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North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi covers an area of about 27,487 square kilometers. It is divided the districts of Manado, Bitung, Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow and Sangihe Talaud islands. The western part borders Gorontalo province, which was part of North Sulawesi until the end of 2000 when it became an own province.
The capital Manado is reachable by air from Makassar, Jakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, Ternate, Ambon and Jayapura. Other smaller airports mainly are served by domestic traffic.
The province is, of course, also accessible by sea. The most important port undoubtedly is Bitung.
North Sulawesi is highly mountainous and hilly. Many of the 54 peaks are volcanic and still active. Rich volcanic ash has blessed the province with very fertile soil. The coast is made up of white or black sandy beaches and wonderful coral gardens full of tropical marine life.
The people making up the biggest part of the province's population is the Minahasa. They are very hospitable and open-minded - one of the most western-oriented peoples in Indonesia. In the 16th century they had first contact with the Europeans when Spanish and Portugese spice traders arrived. When the Dutch finally landed on their shores they became totally Christianized.
The southern coast is inhabited by sea nomads, who are unfortunately slowly disappearing. They build a separate ethnic group, which originated from the Malay peninsula.
North Sulawesi is one of Indonesia's richest coconut, clove and nutmeg producers.
You should plan your trip to North Sulawesi in accordance with the season. Outdoor activities like mountain climbing are only restrictedly possible during the rainy season. Streets can be flooded and often sea routes are interrupted due to rough seas. Altogether travelling is more arduous during that time.
The best travelling time for North Sulawesi therefore is the dry season between May and October.