Ternate is a small volcanic cone island in Indonesia’s North Maluku Province. It is the smallest of all Indonesian islands. Ternate is not likely to become a popular tourist destination, but it has some fascinating sights and a rich history.
In the 16th century, Ternate, one of the Moluccas’ ‘Spice Islands,’ was a major kingdom. European powers battled over the control of this spice trade. This little island remains the main entrance to the North Maluku Province.
Ternate is a great place to stop if you’re passing through on your way to another part of Indonesia.
This is a guide to the best places and things to do on the island.
How to Get to Ternate Island
Ternate Airport (TTE) has direct flights to Jakarta, Surabaya Makassar Manado and Ambon. You’ll have to transit through one of these cities if you’re travelling from Bali.
Skyscanner is a good place to find flights. Still, you should be aware that flights to Maluku are generally more expensive than those by Indonesian standards because this region is only serviced by a handful of airlines.
You can also take a boat to Ternate from Halmahera, as we did, after climbing Mount Dukono. The 45-minute speedboat ride leaves from Sofifi Harbor, and tickets are affordable.
How to Get Around the Island
Ternate is a small island, so it’s easy to move around.
The island is surrounded by a paved road, which takes only about 1.5 hours to complete. The road to Ngade Lake is steeper than the rest of the island’s side roads, but the main route is flat and tame.
You can hire a driver or rent a scooter at your hotel. We did that. Ternate has the Grab App, which is great for short-distance travel.
Ternate: Best Things to Do and See
Tolukko Fort
The Portuguese built the Tolukko Fort in 1512 to control the spice trade in Ternate and other Maluku Islands.
Over the years, it was controlled, in turn, by the Portuguese and Ternate Sultanate natives, as well as the Dutch, British, and Spanish.
For a small charge, you can climb up to the roof of the fort and enjoy the views of Mount Gamalama. This is a beautiful and interesting location.
Kalamata Fort
Another colonial fort was built by the Portuguese around 1540. It was then traded between the local sultanate, the Portuguese, and other European colonial powers.
The fort is located on the southern side of Ternate. It offers a nice view of Tidore Island and Maitara across the sea.
Kastela Beach
This is one of the most beautiful sunset spots on the island. It has a grouping of trees that look like dancing trees on Sumba Island.
The colours of the sunset were amazing!
You should be careful when you step out into the water to get a better photo. The water was shallow, but I nearly stepped on a snake swimming around the rocks.
Ngade Lake
The view from this Lake is one of the best in Ternate. In the distance, you can see the volcano peak of Tidore Island. The same picture appeared on the 1,000 Rupiah notes in Indonesia.
It was nearly impossible to take photos without the ugly, stupid bicycle zipline installed at the viewing point.
We didn’t realize that they charged a fee to use the drone until it was already too late. You can also rent a swing for a small charge.
Tolire Lake
Tolire is a vibrant green volcanic lake located at the foot of Mount Gamalama. It was created by a strong 1775 eruption that killed 141 people in the area and buried a nearby village.
According to local legends, Tolire is home to a white-coloured crocodile who guards the Lake. Although we didn’t spot any crocodiles, the locals told of people who were attacked while fishing in the Lake.
Tribune News published a video of a crocodile in the Lake in 2022. However, due to the steep edges of the crater, no one knew how it got there.
The iguana was the first one we’ve ever seen in Indonesia.
Tolire Beach
It’s a nice beach with views of Hiri Island in the distance. This beach is very near Lake Tolire.
I took a photo of a large red crab that was scuttling along the beach.
Batu Angus
Batu Angus, a small park near Mount Gamalama, is a field with jagged black volcanic stones.
Ternate Island has been shaped by the constant volcanic activity that has occurred over the years.
Gamalama has been recorded dozens of times in history, often violently.
Gamalama Volcano
Mount Gamalama is an active volcano located in the middle of Ternate Island.
It takes several hours to hike up the mountain from Moya, and climbing this active volcano is not without risk.
You can still get some amazing pictures of the summit if you are using a drone.
Sulamadaha Bay
The water is turquoise, and you can snorkel in this bay, but the best corals and fish are far away from the shore.
The bay is hidden, so you have to park on the black sands beach and then walk through the jungle about 300 m until you reach the bay.
A second bay is located to the east and serves as a harbour to reach Hiri Island.
Jikomalamo Beach
Another popular place for snorkelling and swimming. It’s not a beach, but the views of Hiri Island are beautiful.
Near Ternate, There Are More Things to See
Tidore Island
In pre-colonial days, Ternate and Tidore were fierce rivals.
Like Ternate, Tidore was a major player in spice trading. This attracted the Spanish colonizers, who built the Taula Fort to defend themselves against the Portuguese.
Tidore is similar in size to Ternate but shaped differently. You can travel between the islands with a 15-minute boat ride.
To get a good view of Tidore, the best thing to do is hike up Mount Kie Matubu. This is a moderately difficult hike, so you should plan to spend at least half a day on it.
Hiri Island
Hiri is a short boat away from Sulamadaha. On the northwest coast, you can see a huge rock arch called Batu Balubang Gurabala.
You can reach the arch on the rocks at low tide. This is a beautiful photo location.
Map of Sights in Ternate Island
This map shows some of the most popular things to do and see in Ternate and its surrounding islands. Click on the icons for more information and directions.
What To Do In Ternate HTML0?
Villa Ma’Rasai is one of the most beautiful hotels in Ternate. It has a balcony view of the ocean and the nearby volcano, Tidore. There is a restaurant and a swimming pool. Breakfast is included. If we return to Ternate, this would be the first place we choose to stay.
Emerald Hotel: This mid-range hotel in the city has a restaurant, free breakfast, and a bar.
Kurnia homestay – A budget-friendly place with a free breakfast. The owner is also kind and helpful. We stayed here on our first trip to Ternate. It’s an affordable option for those with a limited budget.