Halmahera is the largest of all the Maluku Islands. In the shape of a ‘k’, the island has four mountainous peninsulas and several active volcanoes. Much of the interior is still covered in rich tropical forests while coastlines are developed with coconut plantations.

With white sand beaches, lush jungles, lakes and plenty of off-shore islands to explore it’s surprising the Halmahera doesn’t get more visitors. The Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park is one of the least visited places in Indonesia.

Locals speak languages more closely related to those of Papua and the Pacific than to those spoken elsewhere in Indonesia. Traditional beliefs and rituals are often still practiced and if you are lucky you might be surprised by what you encounter.

Halmahera is the Northwestern limit of the Australian continent. The Indonesian- Through-Flow is less pronounced than in neighboring regions and rates of 1 to 1.5 knots can be expected. A large countercurrent running N is sometimes a few miles W of Ternate.

Caution: Anchoring in Teluk Kao should not be attempted as the area is not considered clear of WWII mines.

Winds during the SE/SW monsoon season generally blow from the SW to SSW and calms are frequent. During the NW/NE monsoon season winds come from the W, NW to NE. Heavy squalls and showers occur through out the year.

Winds during the SE/SW monsoon season generally blow from the SW to SSW and calms are frequent. During the NW/NE monsoon season winds come from the W, NW to NE. Heavy squalls and showers occur through out the year.

Currents are dependent on the monsoons. During the SE/SW monsoon they tend to set NNE and do not exceed 0.6 knots. During the NW/NE monsoon they set ESE and generally do not exceed 0.75 knots.