Travel Info: Togean dan Gorontalo

TOGEAN ISLANDS

How to Get There?

Ferry from Gorontalo, takes approximately 12 hours

Ferry from Marisa, takes approximately 5-7 hours

Ferry from Ampana, takes approximately 3-4 hours

For the updated schedules, u can see the websites of the hotels in Togean such as http://www.blackmarlindiving.com/ and http://www.kadidiriparadise.com/ and http://www.lestari-cottages.com/how-to-get-there

We took the easy way: charter a speedboat from Marisa. Takes only 3 hours from Marisa to Malenge Island. Malenge Island is part of the Togean Islands. From Gorontalo to Marisa is a 3-hour drive.

the speedboat

Where to stay?

Malenge Lestari at Malenge Island

http://www.lestari-cottages.com/

Owner: Pak Rudy (people call him Pak Mantri)
Room Rates: Standard Rp150.000/person. Superior Rp200.000/person. Price include three meals per day.

It’s hard to do a reservation here. We made reservation through a guy living in Ampana. We sent down payment but turned out that this guy delivered our down payment at the same day we arrive in Malenge. Because of this, we only got 2 rooms (it was supposed to be 3 rooms).

the cottages

the room

the dining room

Prices:

Speedboat from Marisa to Togean (return) Rp8.750.000 (capacity: 10 persons). I think u can get a better price if u contact the staff at New Melati Hotel in Gorontalo. Better to do a few price comparison. We didn’t do that due to lack of information.

Car from Gorontalo to Marisa (drop off): Rp600.000 include driver and fuel.

Speedboat for island hopping in Togean: Rp200.000/person/day. We end up using the same speedboat that we chartered from Marisa.

Car all day in Gorontalo: Rp500.000 include driver exclude fuel

Interesting spots at Togean:

-          Desa Malenge

-          Danau Mariona. Here u can swim with the famous stingless jellyfish

-          Pantai Karina: a very pretty white sand beach

-          Wakai

-          Kadidiri Paradise Resort

-          Pulau Taipi

-          Bolilanga Resort

-          Reef 5: famous snorkeling spot

-         Desa Papan: Go up to the hill and take the picture of the wooden bridge that’s supposed to connect Papan Island with Malenge Island. Ask for the locals to boil fresh lobsters for u. 1 kg of lobster (consist of 4 lobster) only costs us Rp200.000.

-         Pulau Kalabatu

-     Desa Tongkabo: u can take a stroll along the small streets of Tongkabo. U can see the local people building small boats.

For Togean travel story, please click HERE

GORONTALO

Where to stay?

Hotel New Melati

Jl Wolter Monginsidi No.01

(0435) 822934

Rates: Standard Room (Twin Bed) Rp130.000, Superior Room (Twin Bed) Rp180.000, Superior Room (Three Bed) Rp220.000, Deluxe Room (Double) Rp325.000, Suite Room Rp400.000, Extra Bed Rp20.000

www.newmelatihotel.com

the room

new melati hotel

the dining room

Where to eat?

RM Ratu

Pantai Lahilote, Kelurahan Pohe

081340657191

Specialty: Sate Tuna Rp3.000/tusuk

RM Ratu

RM Ci Kia

Jl Tribatra No.69

Specialty: Milu Siram Ikan Rp10.000, Milu Siram Udang Rp12.000, Milu Siram Campur Rp13.000

RM Ci Kia

RM Intan

Menu: Sate Sapi Rp2500/tusuk, Sate Kambing Rp2500, Sop Buntut Rp15.000, Kuah Bugis Rp15.000, Ikan Oci Bakar Rp10.000

RM Intan

Warung Kopi Ceria

Jl Limboto Raya

085240682922

Warkop Ceria

RM Sabar Menanti

(0435) 821206

Jl Sutoyo No.31

Specialty: Nasi Kuning

RM Sabar Menanti

Where to buy souvenirs?

Maharani

Pusat Oleh-oleh Khas Gorontalo

Jl Sultan Botutihe No.6

(depan Masjid Baiturrahim)

(0435) 8708727

Interesting spots at Gorontalo:

Benteng Otanaha

Menara Keagungan

Desa Wisata Religi Bubohu

Mesjid Walima Emas

Governor’s Office

Pasar Sentral

Pentadio Resort

Tempat pendaratan amphibi Ir. Soekarno

Rumah Adat Dulohupa

Rita’s Itinerary

Day 1: Morning Sriwijaya flight (transit at Makassar). Arrive at Gorontalo at 11.20. 3-hour drive to Marisa. Private speedboat to Malenge Island (from 3.30PM to 6.30PM). Stay at Malenge Lestari.

Day 2: Island Hopping: Desa Malenge, Danau Mariona (jellyfish lake), Pantai Karina, Wakai, Kadidiri Paradise Resort, Pulau Taipi, Bolilanga Resort. Stay at Malenge Lestari.

Day 3: A 3-hour snorkeling at Reef 5, afternoon at Desa Papan, night snorkeling in front of Malenge Lestari (to see the ‘’glow in the dark’’ plankton). Stay at Malenge Lestari.

Day 4:

Morning snorkeling at Malenge Lestari area. Pulau Kalabatu. Desa Tongkabo. Lunch (crab and fish) at a local’s house. Stay at Malenge Lestari.

Day 5: Back to Marisa. Start from Malenge at 7.30AM. Lunch at our boat captain’s house: another crab party. Haha.. Dinner at Gorontalo (Sate Tuna). Stay at New Melati Hotel

Day 6: Start from the hotel at 8.45AM.  Benteng Otanaha. Lunch at the house of our driver’s brother. See horse race. Menara Keagungan. Dinner at Ci Kia to taste Gorontalo’s specialty: Milu Siram. Stay at New Melati Hotel

Day 7:  Start from the hotel at 8AM. Desa Wisata Religi Bubohu. Mesjid Walima Emas. Governor’s Office. RM Intan. Pasar Sentral: buy some ikan asap and ikan roa. Take a picture in front of ‘’Provinsi Gorontalo’’ signage. Warkop Ceria. Pentadio Resort. Tempat pendaratan amphibi Ir. Soekarno. Rumah Adat Dulohupa. Dinner at Hidayah (Baso Rusuk). Toko oleh-oleh Maharani. Stay at New Melati Hotel

Day 8:  Try the famous ‘’nasi kuning’’ at RM Sabar Menanti, try the ‘’becak motor’’, to the airport (back to jakarta)

for more pics of this Togean trip, please see http://ritaaza.blogspot.com/2014/11/togean.html