Top Things to do in Banda Neira
The 9 Best Things to do in Banda Neira, Maluku Islands
Discover the best top things to do in Banda Neira, Indonesia including Dive BlueMotion, Gunung Banda Api, Naira Dive, Bandaneira Church, Fort Belgica, Rumah Budaya Banda Neira, Banda Neira Old Town, Bandaneira Chinese Temple, Fort Nassau.
1. Dive BlueMotion
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 60 reviews
We are the first land based dive center in the Banda Islands, a group of 11 dreamy islands in the middle of the Banda Sea. Located at the seafront in Banda Neira, we are only a short speedboat ride away from a wide variety of unique dive sites teeming with fish, including breathtaking pinnacles, deep walls with beautiful swim-throughs and tightly coral covered slopes. All these different underwater topographies together with amazing visibility (50+ metres is quite common in certain times of the year) make these remote volcanic islands an ideal destination to dive in world-class sites far away from the crowds -you will literally have the dive sites for yourself and your group. Our dive center is managed by the German dive instructor, Tuta, whose intention is to generate a friendly and familiar atmosphere so that you are not only enjoying your dive experience in Banda but also the vibes of the islands. Diving with us means extended surface intervals with a picnic composed of local food, coffee and tea on one of the Banda islands' beautiful beaches. During your stay on Banda, you are also very welcome to hang out in the dive center for a chat or to have a closer look at our underwater library and species identification books. We speak German, English, Spanish and French, and can offer Open Water, Advanced and other courses (SSI) in German and English. Our friendly staff is a mix of European and Indonesian professionals that follow the highest safety standards and our equipment is new (Aqualung BCDs and Apeks regulators) and well serviced. You can find us next to the Hotel Maulana. Coming from Banda's main pier, turn left, walk 50 m along the road and the dive center will appear on your left-hand side. If you visit us just before sunset, you can observe the famous Mandarin fish in front of the dive center. Diving with us means you can plan a combined dive tour between Banda Islands and Ambon. Our dive center in Ambon offers access to an outstanding muck diving area with a great variety of critters to spot.
2. Gunung Banda Api
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By riefalynda - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hire a guide, Iwan; cost u (200,000 Indonesian rupiahs); The track is consists of black stone(believe from old lava); According to the guide, normal people do within 1.5hours. We manage to arrive at a peak of 2.2hours. From the top, u can see the views of the airport runaway at Naira Island, view of Banda Besar, and u can see the contour of water (different color) which is beautiful and magnificent. Wear proper shoes as when u going down, the black rock will submerge your feet (if you wearing a slipper-like me! Silly me for not preparing hiking shoes). Manage to go down within less than 2hour.
3. Naira Dive
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Next to The Nutmeg Tree
4. Bandaneira Church
5. Fort Belgica
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 92 reviews
Reviewed By ChrisThomasTravels - Ossining, United States
Grand and imposing, this sizable fort stands tall as a testament to the storied history of these islands. Built centuries ago by the Dutch, to consolidate their control of the nutmeg trade and defend against British and Portuguese competitors, this landmark is a must-see on Banda Naira.
6. Rumah Budaya Banda Neira
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By riefalynda - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
There will be an entrance fee and the keeper/guard working in front of the Rumah Budaya selling souvenirs. People who love history will love this place. You will feel u has been a traveller to the old century
7. Banda Neira Old Town
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By audwijaya - Tangerang, Indonesia
Most tourist only know that Indonesia has Bali and Lombok as its main tourism attraction. Well, I couldn’t say no because in Bali you can see, feel, and interact with the local culture closely in which what most people would like to experience when they go there (let alone bar etc.). Lombok also started to gain attention from international tourists recently. The beautiful Gili Trawangan and other area of the islands and its people are just one of the valid reasons of why traveler should go there. But, Indonesia is an acrhipleago country and the biggest one. It means that the country has more than 17.000 beautiful islands with hundreds of culture, race and local languages to explore. Imagine to explore that many beautiful islands. How long do you think will it take for you to see every single islands? So, rather than pick blindly a new tourist-less spot for your next travel plan, probably you can consider about coming to Banda Neira, the nutmeg island. From Ambon airport, you have to go to the port which around 1 hour from there. You can use taxi or rent a car. Once arrived, buy your tickets and wait for the ferry boat to come. The journey you’ll have from Maluku to Banda Neira is around 6 hours. So make sure you take med before boarding if you get seasick easily. Tired? Yes. But, once you arrive there, your eyes will be welcomed and pleased with hills, mountain and sea at one look! Gosh.. that’s really breathtaking. Unfortunately, I can’t upload all pics from the trip cause the island is just beautiful. Banda Neira is really good for island hoping (I met lots of dolphins swimming on the right side of our boat!), snorkeling and diving. Not so many people, both international or local tourists, come to this island cause of the distance and the journey we have to experience to get to this island. Banda Neira is quite small. You only need 2 hours to explore the whole island by walk since they don’t have public transportation. So, all tourists here will have to walk when they want to go somewhere. No motorbike rent place nor car. The sunset I saw there was the most beautiful so far and this island is good for those who would like to go away from the city noise. This island’s trademark is its nutmeg in which Great Britain wants to have it loooonggggg time agoo when Indonesia still colonized. If you plan to travel to Banda Neira, here are the check list you have to do: - Island hoping - Explore the whole island - Stay in Cilu Bintang hotel (seriously, you have to! Their food is soooo good, the room and hotel is really nice and the view also breathtaking) - Go to Belgica fortress - Snorkeling - Diving - Try their seafood! Sooo fresssshhhh Hope this help you to give some insights ????
