10 Best Things to Do in Bunaken Island – Full Guide 2025
Located in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi region, Bunaken is a true paradise for lovers of nature, adventure and especially marine life. This tiny island, part of the Bunaken National Marine Park, offers incredible diving and snorkeling spots, stunning nearby islands, and opportunities to encounter hundreds of turtles and dolphins. Let’s explore the 10 best things to do in Bunaken and why this destination deserves a spot on your travel list.
We’re already counting the days until our next visit to relive this unforgettable adventure! In the meantime, we hope our experience helps you make the most of your time in Bunaken and explore its most incredible spots.
3 Top Picks for Accommodation in Bunaken
- Budget ($): El Homestay
- Mid-range ($$): MC Bunaken Stay
- Luxury ($$$): The Village Bunaken
Personal Recommendation: We discovered one of the best homestays in the world in Bunaken: El Homestay. Check out the reviews to see that we’re not the only ones with this opinion!
The owners, Stefen and his wife, made our stay unforgettable with their warm hospitality, delicious local food, and assistance in organizing some of the best tours we’ve ever experienced. These tours were completely private and budget-friendly. Be sure to check prices and availability in advance for El Homestay!
10 Best Things to Do in Bunaken
1. Go Scuba Diving in Bunaken
The best thing to do in Bunaken is Diving. Bunaken is world-renowned for its incredible diving spots, and trust us, they live up to the hype.
What makes Bunaken so incredible is that the entire island is surrounded by a stunning coral wall, which you can clearly see on Google Maps. Just off the coast, there are a few hundred meters of shallow water before the seabed suddenly drops off, revealing a breathtaking coral wall.
This unique geography makes Bunaken Island full of amazing dive sites. The coral walls here are alive with vibrant colors and marine life. You can see many fascinating macro diving creatures, but don’t worry there are also larger marine animals, such as sea turtles. Never in our lives have we seen so many turtles in one dive, they were everywhere. We believe it’s impossible to go diving or snorkeling in Bunaken and not see a single turtle. We also saw many lionfish and lots of colorful fish, such as schools of butterflyfish.
The most beautiful dive sites are Lekuan 1, 2, and 3 Wall, known for their steep coral cliffs and frequent turtle sightings. The prices on Bunaken for diving are very affordable, around 1,000 IDR for two dives, including equipment.
If you stay at El Homestay, the best homestay we have experienced in two years of traveling through Southeast Asia, consider going with their partnering diving school, MC Dive Resort. It’s run by the same family, and we highly recommend it, an amazing experience!
Otherwise, if you stay at a resort, they usually have their own diving center. If not, we can recommend Blue Shark Diving Center.
Even if you’re new to diving, Bunaken is an incredible place to do the Open Water Course, so don’t let inexperience hold you back from diving in one of the most beautiful places in Indonesia.
2. Go Snorkeling in Bunaken
If scuba diving isn’t for you, snorkeling in Bunaken is a fantastic alternative. The island has shallow reefs near the shore that are perfect for snorkelers, as well as deeper areas along the reef drop-off, offering an incredible underwater experience. You have three options for snorkeling around Bunaken:
Option 1: Private Boat
Hire a private boat to take you around the island for snorkeling, including stops near Siladen Island, Bunaken’s neighboring island, just a short boat ride away. Private snorkeling tours with a local boat are usually very affordable, ranging from 200K to 800K IDR, depending on distance, duration, and whether snorkeling gear is included. You can ask your accommodation to arrange this for you.
Option 2: Diving Boat
Budget-Friendly Snorkel Day: If hiring a private boat isn’t an option and you don’t have anyone to share the cost with, consider joining a diving boat. Some operators allow snorkelers to tag along for a fee of 100K to 250K IDR, depending on factors like whether you’ve previously dived with them, if you need to rent snorkeling gear, and your negotiation skills.
Option 3: Go Solo
Swim directly from the beach to the coral wall’s drop-off. We tried this from this point on the beach and it worked perfectly, though it took about 20 minutes of swimming one way. Be sure to check the tides to ensure an easy entry and exit. Bring your own snorkel gear or rent it for 50K to 100K IDR.
3. Visit Nain Island
Nain Island is easily one of the most breathtaking places we’ve seen in Sulawesi, if not the world. With its two curving white-sand sandbanks, crystal-clear waters, and stunning mountain islands in the background, it felt like a true paradise. The best part? We had the entire place to ourselves, making it an experience we’ll never forget.
Before arriving, we struggled to find much information about Nain Island online. Instead, we had to wait until we reached Bunaken and ask the locals. Once again, Stefan, the owner of El Homestay, was incredibly helpful and arranged for a local boat to take us there.
Keep in mind that Nain Island is not always accessible, so be sure to check with the locals and pay attention to the tides. The boat trip to Nain Island, including a few other stops, cost us 1,500K IDR. To keep costs down, we asked fellow travelers from our accommodation to join us and split the price, which worked out perfectly! We combined this trip with a Dolphin Cruise, snorkeling at Siladen Island, and exploring the mangroves, making it an all-in-one adventure.
4. Go on a Dolphin Cruise
We absolutely love dolphins and couldn’t wait to see them in their natural habitat in Bunaken. Setting off early in the morning, around 6–7 a.m., we had no idea what to expect. After an hour of searching, we were already considering trying again the next day when suddenly, something incredible happened.
Hundreds of dolphins appeared, swimming around and alongside our boat for more than an hour. It was absolutely mind-blowing! Our boat captain made the experience even more special, giving us as much time as we wanted and ensuring we were always surrounded by these amazing creatures.
Once again, Stefan, the owner of El Homestay, helped us organize this unforgettable tour. If you’re visiting Bunaken, we highly recommend staying here, he truly goes above and beyond to make every experience perfect!
5. Visit Siladen Island
Bunaken is part of a larger marine park that includes several other islands. One of the most popular neighboring islands is Siladen, which some travelers even choose as their base for exploring the marine park. If you’re considering staying there, be sure to check out the available hotels in Siladen.
We highly recommend visiting Siladen from Bunaken, as it boasts more beautiful beaches than Bunaken itself. However, when it comes to snorkeling and diving, we found Bunaken to be the better choice. That said, don’t miss the chance to snorkel in Siladen; it’s still an incredible experience!
6. Explore the Bunaken Island
You can easily rent a scooter for 50K IDR per half-day or 100K IDR per day to explore the island at your own pace. Along the way, you’ll find several viewpoints offering panoramic views of the landscape. Be sure to stop by Pantai Liang Beach, a popular spot among local tourists.
Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and interact with the friendly residents, including the fishermen. The people of Bunaken are warm and welcoming, so don’t hesitate to connect with them. Just remember to wear appropriate clothing, as the island is mostly Muslim.
7. Volcano Hike on Manado Tua Island
Another best thing to do in Bunaken is hiking the inactive volcanic cone of Manado Tua on Manado Tua Island. The hike offers breathtaking views of Manado Bay, nearby islands, and, on clear days, the smoking Gunung Soputan volcano.
8. Try Traditional Food
Accommodations in Bunaken typically provide all meals on-site, as there are no restaurants on the island. This offers a fantastic opportunity to try traditional Indonesian food. If you’re staying at a budget-friendly place, you’ll mostly enjoy local dishes, while more luxurious accommodations may also serve Western food.
The food at El Homestay was some of the best local food we’ve had in six months in Indonesia! Every meal was different, featuring ikan bakar (grilled fish), as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Everything was incredibly fresh and healthy.
If you’re not staying there, you can ask if you can join them for dinner. If they have availability, they will accept up to two additional guests, but you’ll need to inquire in advance and get confirmation.
9. Watch the Sunset
Head to the southwest coast of Bunaken’s main village for a magical sunset view over the Manado Tua Volcano.
10. Visit the Mangrove Forests
Bunaken’s mangrove forests are home to a variety of wildlife, from exotic birds to mudskippers. You can add a visit to the mangrove forest to your tour when exploring Nain Island or during the Dolphin Snorkel tour.
