Northern Maluku
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Positives
- Regular N monsoon swell
- Quality, mid-sized waves
- Calm winds, small tides
- Newly opened surf area
- Super scenic and wild
Negatives
- Short surf season
- Long distances between spots
- Few organised boat trips
- Volcanic activity and earthquakes
Northern Maluku surf travel guide
The original Spice Islands, the Malukus (Moluccas or Molluques) straddle the equator, waiting to be infused with flavourful swells from the western Pacific. Despite waves as good as the Philippines, these islands remain largely ignored by travelling surfers. Occasional boat forays into the region have revealed an outstanding variety of breaks, most of which go unsurfed. A small number of feral surfers make the long trek through the jungles around Christmas time, to stay in remote villages and surf the better-known spots, like Serenade on Morotai. There are numerous spots that have been ridden up and down both the east and west coasts of Morotai and Halmahera, often with a primordial backdrop of jungle and smoking volcanoes.
Surf spots in Northern Maluku
Research the 16 surf breaks in Northern Maluku and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 16 breaks in Northern Maluku.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Northern Maluku
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- feb
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- oct
- nov
- dec
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Population
- 5,545,700
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- IDR
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 14,080 IDR IDR
Cost of living
Communication
- Language
- Bahasa Indonesian (official), Ambonese Malay, North Moluccan Malay, Papuan Malay and local dialects
Electricity
- Plug Type
- cef
Visas
Citizens of another 87 countries are eligible to obtain one of the following visas:
- Electronic Visa On Arrival (e-VOA/B213)
- Electronic Visitor Visa
- Social, Tourist, or Cultural Visa (B211)
- Free Visa Stamp
- Multiple Entry Visa
Some passport holders are eligible to apply for an online e-VOA or Visitor Visa, otherwise, you must obtain a visa in advance at an Indonesian embassy or consulate. If you get the e-VOA before you arrive, you have the option to extend by simply filling out a new Indonesia eVisa application form online, but must first leave the country in order to request a new visa.
Visas issued at the airport on arrival can only be extended through an immigration office, which should be done 14-7 days before expiry.
Visitor Visa is a single-entry visa valid for a 30-day stay in Indonesia with the purpose of Tourism, Government visits, Business Meetings, Goods Purchasing, or Transit only and is not extendable.
The B211 is a 60-day visa for visiting family, friends or an employment trial and can be extended 3 times by 30-days. More hoops to jump through including being sponsored by an eligible Guarantor. Cost IDR 2,000,000.
9 neighbouring countries get a Free Visa Stamp for stays of up to 30 days maximum with no extensions permitted (Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam).
Multi Entry, investment, sport and journalist 60-day visas are available through the main portal.
The 30-day e-VOA & Visitor Visa fee is IDR 500.000. You may be asked for proof of your return flight details and proof of financial resources.
DO NOT overstay as the fines aren’t cheap (IDR 1,000,000/day) and they can stop you from re-entering for a period of time. As always, check for any updates before you book your trip, as visa policy has changed a few times in recent years.
Getting There
Flights run with Merpati to Ternate (daily), Galela (3/week) or Daruba (weekly). The Sama Sama does 10 day charters from Ternate Dec-March. Some fly to Manado (MDC) in Sulawesi, then Wings Air do daily flights to Kuabang Airport (KAZ), which is 75kms easy drive to Tobelo.
Getting Around
Sama Sama Boatrips takes up to 10 people and are the only scheduled charter in this area. The distance between spots can be long and the sea can be rough, so a good boat is essential. Land access is long and slow, but small numbers of ferals head to Sopi and get a homestay, making the 40 min walk and 10 min paddle to Serenade every morning. The promise of a reliable ferry service around Morotai is yet to be realised. There are inter-island ferries to Rau from Morotai.
Accommodation
In Manado (on Sulawesi), stay in town for $30-110/d, at hotels catering for divers. Most hotels are 30-45min from Manado, but the best resorts are on the small Siladen Island in Bunaken Marine Park. There are cheap hotels ($5-10) in Ternate, Daruba or Tobelo. Food is fresh and cheap, boat menus have lots of fresh fish (yellow fin tuna). Expect to pay $3 for a meal in town.
Activities
There is not much in Maluku except thick jungle and rusted WW2 sunken ships and planes to dive on. There's superb snorkelling on untouched reefs. The waterfall shower at Paniki Point is a gem. There is a cool jungle circuit to walk above Nachos. Fishing in the region is surprisingly poor as noted by 19th century explorers.
Hazards & hassles
Virgin area with a low population. For land access malaria is present and humidity levels high. Travelling even short distances on motorbikes can take hours. Smoking volcanoes dominate the skyline and mini volcanic eruptions, with ash clouds, are a regular occurrence.
Handy Hints
Take at least 2 everyday boards - a longboard or groveller may come in handy when it is small. The water is extremely warm, so pack plenty of wax. Mobile signal (4G) is being rolled-out across Morotai, but signal can be spotty in such a mountainous, wild region.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.