East of Wallace Tours
Adventures in East Indonesia

Paradise Island Morotai

Island in the Coral Triangle: Lonely beaches, amazing underwater world

Situated between the Pacific Ocean, Celebes Sea and Halmahera Sea, Morotai is the northernmost island of the Moluccas. It played a key role during WWII as the Alllied Commander, General McArthur, chose it as his base for the Pacific campaign. A statue commemorates MacArthur today on Zumzum Island, the place near the capital of the island where the general spent his free time. The story of the Japanese soldier Teruo Nakamura is also closely linked to Morotai’s WWII past. Nakamura hid in the jungle on the island until he was finally discovered in the early 1970s and had to be convinced that the war had ended 30 years before.

The real charm of the island, however, is its unspoiled nature. Much of Morotai’s 1800 km² area is covered in dense jungle with a network of rivers cutting through the interior of the island. There are numerous empty white sand beaches and idyllic islands waiting to be visited. In addition to the interesting opportunities for underwater activities, the high waves in parts of the island are inviting for surfers. Targeted as one of the ’10 New Bali’ by the Indonesian government, Morotai is currently enjoying a lot of attention, including developments in infrastructure to improve access to touristattractions, particularly in the south of the island.

 

Discover the paradise of Morotai with one of our tours

 

TOP Attractions on Morotai

What you should see on Morotai:

  1. Beaches, beaches, beaches: If you are looking for perfect beaches and crystal clear water for relaxing and snorkeling, Morotai is the right place for you. Unlike the neighboring islands, there are no volcanoes on Morotai, so the beaches are bright white and lonely.
     
  2. Diving and water sports on Morotai: Small islands and coral reefs delight even demanding divers. But as a snorkeler you can also admire a colorful underwater world on the surface of the water.
     
  3. Island Hopping: Morotai is surrounded by numerous islands, often close together. Explore the different characters of these often uninhabited small islands on a day trip. Although Morotai has a small airport, when traveling through the island world the starting point of a journey of discovery is typically the equally small port of the island's capital. In addition to boat trips to the neighboring islands, there are always opportunities for snorkeling or diving.
     
  4. Morotai's WWII History: Are you interested in times gone by? A private collection of WWII relics and a museum bear witness to Morotai's role in World War II. In addition, a statue of General McArthur on Zumzum Island commemorates those turbulent times. Morotai is also the island from which the struggle for the annexation of West Papua to Indonesia took place. It is the island in whose jungle a Japanese soldier was found, still ready for battle, 30 years after the end of WWII. And it is the island of the North Moluccas that was declared one of the ten new Bali.
     
  5. Pristine island landscape Morotai: Morotai is as much a forested island as it is rugged. A still sparsely developed infrastructure allows slow travel and thus enables one to enjoy the views on offer.
     
  6. Island Life on Morotai: Life on Morotai takes a leisurely pace, joins in and automatically slows down. If there is nothing else to do, news is exchanged, and a portion of betel nuts is a must. Following the demand for daily needs, agriculture and fishing determine everyday work here.


Your Trip to Morotai!


Experience the Events and Festivals on Morotai Island!
 

Events on Morotai

Mystical story of Morotai

Most Indonesian islands have their own mystical history, which is usually passed down through centuries and generations. Certainly there is such a legend on Morotai too, passed down in the community's oral tradition. Unfortunately, we do not know this story. This also fits with the originality of a small island that has not been known for long. Most of Indonesia's legends focus on local natural phenomena, historical events or refer to mythological elements. Lie down on a snow-white beach, close your eyes and maybe your very own Morotai legend will emerge within you.

 

Journey to Morotai

By plane:

 

  • Ternate – Morotai –> Wings 45 min.

  • Manado (Sulawesi) – Kao (Halmahera) –> Wings 1 hrs. Then continue by shared taxi to the port of Tobelo and from there…
     

By ship:

  • Tobelo (Halmahera) – Daruba (Morotai)  —>  approx. 1 ½ hrs.