Top 9 Things to do in Banda Neira, Indonesia
Discover the best top things to do in Banda Neira, Indonesia including Fort Belgica, Dive BlueMotion, Gunung Banda Api, Bandaneira Church, Naira Dive, Banda Neira Old Town, Rumah Budaya Banda Neira, Bandaneira Chinese Temple, Fort Nassau.
1. Fort Belgica
Overall Ratings
4 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By EvelynEngland - England
Solidly built fort with excellent views. You can just imagine the ship battles below during the spice wars. It has atmosphere. Walk around by yourself.
2. Dive BlueMotion
Overall Ratings
5 based on 50 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.
Reviewed By Marcus N - Lomma, Sweden
Did a week of diving with these guys. I really appreciate the safetythinking at this diveshops - very good divebriefings. Young but good focused diveguides. Nitrox available for free when I was there. I rented everything but mask and computer and their equipment is good Apeks, Scubapro, Aqualung...
The boat Mira is big and very nice for longer trips - the lunch is a decent rice/noodle/fish/vegetables/sambal thing served on upper deck.
Don't miss out on the nightdiving! There are other diveshops but when we checked their pricing was almost the same as here so for us there was no question with whom to dive...
3. Gunung Banda Api
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By zuni P - Lagunitas, California
I really love these Islands . The history and the snorkeling are just wonderful People are easy going. You need time as transportation is dicey.
4. Bandaneira Church
Overall Ratings
4 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By Kendd - Vancouver, Canada
Following the 1999-2002 horrible communal Moluccan wars the central government spent millions in 2010 restoring many 15-18th C Dutch Colonial monuments and edifices. This photo is the attractive Vice-Governors 17th C office or palace. There is apparently only one colonial church that escaped the burnings and destruction of 1999 when all Christians were expelled from the Bandas en masse. This photo is not of it!
5. Naira Dive
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Next to The Nutmeg Tree
Reviewed By Shane G - Jakarta, Indonesia
This is not one of your foreign run dive centers that specialize in mass dive tours this is a locally owned and operated place that goes out of their way to insure you have an amazing dive experience. Comfy accommodations, good food, and equipment maintained in perfect condition. Cesar and his crew go well beyond the extra mile to make sure your visit to the Banda Islands is an unforgettable experience. Most of their business comes from word of mouth reference and returning visitors.
6. Banda Neira Old Town
Overall Ratings
4 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By ricky_indo - Canggu, Indonesia
Dont miss out on the old town of Banda Neira. Few folks realize that a short walk to the SE corner of the island will take into a network of streets, still occupied, but also containing old colonial dutch ruins and, at least one or two, preserved and renovated particularly historic dutch villas. There are few plaques or sign-posted sites, but this part of of town oozes history and a long forgotten past, and is a photographers paradise.
One slightly more contempory historical site, is the renovated old dutch villa where Hatta lived during his exile by the colonialist Dutch in 1936. This part of town is a must see ... better on foot slowly soakig up the historical ambience and feeling of colonial decay, rather than by motorbike.
7. Rumah Budaya Banda Neira
Overall Ratings
4 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Alya P
I stayed at this town for more than a month, in Nusantara Village. I passed this place everyday when I walked from home stay to the Nusantara hall. I visited this place once or twice, and didn't actually take a serious look at all the things (I'm not really into history tho). one thing really took my attention was a painting of some native people killed by some entrants. there are some paintings but all of them were duplicate, the real ones are in Netherlands (or another European country I don't remember).
we knew the guy who took care of this place, he usually guides some tourists, or just sits in front of the door and makes some souvenirs: miniature of great ships in a bottle.
there is also a souvenir shop right in front of this building you can visit, you can buy foods, pearls, shells, jewelries, etc.
8. Bandaneira Chinese Temple
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By Raymond W - Chengdu, China
The Banda Islands are one of the most incredible destinations in Indonesia, and we would recommend them whole-heartedly to any adventurous soul. These volcanic specks, set far out in the Banda Sea, boast both cultural riches and astonishing natural beauty.
Though Bandaneira is a one-horse town in many respects, it boasts two old forts, some interesting old colonial villas, a fine church, a governor's palace and a towering, active volcano for a backdrop. It also boasts a 300 year old well-preserved Chinese temple, which is small but beautiful. This wonderfully photogenic temple features fine wood-carving and colourful painting, as well as the VOC (Dutch East India Company) logo carved into some of the stones. These days Bandaneira has very few Chinese residents, though there is at least one Chinese family who run a general store (they will sell you beer on the quiet). The temple is sometimes used by Taiwanese fishing boats who have bought licensing rights to some of the waters hereabouts. In reality, it is the whole island which is the compelling attraction, but this old and authentic shrine adds to the charm.
9. Fort Nassau
Overall Ratings
3 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By ricky_indo - Canggu, Indonesia
A lot of people dont realise that there are two old dutch forts on Banda Neira. The most famous is Fort Belgica, up on the hill giving a Panorama over the archipelago. But down below, at a lower level, but overlooked by Belgica, is Fort Nassau.
Fort Nassau was built by the dutch starting 1609, and is situated on the site where the Portuguese tried to build a fort earlier, but were driven of by the native Bandanese. It is the first fort to be constructed, and it is just as big as Belgica and just as significant.
It is in disrepair, but the Indonesian government is in the process of renovating. Pay it a visit, it is coming along nicely.
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