Banda Islands
The original Spice Islands — nutmeg history, volcano diving, almost no other tourists
Once the world's only source of nutmeg and the reason European colonial powers fought wars over Indonesia, the Banda Islands are now a sleepy, spectacularly remote archipelago with colonial-era forts, nutmeg plantations you can still tour, and diving on a coral wall around an active volcano (Gunung Api) considered among the best in the world by those who make the trip.
Best time to visit
October–March (calmest seas)
Getting there
Fly to Ambon (AMQ) via Jakarta, then a small flight or overnight ferry to Banda Neira
Highlights
- —Colonial nutmeg plantation history
- —Diving around Gunung Api volcano
- —Dutch colonial forts (Fort Belgica)
- —Virtually no tourist infrastructure — bring cash
- —Some of Indonesia's best untouched coral reefs
The Banda Islands guide, section by section
Pick a topic below — each page covers real prices, current rules and practical logistics.
