The Minahasan cuisine of North Sulawesi is famous throughout Indonesia for its fiery spice levels and bold flavors. In Manado, the food scene is extraordinary, with the city considered one of Indonesia's top culinary destinations. The signature dishes are intensely flavorful, featuring liberal use of chilies, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and wild herbs. Fresh seafood from the Bunaken waters is the star, with grilled tuna, skipjack, and reef fish prepared in the distinctive Woku Woku style. The island resorts serve a mix of Indonesian and western meals, while in Manado city, the nightly Wakeke food street comes alive with vendors selling everything from grilled corn to spicy Rica-Rica chicken. Do not miss the chance to try Tinutuan, Manado's famous breakfast porridge made with corn, pumpkin, and vegetables.

Bunaken Divers Resort

Siladen Resort & Spa

Onong Resort Bunaken

Hotel Gran Puri Manado

Bunaken National Marine Park is one of Indonesia's oldest and most celebrated marine reserves, protecting a spectacular cluster of volcanic islands off the coast of Manado in North Sulawesi. Established in 1991, the park encompasses 890 square kilometers of marine habitat centered around the islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen, Montehage, and Nain, each surrounded by dramatic vertical walls plunging hundreds of meters into the deep Sulawesi Sea. These walls are among the most spectacular in the world, draped in pristine hard and soft corals, enormous barrel sponges, and gorgonian fans, with sheer vertical drops that create a sense of flying through an underwater canyon. The marine biodiversity is exceptional, with over 3,000 species of fish documented in the park, including regular sightings of green and hawksbill turtles, reef sharks, schooling barracuda, and eagle rays. The walls of Lekuan I, II, and III on Bunaken Island are consistently rated among the best wall dives anywhere on Earth, offering an almost overwhelming density of life and color. Manado Tua, a dormant volcanic island, provides a dramatic backdrop with its conical profile rising 800 meters above the sea, while the smaller islands of Siladen and Montehage offer more relaxed diving suitable for all levels. The city of Manado itself is a vibrant, predominantly Christian city known for its spicy Minahasan cuisine and warm hospitality, making it an excellent base for combining world-class diving with authentic cultural exploration.

Bunaken National Park & Manado

Bunaken National Park is accessed via Sam Ratulangi International Airport (MDC) in Manado, with daily flights from Jakarta, Makassar, Surabaya, and Singapore. From Manado's harbor, public boats and resort speedboats cross the 45-minute journey to Bunaken Island. The dive resorts on Bunaken and Siladen islands arrange transfers as part of their dive packages, while independent travelers can take public boats departing from Manado's Jembatan Soekarno harbor throughout the day. The park is also accessible from Manado itself via day-boat operators that run trips to the best wall sites.

Liveaboard Diving in Bunaken National Park & Manado