Wakatobi
Wakatobi is a small archipelago, regency, and national park in South East Sulawesi in Indonesia. Wakatobi is well known among divers as one of the world's best dive sites.
Understand
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The name is an acronym of the four largest islands in the area: Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomea, and Binongko. Wakatobi forms a regency, of which the capital is Wangiwangi. The regency is also a national park.
Get in
editMost travel to Wakatobi departs from Kendari and arrives in Wangi-Wangi, either by boat or plane.
By plane
editAs of Dec 2024, there are no flights to Wangi-Wangi (also known as Wakatobi, WNI IATA). If you find one operated by Super Air Jet, it may be cancelled at any time without notice.
The airport on Wangi-Wangi is on the opposite side of the island to its only city, and there is no public transport available. If you've booked ahead at a resort, they will probably have someone waiting for you. Otherwise, someone at the airport can call a taxi or ojek for you: you will have to wait for around thirty minutes for it to arrive before starting your 30-minute-long journey into town. An ojek costs Rp 50,000.
- 1 Airport Wakatobi / Bandar Matahora (WNI) (at the eastern part of Wangi-Wangi Island).
- 2 Airport Tomia (Bandar Udara Maranggo) (at the south-western part of Tomia Island, just opposite of Tolandona Island where the Wakatobi Resort is located). There are no public, commercial flights available to this airport as of Nov 2024, only the Wakatobi Resort's scheduled chartered flights from Bali.
By boat
editFor travelers with more time and a smaller budget there is a ferry connecting Kendari to Wangi-Wangi. It usually departs beginning at 09:00 from the Wanci port of Kendari (just slightly east on the northern end of the Kendari Bay Bridge / Jembatan Teluk Kendari). The ferry takes about 10 hours to reach Wangi-Wangi and there are different boats and operators, such as KFC Jetliner (Pelni), KM Aksar Saputra and KM Al Sudais, each with different departure dates. The ticket price is around Rp86,000/person for KFC Jetliner and other boats Rp200,000/person.
- 3 Wanci Ferry Port in Kendari (slightly east on the northern end of the Kendari Bay Bridge / Jembatan Teluk Kendari, about a 15-minute drive from Kendari center). 08:00-23:00.
It is also possible to reach Wangi-Wangi from Bau-Bau on Buton Island. As of 2024, there are no boats anymore departing directly from the city of Bau-Bau, but instead at least a 1 hours drive away from either the town of Pasarwajo or from the town of Lasalimu. You have to take a taxi or shared car from Bau-Bau to one of these two ports (Pasarwajo is closer). From Pasarwajo to Wangi-Wangi it approximately takes 3 hours, from Lasalimu about 2 hours. The ferry ticket prices are Rp80,000–150,000/person.
- 4 Pasarwajo Ferry Port (at the south-eastern part of Buton Island, about 1 hours drive from Bau-Bau), ☏ +62 85236323829. 08:00-10:45.
- Lasalimu Ferry Port (at the central-eastern part of Buton Island, about 2 hours drive from Bau-Bau).
- Bau-Bau Ferry Port (near city center) Wooden boat to Tomia leaves once a week Wedneday evenings (2024-11-18)
When arriving on Wangi-Wangi (which depending on the ferry will be either at the Panggulubelo Port in Wanci or at the Numana fishing port a bit south of it) you can take an ojek to your accommodation. Usually there are always ojek drivers waiting for incoming ferries.
Get around
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By boat
editThe Cantika fast boat connects the main islands of Pulau Wangi-Wangi, Pulau Kaledupa and Pulau Tomia on a rolling schedule, leaving from each island every two to three days. There is no shortage of smaller boats connecting the various islands, so on any given day you should be able to move from one island to another. It's best to just ask around (for example, at your accommodation reception) a day or two before you want to travel.
On the official Wakatobi Tourism website there is also boat schedule with information about the departure times and which piers to go, but the schedules on Wakatobi Island are subject to change in the dynamic Wakatobi. Also note that some boats cannot depart on bad or stormy weather, meaning that you should always bring a good amount of flexiblity with you, especially when leaving Wakatobi for catching any flights.
By ojek
editOn the main islands, ojeks (motorcycle drivers) are easy to flag down on any main road or harbour and usually cost around Rp5,000-20,000 for a short trip, such as from a hotel to the harbour.
By scooter
editYou could also ask at your accomodation or at some rental shops in Wanci for a scooter, a fine way to explore the islands.
See
editDo
editScuba diving
editScuba diving at Wakatobi is excellent, with a high diversity of corals, rich marine life, and very few divers relative to more popular Indonesian marine parks such as Komodo National Park and Bunaken National Park. The best diving in Wakatobi is around Pulau Tomia, although excellent coral diving is also possible around Pulau Hoga, a small island near Pulau Kaledupa. People also dive from Pulau Wangi-Wangi.
Snorkelling
editSnorkelling in Wakatobi can be just as good as Scuba Diving, provided you enter the correct spot and stay safe. While some accomodations may have snorkel equipment for rent, rather don't count on it and take your own with you to Wakatobi. Some snorkelling spots are subject of strong currents, so always take precautions or go there with someone on a boat.
Snorkel spots on Wangi-Wangi
edit- 1 Just outside of Sombu Pier (on the western side of the island, about 7 km north of Wanci).
- 2 In front of Waha Town (on the north-western part of the island, close to the pier of the now defunct Waha Tourism Community Center). Beware of currents, and rather hire a local boat driver to watch over you.
Snorkel spots on Kaledupa
edit- 3 Hoga Island. It can be reached by boat from Ambeua. The boat from Ambeua can only leave at high tide.
Snorkel spots on Tomia
edit- 4 Coral stretch just east of Pantai Hongaha (close to Kulati Town.). There is also a World War II ship wreck in that section. Be aware of strong waves sometimes!
- 5 Pantai Hondue (about 3 km south of Waha Town). and up until to the Ferry Port 500 m north of it.
- 6 Abandoned jetty (at the north-western tip of Tomia, the one close to the Kedai Selly Water Café). A highly recommended snorkel spot.
- 7 Close to the Wakatobi Dive Resort on Pulau Tolandona (.). Extremely diverse sea life and one of the best snorkel spots on Wakatobi! Be aware that you don't enter the premises of the Wakatobi Dive Resort though. This is a tricky one - you must first take a local ferry from the Waitii Ferry Port and then head to Pulau Tolandona. It is also possible to take your rental scooter on the ferry. After you arrive on the Lamanggau Bajo Village, you then follow the small road on the western part of the island. Before the official gates of the Wakatobi Diving Resort though, you can enter the water at a now defunct jetty, and then follow the corals south, along the coast
Snorkel spots on Binongko
edit- 8 One Melangka Beach (on the western-central part of Binongko). Maybe not top-notch for snorkelling, but a very scenic public beach indeed for swimming.
Motorcycling
edit- Tour the islands by motorbike, WangiWangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, Binongko. You can rent motorcycles at Jelly in WangiWangi, at Villa MM in Kaledupa, at Labore stay in Tomia, as well as at Anjungan Busoa in Binongko. It's fun to cruise the islands and see village life. In Tomia there are serveral forts that can be visited and some nice beaches. You can get a map of Tomia showing all attractions at Labore Stay.
Buy
edit- 1 Anemo Wakatobi Souvenir, Jl. Poros Liya No.93, Mandati III, Wanci, Wangi-Wangi, ☏ +62 82290361497. 09:00-21:00. A small but fine souvenir shop in Wanci with a selection of self-designed t-shirts, bags, scarfs, trinkets and foodstuff.
Eat
editThere are various Warung and small restaurants on Wakatobi, mainly in the respective main towns of the four islands.
Eat on Wangi-Wangi
edit- 1 Sea Food restaurant at Pasar Malam / Night Market in Wanci. A small annex building to the Night Market, which stands on stilts over the sea water. Try the fresh, fantastic and cheap seafood BBQ there.
- 2 Dapoer Maritim Cafe & Resto, Bau Bau - Wanci, Wangi-Wangi Sel. (near the Marina area in Wanci), ☏ +62 85255550556. 10:00-22:00. One of the classier seafood restaurants on Wakatobi.
- 3 Warung Sate Madura, Jl. Laode Lalangi moh samaan ramli, Wanci, Wangi-Wangi Sel., ☏ +62 82290383095. 18:00-22:00. Probably the best Indonesian-style peanut sauce Sate around.
- 4 Nua Indah Coffee and Resto, Jalan Ahmad Nasution No.5, Wandoka Utara, Wangi-Wangi Sel. (in Wandoka town, about 5 km north of Wanci), ☏ +62 81341868715. 15:00-22:00. Particularly scenic view and location.
- 5 Cafe & Resto Ayim Cemara Beach, Jl. Dr. Soetomo, Wapia-pia, Kec. Wangi-Wangi (next to the Dinis Cemara Dive Center in Waha), ☏ +62 82188917073. 24 hours. The in-house restaurant of the local dive center. Food only upon prior reservation.
Eat on Kaledupa
edit- 6 RM. Danis & Fadil (next to the ferry port in Ambeua), ☏ +62 82299307264. A small and cozy restaurant in Ambeua. Try the delicious Parende Fish Soup, one of Wakatobi's most prominent delicacies!
Eat on Tomia
edit- 7 Ayu Lestari, Waha, Tomia, Wakatobi Regency (walk straight about 300 m from the ferry port Waha, then turn left at the fourth junction). A small, cheap and solid restaurant in downtown Waha, serving typical Indonesian food.
- 8 Street Food stalls along Tomia Beach, Waha, Tomia, Wakatobi Regency (along the Tomia Beach walk in Waha). Has a selection of simple traditional Indonesian food such as Gado-Gado, Sate or Nasi Kuning.
- 9 Kedai Selly Water Tomia (Small but classy café with scenic seaview that sells fruit juices, snacks and fingerfood.), Waha, Tomia, Wakatobi Regency (on the coast about 1 km south-west of Waha, just after passing Tomia Beach promenade, going up the street for 100 m and then turning right, then continue another 300 m), ☏ +62 82191228722. 16:00-23:00.
Eat on Binongko
edit- 10 Rumah Makan Pasundan, Rukuwa Town / Kampo-Kampo, Binongko, Wakatobi Regency (near the ferry port in Rukuwa; coming from the port, walk 60 m and turn left into the alleyway, walk in about 50 m), ☏ +62 82276012626. Small and quirky, but likeable family-run restaurant. Can cook Parende and other local Wakatobi food. Also has a funny disco-light-illuminated catfish pool to show off.
Drink
edit- 1 Small fruit juice stall, at the Dolphin Statue roundabout in downtown Wanci, at the exit to Jalan Jenderal Sudirman (about 500 m from the Wanci Main Ferry port). Delicious, fresh and cheap fruit juices.
Sleep
editMost of the accomodations on Wakatobi are centered in the respective main towns of the islands, with some individual resorts scattered around.
Sleep on Wangi-Wangi
edit- Hotel Wakatobi, Wanci town, Wangi-Wangi Island (On the main road). Three-story hotel with a range of rooms, all with air conditioning and showers, on the main road in Wanci town (Wangi-Wangi Island) about five minutes drive from the main harbour. Small dive shop attached. Standard room with air conditioning, cold shower and squat toilet for Rp182,000; deluxe room with hot water and Western toilet for Rp350,000..
- 1 Jelly Homestay / Penginapan Jelly (The staff doesn't speak any English but they're super friendly and helpful. Cheapest good rooms in town. There's one cheaper place but the staff are rude and the rooms are terrible. The price listed is for a double room with a traditional bathroom and fan. IDR 100,000.), Wanci, Wangi-Wangi Island (kitty-corner the main square, opposite the hospital; anyone can tell you where it is).
Sleep on Kaledupa
edit- 2 Villa MM, Ambeua town, Kaledupa Island (about 300 m down the main road from the Ambeua Ferry port). Probably the most developed and nicest accomodation on Kaledupa. Has standard rooms with fans and air-conditioned VIP / family rooms. Can also organize you rental scooters or a boat transport to nearby Hoga Island.
Sleep on Tomia
edit- 3 Wakatobi Dive Resort, ☏ +62 361759669. The most prominent and high-class resort on Wakatobi, situated on Tolandona Island just next to Tomia Island. Seven-day packages from US$2,640, including all dives and meals, but excluding transfers.
- 4 Labore Stay (S) (after leaving the pier in Waha, turn left and walk 20 m), ☏ +62 82393083595. ituated in Waha Town, the very friendly owner speaks English well and can give you a lot of tips about what to do on Tomia. Can also organize scuba diving and snorkelling, also rents out motorcycles for Rp50,000 a day. start at Rp50000 per person or so.
Sleep on Binongko
edit- 5 Motel Anjungan Busoa, Rukuwa Town / Kampo-Kampo, Binongko (about 200 m south-east of the Ferry Port in Rukuwa), ☏ +62 85241954846. Very nicely situated hotel in Rukuwa with a scenic seaview. Has a selection of budget rooms (fan only) and VIP rooms (with AC). Can also rent scooter.
Stay safe
editBe careful when snorkelling independently: some snorkel spots are subject to strong currents. Inform yourself at local dive shops, or hire a boat driver who can watch over you while you are snorkelling.
Contact
edit- 1 Wakatobi Immigration Office, Jl. Adhyaksa No.34, Wanci / Numana, Wangi-Wangi Sel. (follow the main road about 3 km south of Wanci Town, then turn left to Jalan Adhyaksa, continue for about 600 m), ☏ +62 40421142, knm.wakatobi@kemenkumham.go.id. Here you can extend your tourist visa, upon showing proof of onward travel.
- 2 Visitors Information Center Wangi Wangi, Jl. Sudirman 58, Mandati II, Wangi-Wangi Selatan. 10:00-17:00.
- 3 Visitors Information Center Kaledupa, Rumah Kamali, Ambeua, Kaledupa (right at the ferry port in Ambeua), ☏ +62 81355711126. 10:00-17:00.
- 4 Visitors Information Center Tomia, Waha, Tomia (turn left from Waha Harbor), ☏ +62 82290961588. 10:00-17:00.
Go next
edit- Kendari, take either a flight from Wangi-Wangi (WNI) to Kendari (twice a week, every Monday and Friday) or a ferry from Wangi-Wangi to the Wanci Port of Kendari
- Bau-Bau, take a ferry from Wangi-Wangi to Bau-Bau on Buton Island
- Makassar, then to the north to see Butterfly Paradise in Bantimurung Waterfall area and then spend a few nights in Tanah Toraja.