{"id":438,"date":"2015-07-28T19:05:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-28T19:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vuelveaviajar.com\/?p=438"},"modified":"2024-06-02T11:38:44","modified_gmt":"2024-06-02T11:38:44","slug":"togean-islands-sulawesi-indonesia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vuelveaviajar.com\/en\/togean-islands-sulawesi-indonesia\/","title":{"rendered":"Togean Islands – Sulawesi: One of the Best Kept Secret Spots of Indonesia"},"content":{"rendered":"

If I say Indonesia, I am sure Bali is the first thing to come to mind. Bali is what best sells and most travelers start their journey to Indonesia on this beautiful island. Many do not visit any other, and I can certainly understand why. However, with over 17,000 islands, Indonesia has <\/b><\/span>so<\/b><\/i><\/span> much more to offer! I will introduce you to an off the beaten path paradise in Indonesia that you should not miss: the Togean Islands of Sulawesi.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Togean<\/a><\/p>\n

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While planning my trip to Indonesia<\/strong>, I also made the \u2018tourist mistake\u2019 and thought of only visiting Java and Bali. Fortunately, a couple of days before flying to Jakarta, I met another Spanish girl who told me that the absolute highlight of her 9-months journey in Southeast Asia was the time she spent in an Indonesian star-shaped island I had never heard of before: Sulawesi (formerly known as Celebes).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Her eyes lit up while talking about the Togean (or Togian) Islands, located in central Sulawesi. In particular, she recommended a small island called Poya Lisa Bomba. The name made me curious (it sounds really funny in Spanish!). But when she explained that this is an island in the middle of nowhere, with no Internet and no phone signal<\/strong> (only peace, palms, and an incredible crystal clear sea), I made up my mind. After a quick research, I decided to change my plans and include Sulawesi and both the Togean and Poya Lisa islands to my itinerary. I was determined to see this fabulous off-the-beaten-path paradise with my own eyes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Togean<\/a>

Just one of the many empty sand beaches in the Togean islands (aka paradise).<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sulawesi\u00a0(Celebes) – Unknown paradise in Indonesia<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\"Togean<\/a>

Sulawesi looks totally crazy on the map!<\/p><\/div>\n

Although not as well known as Java or Bali, Sulawesi is one of the main islands of Indonesia and the eleventh largest island in the world<\/a>. In the center of the Indonesian archipelago, Sulawesi’s star shape is easily recognizable. This massive and completely\u00a0underrated island has a lot to offer to the traveler from extraordinary cultures to an unexplored mountainous hinterland and several unspoiled first class diving-spots.<\/p>\n

Nowhere in Sulawesi is much more than 100km from the sea. Despite having stunning beaches, what will really take your breath away is all that is hidden under its crystal clear waters: an incredible underwater wonderland<\/strong>, filled with colorful corals and all kinds of fish.\u00a0While the north and the south ends of the island are\u00a0ideal for scuba divers, the center and the Togean islands are perfect places for snorkeling.<\/p>\n

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Togean Islands<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Togean is an archipelago in the Gulf of Tomini, south of the Equator in the Pacific. As there are no airports on the islands and traveling by bus takes a long time in Sulawesi, the Togean are difficult to reach. To get to the islands, first, you will have to either reach Ampana (south of the islands) or Gorontalo (in the north of Sulawesi), which is a challenge by itself. The truth is, it is very difficult to get <\/strong><\/span>to<\/i><\/span><\/strong> the Togean\u2026 But believe me, it is even harder to leave them!<\/strong> Once your feet touch the sands of this unspoiled paradise, you will want to stay forever.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Unspoiled<\/a>

An unspoiled beach in Taupan island (Togean Islands, Sulawesi).<\/p><\/div>\n

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How to get to the Togean Islands<\/span><\/h2>\n

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I don\u2019t recommend attempting to go to the Togian islands unless you have time to spare.<\/strong> Getting there will take you a few days and it is very tiring. As mentioned above, there are no airports closer than 5 hours away by bus from Ampana (the main port to the Togean).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The nearest airports to Ampana are Poso and Luwuk but, being small airports, flights tend to be pricey. <\/span>Lion Air<\/span><\/a> offers low-cost domestic flights to Poso, Luwuk, and Palu (via Makassar) from major cities in Indonesia.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The cheapest way I found to get to the Togean is flying to Palu and then catching a public bus to Ampana (11-12 hours drive). However, be prepared for an endless trip in a van without air conditioning through a poor winding road while listening to loud traditional Indonesian music (all the way!).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When you finally get to Ampana, I recommend\u00a0staying the night at Lawaka Hotel<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Marina Cottages.\u00a0In Marina Cottages there is a friendly guy called Edy who works there and will be happy to help you to arrange the ferry trip to the Togean islands.<\/p>\n

Public ferries to the Togean leave almost every day from Ampana. At the time of writing (April 2015), ferries\u00a0run\u00a0on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays\u00a0at 10:00 am. Bear in mind that schedules change often without\u00a0notice.<\/p>\n

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\"The<\/a>

The incredible crystal clear waters in the Togean islands.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Where to Stay in the Togean Islands<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\"Poya<\/a>

Poya Lisa Cottages in the Togean Islands of Sulawesi.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Poya Lisa\u00a0<\/strong>is the small island\u00a0where I stayed in the Togian Islands. Located in front of\u00a0Bomba Island and sandwiched by two white sand beaches, the island is so<\/em> small that you can walk around the whole thing in no more than 5 minutes. Considering that all the island has to offer are 15 cottages and the incredible two beaches, Poya Lisa is a true\u00a0haven of peace. With no cars and no traffic, the silence of the sea is seldom interrupted by the sound of a ship.<\/p>\n

Another thing to consider is phone signal does not reach Poya Lisa and there is no Internet either. This is a perfect place to disconnect and forget the world and all its problems!<\/strong> (Something we all really should do at least once a year). It is also important to know electricity does not work 24 hours a day, and there is no running water on Poya Lisa island. You will only have electricity from 6:30 pm to 11 pm and water is stored in buckets that the island staff fills often for you.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Poya<\/a>

The pier in Poya Lisa island (Sulawesi)<\/p><\/div>\n

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The cottages in Poyalisa are pretty basic: all they include is a bed, a mosquito net, and a small wardrobe. But honestly, who cares about this when you are in paradise? The important thing is all the cottages have sea views and a hammock on the veranda where you can relax; reading while listening to the gentle sound of the waves as a background.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Besides the fabulous scenery, the best of Poya Lisa Cottages is its price. The price per person per day ranges from 125,000 to 175,000 IDR (around 9\u20ac and 12\u20ac) including everything! (Accommodation, three meals a day, a mid-afternoon snack, and unlimited coffee, tea, and drinking water).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The food is simple but truly delicious. It usually consists of rice and salad with fresh grilled fish. If you are a vegetarian, no problem! There are always vegetables, tofu or tempeh for you. I promise you will not starve and everything is yummy.<\/p>\n

In short, Poya Lisa Cottages is an absolute paradise, affordable to all wallet sizes,<\/strong> and the perfect hideaway for those who want to get away from the tourist trail and want to experience beautiful Indonesia at its most authentic. I can\u2019t recommend this place highly enough! For reservations, you can send an email to Edy at ampana249@gmail.com<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n Amazing sunset in Poya Lisa Island (Sulawesi)\n

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Other great places where you can stay in the Togean Islands are:<\/p>\n

Kadidiri Paradise<\/a><\/p>\n

Black Marlin\u00a0<\/a>Dive Resort<\/a><\/p>\n

Ale Beach Togean Islands<\/a><\/p>\n

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What to do at Poya Lisa Cottages and the Togean Islands<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\"Poya<\/a>

Relaxing at the hammock after a \u201chard day\u201c in Poya Lisa.<\/p><\/div>\n

There is not much to do in Poya Lisa but this exactly the reason\u00a0why we came here! A normal day at Poya Lisa usually consists of: sleeping, having breakfast, relaxing in the hammock, swimming, having lunch, taking a nap in the hammock, enjoying some of the most quiet beaches in Southeast Asia<\/a>, snorkeling, having dinner, and going back to bed. Does not sound bad, does it?<\/p>\n

But, besides lazing around, the Togeans are the best place you could dream of to explore\u00a0the most amazing\u00a0underwater world.<\/strong> All around Poyalisa island (no more than 15\u00a0to\u00a045 minutes by boat) you will find beautiful reefs\u00a0where you can spend hours snorkeling and swimming together with fishes of all kinds. If you are into diving, I can imagine the Togean are one of the best places for a diving trip in Indonesia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Togean<\/a>

Very close to Poya Lisa island there are incredible reefs where you can spend hours snorkeling.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Poya Lisa offers daily trips (half or full day) to nearby reefs. The boat trip price is 300,000 IDR (around 20\u20ac) to be split among all the guests\u00a0joining the tour (with a maximum of 8). But, if\u00a0you stay on the island for 10 or more nights, all the trips you make are for free.<\/strong> Do you need more excuses to stay here forever?<\/p>\n

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\"Taupan<\/a>

The wonderful beach of Taupan Island, a day trip you can do from Poyalisa.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Useful tips:<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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