Indonesia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 332

GETTING AROUND
Getting around the Togians is a slow process, and
schedules are constantly changing. Your best bet is to
get to Wakai, Bomba or Kadidiri, and assess your options
from there, as even in Ampana and Gorontalo everyone's
schedules tend to differ slightly. If time is of the essence,
or if you're in a group, there is always the option of
chartering local boats, though make sure you see the
vessel first. The hotels on Kadidiri will pick you up from
Wakai, and the hotels on Bomba can hail the passing
public boats that head between Wakai and Ampana five
days of the week.

tight a schedule; most accommodation
places offer day-trips and shared transfers.
Tourism in the islands is budget-oriented
but good, and prices include meals. July
through to September are the coolest
months, when winds can interrupt
ferries. Diving is usually good all year
round, though visibility in December
can be variable.

Bomba
Four hours from Ampana and at the
western end of Batu Daka, BOMBA
comprises a few dozen houses and a
mosque facing north across a pleasant
bay. here's a long beach 5km west of
town, but it's the sea that warrants a visit
here, with the Togians' best snorkelling
an hour away at Catherine reef . he coast
near here is interesting, too, offering the
possibility of seeing crocodiles in remote
inlets; some islets east of Bomba are
completely covered by villages, their
boundaries reinforced with hand-cut
coral ramparts.

ACCOMMODATION
Phone reception on the islands is notoriously bad, so
the numbers below might not always work. All prices
include meals.

BOMBA
★

Island Retreat T 0852 4115 8853, W togian
islandretreat.com. This smart American-run place to the
south of Bomba boasts one of the longest beaches in
the Togians, most of its basic cottages only a few metres
from the water. The food is fantastic, and they run a
competitively priced diving operation as well (from $31/
dive, plus $6 for equipment rental). Contact th em a t least
two weeks in advance to arrange for a pick-up. $35
Poya Lisa Cottages T 0464 21592, E poyalisaisland
@gmail.com. A handful of very basic cottages set on their
own idyllic island just off Bomba, a location that makes up
for the lack of facilities. Friendly staff organize snorkelling
trips, but for diving and equipment hire you'll need to go
through Island Retreat (see above). Rp125,000

4

Wakai and Kadidiri
At the eastern end of Batu Daka, about
five hours from Ampana and two from
Bomba, WAKAI is only of interest as a
transport hub. Half an hour by motorized
outrigger from Wakai, 3km-long Kadidiri ,
with its fine beaches, is one of the nicest
of the islands.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
FROM THE SOUTH
Boats from Ampana to Wakai (for Kadidiri) depart daily
except Fri (10am; 5hr; Rp60,000 one-way), and return
from Wakai to Ampana daily except Mon & Fri (10am; 5hr).
On Mon, Tues, Wed & Sat, boats continue from Wakai to
Katupat (for Bolilanga; 1hr; Rp60,000 from Ampana),
returning Sun, Tues & Thurs at 7am. Boats from Ampana
to Bomba depart Sun, Tues & Fri (9am; 3hr; Rp25,000),
returning from Bomba to Ampana on Mon, Thurs & Sat
(9am; 3hr). Boats to Wakai leave from the main port, just
north of Oasis Hotel , while boats to Bomba depart from
3km to the east near Marina Cottages.

KADIDIRI
Three sets of cottages share a single beach, though only
Black Marlin and Paradise organize diving.
Black Marlin T 0856 5720 2004, W blackmarlindiving
.com. E cient, friendly dive centre, with smart, clean and
well-equipped bungalows that all face the sea. Diving
costs €28/dive. €16/person
Kadidiri Paradise contact the Oasis in Ampana
T 0464 21058, W kadidiriparadise.com. A friendly,
laidback place that takes up most of the beach. Their
basic bungalows aren't as modern as Black Marlin 's but
they do offer more privacy, and the luxury bungalows
over the wat er (Rp450,0000) are very elegant. €30/dive.
Rp200,000
Lestari T 0821 9144 4503, E [e-mail].
This friendly, rustic retreat offers some of the cheapest
board in the Togians, and is the most popular place to stay
on Kadidiri. Basic rooms have shared mandi, while larger
bungalows come with private bath rooms (Rp1 50,000).
Free boats for snorkelling excursions. Rp100,000

FROM THE NORTH
From the port of Gorontalo, the KM Tuna Tomini departs for
Wakai every Tues & Fri (8pm; 12-13hr), returning from
Wakai on Thur & Sun (4.30pm; 12-13hr; Rp75,000/
Rp90,000 a/c).