Stand on the waterfront at Bitung and the Lembeh Strait opens in front of you, with Lembeh Island closing off the horizon and the water that made this stretch of North Sulawesi known among divers. Behind the port, the city runs back toward the hills and, beyond them, the forest of Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve.
Bitung suits travellers who are willing to base themselves in a working coastal city in order to reach the nature around it: forest at night, reefs and muck diving by day, and a coastline that stays quiet. It is not a resort town, and the best of it takes a little arranging.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the sources describe, with practical notes on how to reach them and what to combine with what.
Top things to do in Bitung
1. Tangkoko Nature Reserve
Tangkoko Nature Reserve is the main reason many visitors come this far. It lies around two hours from Bitung city, and the reserve is where you can find Tarsius spectrum, the smallest primate in the world, easily. The standard way to see it is a night walk: you stay overnight in the area and hire a guide to take you into the forest after dark.
Plan to stay at least one night, as there are many resorts and small hotels at the reserve. Getting there on cheap public transport is possible but very difficult, since you change cars several times; renting a car is the most efficient and easiest option, at around Rp 450,000 to Rp 500,000 per day. Guided time in the forest runs about €35–40 per day, up to eight hours.
2. Lembeh Strait
The Lembeh Strait, about 30 minutes from Bitung, is a diving destination known for its colourful marine life, in particular sea slugs. Divers come for the strait itself rather than for a single site, and it rewards those who plan their trip around it.
Note that diving here is quite expensive, because the resorts are managed by westerners. Budget for it in advance rather than treating it as an add-on to a general sightseeing trip.
3. Batuangus Beach
Batuangus Beach, in Kasawari, Aertembaga, has clear water and allows for snorkelling. It is also a popular place for camping or having a picnic, so it works either as a short swimming stop or as a full day with food and gear.
Bring your own snorkelling equipment and picnic supplies if you plan to spend the day, and combine it with the rest of your Aertembaga-side time rather than crossing the city twice.
4. The mini zoo in Bitung
If a trip to Tangkoko Nature Reserve is impossible because of time, there is a mini zoo in Bitung, only 10 minutes from the city centre. Its collection includes tarsiers, birds, anoa, wild boar and crocodile.
You will be asked for a donation to feed the animals, usually around Rp 20,000 to Rp 50,000 depending on the number of visitors in your group. It is a practical substitute when your schedule will not stretch to the reserve, not a replacement for the forest at night.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start early and head for Tangkoko Nature Reserve, which is around two hours from the city; arrange a rented car in advance, since public transport there involves several changes.
Afternoon: Spend the middle of the day at Batuangus Beach in Kasawari, Aertembaga, snorkelling in the clear water or setting up a picnic.
Evening: Return toward the city and, if you have time before dark, stop at the mini zoo, only 10 minutes from the centre, where a donation of around Rp 20,000 to Rp 50,000 lets you feed the animals. If you can stretch the day into a night, the guided forest walk at Tangkoko to see Tarsius is the better use of the evening.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Tangkoko Nature Reserve from Bitung?
The reserve is around two hours from Bitung city. Cheap public transport exists but is very difficult, as you have to change cars several times; renting a car is the most efficient and easiest way, at around Rp 450,000 to Rp 500,000 per day.
Do I need to stay overnight at Tangkoko Nature Reserve?
You must stay one night, as there are many resorts and small hotels there. Staying over is also what allows you to hire a guide at night to see Tarsius in the forest.
Is there somewhere closer to see tarsiers if I am short of time?
Yes. There is a mini zoo in Bitung, only 10 minutes from the city centre, with a collection that includes tarsiers, birds, anoa, wild boar and crocodile. They ask for a donation to feed the animals, usually around Rp 20,000 to Rp 50,000 depending on group size.
Is diving in the Lembeh Strait expensive?
It is quite expensive, because the resort is managed by westerners. The strait is about 30 minutes from Bitung and is known for its colourful marine life, in particular sea slugs.
Decide first whether your trip is built around the forest at night or the strait by day, book the car or the resort accordingly, and the rest of Bitung will fit around it.