At the epicenter of the historic ‘Spice Islands’ is Pulau Banda Besar, the largest island in the Banda archipelago. Despite a history of violence that began with the 17th-century Spice Wars, things are much quieter today.
The few tourists who make it to Pulau Banda Besar enjoy some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Indonesia. Crowds are nonexistent, due largely to a surge of violence in the 1990s that has long since faded away.
The highlight of the local diving scene is the beautiful coral gardens. Diving on live-aboard boats is the best way to survey the underwater landscape, but the water’s are shallow enough that snorkeling is just as attractive for the uninitiated.
The interior of Pulau Banda Besar has a few land-based attractions. Guides are available in coastal communities and will gladly take tourists to high vantage points where the panoramic view over the coast and shallow waters is outstanding.
Getting There & Away
Access to Pulau Banda Besar is through the city of Bandaneira. It is sometimes possible to charter a flight between Banda Besar and Ambon, the transportation hub of Maluku Province, but most travelers take an inter-island boat. Ambon offers semi-regular 5-hour flights to Jakarta, the country’s main gateway.