Featuring white sands and cool, clear seas, Maluku’s many beaches are the perfect place for chilling out and soaking up the sun for a while, making this a pure tropical paradise. The province encompasses an amazing array of islands that were formerly known by Chinese traders as the Spice Islands.
Introduction
Few people wander far from the beach; however, Maluku is surrounded by intense natural beauty and there is plenty to explore for those with energy to spare. This is a great place for hiking through the forest and climbing the rugged volcanic mountains for spectacular views of the surrounding area. Nature lovers will be in their element as there is plenty to spot such as colorful hornbills and butterflies flitting among the overgrowth.
There are plenty of places to stay in Maluku, with the best accommodation situated near the beach and offering spectacular ocean views. When it comes to dining, fresh fish is top of the menu, prepared in the local style and barbecued on the beach as the sun slowly sinks beneath the horizon.
The water around Maluku’s numerous islands is perfect for scuba diving and snorkeling as it is filled with coral and a broad spectrum of colorful fish. Other water sports such as surfing and windsailing are popular here and it is possible to hire equipment for a small fee. Another good way to spend a day is by hiring a kayak and exploring at your own pace.
No matter what they choose to do during the day, most visitors to Maluku gather on the beach in the evening. There are a number of bars lining Maluku’s most popular beaches serving snacks, cool beer and glasses of the local firewater. This is a great place to take a break from traveling for a day or two and indulge on all that the area has to offer.
For those who can bear to drag themselves away from the beach for a while, the crumbling Dutch Fort Orange in Ternate town offers a spectacular viewpoint. Also of interest is Buru, famous for containing the penal colony where author Pramoedya Ananta Toer was imprisoned. There are a number of interesting buildings to explore on Buru Island.
Popular island groups to explore include the Banda Islands, where you can hire a boat to discover this chain of picturesque islands famous for their lush spice gardens, and the Obi Islands, full of tropical charm and a good place to relax and soak up the sun.
The best time to visit the province is during the dry season between April and October. Most people opt for a short stay unless they have plans to explore the hundreds of tropical islands in Maluku, many of them uninhabited.
The closest transport hub to Maluku is Surabaya, which has its own airport with daily flights from Jakarta (2 hours). Ferries also call in at Surabaya’s port from towns and cities such as Jakarta, Bitung and Sorong. ** **