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Travel Guide: Morotai Island, Indonesia

Kara Santos

Most international tourists immediately think of Bali when anyone mentions Indonesia. The “Island of the Gods” is world-renowned for its beach resorts, rice paddies, volcanic mountains and Hindu temples. But there’s really so much more to the South East Asian country than Bali.

Indonesia is actually the world’s largest island country, made up of over seventeen thousand islands in a vast area scattered between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. With islands bridging the continents of Asia and Australia, many remote spots here still remain off the tourist radar. Morotai Island, located in the less-visited eastern side of Indonesia is one of those spots.

When I got the invitation to visit Morotai Island from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I was immediately intrigued because I had no idea where it was. Looking at Google Maps, Morotai is geographically closer to the Southern Philippines compared to Jakarta, the capital and largest city of Indonesia, which would be the jump-off point for our group of 10 bloggers, vloggers and influencers coming from different ASEAN countries and Japan.

Because of its remote location and the long travel time required to get there from major hubs, Morotai is still not yet that well-known among international tourists and even Indonesian citizens. Aside from mentions about its strategic role during World War II, I couldn’t find much information about what to do there online.

But it’s usually the most underrated and obscure destinations that offer some of the best natural attractions, and in this aspect, Morotai Island did not disappoint. I feel extremely lucky and privileged to have been given this opportunity to explore the beauty of this tropical island paradise in Indonesia that not many people have been to.

Where exactly is Morotai?

Morotai Island is located in the Maluku Utara (North Moluccas) province of Indonesia in Southeast Asia. It is situated in the northeast of the larger island of Halmahera. The Philippines is located directly to the North of Morotai Island while it’s bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the East.

How to get to Morotai

By air

Admittedly, Morotai Island is not the easiest place to get to. I traveled from the Philippines and had to take multiple flights to get to there: Manila to Jakarta via PAL; Jakarta to Manado via Batik Air; and Manado to Morotai (with a stopover in Ternate) via Lion Air’s Wings. Some media delegates coming from other ASEAN countries had extra connecting flights just to get into Jakarta. The flight from Jakarta to Manado takes 3 hours and 15 minutes.

As of August 2019, a small ATR aircraft flies once daily from the Sam Ratulangi Airport (MDC) in Manado to the Leo Wattimena Airport, also known as Pitu airport (OTI) in Morotai Island with a brief stopover in Sultan Babullah (TTE) airport in Ternate. The airport in Morotai was a former United States military base during World War II. Presently, it’s a very small, basic airport, with only one runway being used, but construction is underway for its expansion.

According to local officials, flights from Singapore and the Philippines (from Davao) to Manado (the largest city and main gateway to Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia) are being negotiated with airlines, which will make the remote beach & diving destination more accessible to Filipino and international travelers who want to explore lesser-known destinations around the Southeast Asia circuit.

By sea

Ferries connect Indonesia with the neighboring countries of Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. A Roll On Roll Off (RoRo) shipping route connecting General Santos and Davao in the Philippines with Bitung, in North Sulawesi, near Manado in Indonesia is expected to cut travel time to about a day and a half compared with the previous Davao-Manila-Jakarta-Surabaya-Bitung route which takes three to four weeks.

Getting around Morotai

Many locals use scooters and motorcycles to get around town. I was able to rent a scooter from D’Aloha Beach Resort to take a short ride for a fee of Rp 1,000,000 (7 USD) for about 2 hours use. I think it would be great if resorts could consider offering bicycles for rent as well for those who want to explore on their own.

If you’re traveling in a group, the easiest way to get around is to charter a van or car to take you around by land. D’Aloha Beach Resort can arrange van transportation services around Morotai. Here are the average costs:

For short distances, you can ride the local motorized transport, similar to Thailand’s tuktuk or Philippine tricycle. The tricycles here have a unique style. In other Asian countries, the passenger seats are usually located in a sidecar or at the back of the driver. Here the passenger seats are in front of the driver, for an unobstructed view.

What to do in Morotai Island

Morotai is home to beautiful white sandy beaches, secluded smaller islands, and scuba diving spots where divers often encounter sharks and whales. The top tourist activities to do in Morotai Island include:

Where to go in Morotai Island

Pasir Timbul

Pasir Timbul is a small white sand islet located in the middle of the sea surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. The sight of white sandy shores, incredibly clear turquoise waters and white seabirds flying overhead on a clear, sunny day just spells pure paradise.

There are no trees or any source of shade on this island, so it’s best to make this your first stop during mornings when the sun is not too harsh.

Photo by Thắng Cuội

Kokoya Island

Kokoya Island is a small 8-hectare forested island inhabited by just one family. You can spot swarms of tiny fish swimming under the docks leaving patches of dark areas in the otherwise crystal clear waters.

The water facing the main Juanga Beach is very calm and shallow, making it a great spot for swimming and floating around.

Dodola Island

One of the best spots we visited was Dodola Island, formed from two islands, called Big Dodola and Small Dodola, which are connected by a narrow sandbar that you can cross by foot when the water recedes.

Dodola offers stunning beach scenery on the shore from every angle and several serene swimming areas, with moderate waves on one side and calm waters on the opposite cove. Probably the best island to fly a drone. It looks amazing in drone photos and videos.

Translation: Take care of / cleanliness / environment / the coast / beach

Several picnic huts, benches and lots of trees offer shade, making this island a nice stop for picnics and lunch during your island-hopping tour. There are various snorkeling and diving sites in the areas around the island, which offer a view of coral reefs and colorful fish.

A small inflatable playground on the left side of the island where the current is stronger offers a fun challenge for those who want to run around, climb obstacles, and slide down. They also offer jet skis for rent and other water-based activities on this island, so be sure to bring some extra cash if you want to try out the activities.

Zum-Zum Island

Zum-Zum Island, also known as Douglas McArthur Island, was once the quarter and army base of the US General who was a prominent figure during World War II who helped liberate the Philippines from Japan. On this island, you can find a 20-meter tall statue of Gen. McArthur with the words “I Shall Return.”

Batu Kopi

Located in Rao Island, Posi-Posi Rao Village, Batu Kopi is a stone formation located on the beach that is unique because it is said to produce the aroma of fresh coffee.

Despite there being no coffee plantations or trees on the island, mysteriously, the stone produces the aroma of coffee. However, not all visitors can smell it. Some locals say the aroma is strongest at certain times of the day. Others claim that only those who are worthy (“good people”) can smell the coffee. Unfortunately, I couldn’t smell it.

Rao Island

Aside from the stone formation on the beach, Rao Island itself has a stunning beach, with a white sandy, 2-km long coast without any stones or dead corals. The sea near the shore is very shallow with clear and calm waters, making it a relaxing swimming spot for families with young children.

Dive sites

Morotai Island is a premium diving destination, known mainly for shark diving. They also have various World War II wrecks with sunken aircraft, warships scattered among colorful reefs making it a thrilling and unique destination for divers.

They currently have 28 identified diving spots.

Museums, historical sites & landmarks

As one of the islands bordered by the Pacific Ocean and Philippines, during World War II, Morotai served as a major Japanese military base. It was captured by Allied forces in 1944 and was developed into a strategic airbase from which they attacked posts in the Philippines and Borneo in their fight against Japanese forces during World War II.

World War II Museum & Trikora Monument

History buffs can visit the World War II Museum which displays replicas of items and war equipment used during such war and has displays of some models of the United States’ war crafts during the fight against Japan. Outside the museum, you can find the Trikora Monument, inaugurated in 2012, to commemorate the history of the struggle of the Indonesian army during the liberation of West Irian in the Trikora operation.

Swadaya World War II Museum

Located on the outskirts of the town in Djoubela Village in Southern Morotai district is a small museum independently managed by Muhlis Eso, a local who has amassed a large collection of World War II historical items. The relic hunter has converted his humble house into a display area for all the bullets, old guns, coins and other war memorabilia that he found in the area.

Teruo Nakamura Monument

Teruo Nakamura was a Taiwan-born soldier who fought for Japan during World War II. He was stationed on Morotai Island in shortly before the island was overrun by the Allies during the Battle of Morotai. He ended up living in the jungle along with other stragglers and did not surrender until 1974. The statue is located at the place where he was found by villagers 30 years after WW2.

Daruba City Park

Located near the coast, Daruba City Park is a seaside boulevard and local hangout. It’s a pleasant area to just catch the breeze and watch the sunset. There’s a Morotai Culinary Center here with several kiosks serving local food like fried banana (served with sambal) and drinks like coffee and tea.

There’s a nice picturesque dock nearby where I spotted some locals handline fishing and one of the decorative fish boats used during the float parade for the Morotai Festival.

Other tourist spots

Morotai has many other islands, beaches and natural sites of interest that we weren’t able to visit during our visit, but am listing them and their main features for reference for those who have more time to explore:

Where to stay & eat in Morotai

D’Aloha Beach Resort

For this trip, we stayed at D’Aloha Beach Resort located in the Southern part of Morotai Island, relatively near the airport and very close to Daruba City. It’s said to be one of the best accommodations on the island and is one of the best places to base while exploring Morotai Island.

The beach resort offers cozy natural resort cottages with one or two-bedroom units, a common living area with a TV and shared bathrooms. The They currently has 25 cottages spread about in the resort under a grove of coconut and mango trees. It can get quite humid in the afternoons and early evenings in Morotai, but the beds are very comfortable and you can jack up the airconditioning.

D’Aloha Beach Resort has a large restaurant serving a mix of local and international cuisine. They can cater up to 300 pax, making it ideal for group events and weddings.

The beachfront area is pleasant and offers a sunset view, with several huts and benches where you can relax at night. The resort staff are very helpful and accommodating.

Magic Bay Rao Beach Bungalows

While visiting Batu Kopi in Rao Island, we stopped by Magic Bay Rao Beach Bungalows which offers two private beach bungalows, ideal for honeymooners, a family or a small group of friends who want to truly disconnect and enjoy the island all to themselves.

They also run a small kitchen and restaurant where we ordered some refreshments, including coffee, tea and Bintang Beer. Yay! (NOTE: As a Muslim majority country, beer is not that widely available in restaurants and convenience stores. Believe me, I checked.)  

Local snack of fried banana with sambal sauce

Pandawa Cafe

Pandawa Cafe is a karaoke joint behind the Trikora World War II Museum that serves basic Nasi Goreng rice meals, noodles, and fresh fruit shakes. They don’t have a lot of food choices, but the cafe seems to be a popular hangout for locals who want to unwind at night.

Festival: Morotai Festival

Our visit coincided with the first-ever Morotai Festival held last August 2019, which was organized to help promote the island as a tourist destination. The festival featured fun dives, fishing competitions, swimming races, local bazaars, local song and dance performances and a boat parade. We missed the main parade festivities but enjoyed the cultural night, where we witnessed some traditional music and local bands.

Our group got even called on stage to introduce ourselves which led to impromptu speeches and performances from companions who wowed the crowd with their singing and beatboxing.

Why should you visit Morotai?

The Morotai Island District was formed just in 2008, as a division of Northern Halmahera District. Since it’s still relatively new, tourism is still in its infancy stage. However, Morotai has been identified as one of the ten new priority tourist destinations considered as alternatives to Bali in Indonesia. The area is being developed as a special economic zone for fisheries and local officials are prioritizing infrastructure and accessibility to attract more domestic and foreign tourists in the future.

Source: Invest Islands

Presently, it’s not a destination for those looking for vibrant parties, shopping and nightlife, but I think that where its charm lies. Going “off-the-grid” and traveling to destinations few have been to before where you can enjoy beaches and islands all to yourself has become a luxury.

For travelers who want to explore an exciting new destination away from the tourist crowds, enjoy pristine beaches and islets surrounded by crystal clear water and experience genuine hospitality and warmth from locals, now is the best time to visit.

Some delegates in our group said that Morotai Island had some of the best beaches that they’ve even been to. While the Philippines has its fair share of islands and beaches, I was likewise impressed with the beaches here. The destinations had barely any other tourists, it was so peaceful and serene, the water was very clear, visibility for snorkeling was good, and there was no litter on the shores.

I think Morotai Island will appeal mainly to honeymooners, expats, retirees who want uncrowded destinations, divers, WWII history buffs, and adventurous travelers in search of relatively unknown destinations. Business travelers looking to invest can also consider Morotai. It’s only a matter of time before new developments and more flights will open up this paradise to the public. So I encourage travelers who want to enjoy nature, wildlife and culture of the local people to visit as soon as possible!

Sample Morotai Itinerary

Here are a few suggested itineraries for Morotai based on the package tours offered by D’Aloha Resort. While most tourists stay 3-5 days, divers might want to spend up to a week just to explore various dive sights.

3 Days / 2 Nights

Day 1: Arrival & Free Time

Day 2: Island-Hopping

Day 3: City Tour & Departure

4 Days / 3 Nights

Day 1: Arrival & Free Time

Day 2: Island-Hopping

Day 3: Explore Northern Morotai

Day 4: City Tour & Departure

5 Days / 4 Nights

Day 1: Arrival & Free Time

Day 2: Island-Hopping

Day 3: Explore Northern Morotai

Day 4: Island Hopping or Raja Waterfall

Or

Day 5: City Tour & Departure

Package inclusions

Package exclusions

For inquiries on package tours, please contact D’Aloha Resort directly at 0812-99000560 or 0812-98234817 or email resortdaloha@gmail.com

This trip was made possible by the Directorate of South East Asian Affairs of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the local government of Morotai in Indonesia. Thank you very much to everyone for the warm welcome and hospitality. Ayo ke Morotai!

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