton offers many other natural beauties such as savannas, hills and waterfalls. Buton is also rich in stunning culinary and cultural heritage.

This time we will choose some places that you can visit on this island which is also well known as one of the largest asphalt-producing island in Indonesia. Here are 10 things to do in Buton Island.

1. Nirwana Beach

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Nirwana Beach is a perfect beach in Buton Island to enjoy the wonders of the stunning sea. This beach is very beautiful with gradations of sea water like crystal. The underwater beauty is also amazing. It is very suitable for snorkeling and diving activities and swimming as well.

The cliffs that surround the beach area will make you amazed. The beauty of this beach is truly like a soothing paradise. The facilities here are fairly complete. The mainstay attractions are located in the Village of Sula, Betoambari District, Bau-Bau. They have a number of facilities such as wooden bridges used as docks, lodges, restaurants to classy lodging.

2. Liwutongkidi Island

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Next things to do in Buton Island is to explore a beautiful tiny uninhabited island, Liwutongkidi. This island has an area of around 1000 square meters and it feels like a private island.

White sand with its smooth waves that sweep the shore and the green trees scattered along the island makes Liwutongkidi infallible. The underwater nature of the island is also very amazing. The colorful coral and fishes at this location make diving activity so exciting.

For those of you who want to visit this island. You only need about 20 minutes to cross to this island from the Baubau City. The transportation used is usually a speed boat that has a limited capacity. If you who want to enjoy this island longer, camping on this island is certainly a very interesting activity to do.

3. Kalata Waterfall

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Visiting Kalata Waterfall is an interesting thing to do for your next adventure in Buton Island. This waterfall has beauty and contour which is different from other waterfalls in Indonesia.

The shape is like a pond with high rock cliff walls making this waterfall very appealing for cliff jumping activity. You can swim and float to enjoy the green nature around the waterfall.

This waterfall is located in Wolowa Baru Village, Wolowa District, Buton Regency. To get to this location you should use a dirt bike or an off road tour vehicle.

If you use a car, you have to walk for about 10 minutes to get to the location of this waterfall. For those of you who want to visit the location of this super exotic waterfall, then you must make careful preparations. At the location, you will not find the facilities you expect.

4. Bahari Beach

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This is one of the natural beauty in South Buton Regency. A beach called the Bahari which is very beautiful and clean. Before getting to this location, you can stop briefly on a beautiful hill that has a savanna and an amazing view.

Satisfied after enjoying the natural beauty of the savanna, about 1 kilometer journey you will find a beautiful beach called Bahari Beach. This beach is called Bahari because it is located in Bahari Village, Sampolawa District, South Buton Regency.

Residents around the Bahari coast are very friendly and ready to welcome your arrival. Arriving at the Bahari beach you will be greeted with views of white sand and stunning rows of cliffs.

5. Koguna Beach

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Koguna beach is one of main tourist attraction in Buton Regency. A beach that offers an enchanting atmosphere and view. This beach has fine white sand and shallow seas which make it very suitable for swimming.

The water is clean, the views of the vast sea and the gentle breeze of the sea will make you feel so relaxed. This beach is located about 40 kilometers from the city center of Baubau. The precise location is in the village of Mopaanu, South Lasalimu District, Buton Regency.

The beach has decent facilities. There are various food stalls, toilets and resorts.

6. Kandawu Ndawuna Waterfall

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Another activity that you can do on the Island of Buton is to visit the Kandawu Ndawuna Waterfall. It is located in Wakuli Village, Kapontori District, Buton Regency. Located about 60 kilometers from downtown Baubau.

Kandawu Ndawuna Waterfall is indeed not too high, only about 40 meters. But the unique thing is that the Kandawu Ndawuna Waterfall has a different ground heights contour at each point so that when viewed from a distance the Kandawu Ndawuna Waterfall looks terraced.

7. Buton Palace Fortress

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Buton Palace Fortress, originally the Wolio Palace, is located in Bau-Bau City, Buton Island. The Keraton Buton Fortress received an award from the Indonesian World Record Museum (MURI) and the Guinness Book of Record, which was issued in September 2006 as the largest castle in the world with an area of about 23,375 hectares.

Besides being the largest castle in the world, Buton Palace Fortress has also a unique shape made of limestone. This fort was used as a place of defense, but now it is a tourist attraction that displays the history of the Buton Sultanate with stunning views of the City of Bau-Bau.

8. Lakasa Cave

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Lakasa Cave can be an alternative destination when visiting Buton Island. The cave was first discovered in 1999. The person who discovered this beautiful cave was a man named La Kasa. From this discovery, the cave which is located in the middle of a resident’s garden is named Lakasa to perpetuate the inventor.

There are three beauties offered by the Lakasa Cave. The first beauty offered is the number of stalactites and stalagmites. The second beauty offered is the presence of white crystals that grow slowly near a pond. These crystals look beautiful when viewed from a distance if exposed to light from a flashlight. The third, this cave also has a fresh bathing pool and the water never runs out when dry season.

9. Lambusango Forest

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The name Lambusango is more familiar among the British tourists than the Indonesian travelers themselves. This is a very natural forest in Buton, Southeast Sulawesi. It has an area of 65 thousand hectares.

Lambusango Forest, based on the status of the area, consists of a conservation area of 28 thousand hectares which is divided into two, namely Kakenauwe Nature Reserve and Lambusango Wildlife Reserve. While the rest, is a protected forest area and production forest.

Lambusango Forest is still very natural with many endemic animals. Some animals such as birds, cuscus, anoa, monkey ochreata brunescens and tarsiers as the smallest primate in the world. There are around 120 species of birds recorded in this forest, 36 of them are endemic to Sulawesi.

To explore this forest you have to travel about 2 hours from the city of Baubau. The location of the entrance is in Lambusango Village, Kapontori District.

Inside the forest, a path is prepared for those of you who want to do jungle trekking. And you should hire a guide to keep you safe.

10. Kamali Beach

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Kamali is a beach that has long been reclaimed by the Baubau City Government, Southeast Sulawesi. This beach has become one of favorite hangout place at night for the surrounding community. The night atmosphere of Kamali Beach may not be as bright as the atmosphere of big cities night, but this beach becomes a nighttime tour with family.

The cool sea breeze at night and the flickering city lights make this place feel so beautiful. This beach is located in the Wale village, Wolio District, Baubau City.

At night Kamali Beach is brightly lit by street and traders lights. Many traders sell everything from children’s toys to clothes, foods, drinks as well as shoes at low prices. At noon Kamali Beach is very quiet but when the night come it turns into a night market.

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