We try! This is an approach to capture the landscape of the boats and their schedules which approach the Togian Islands. Please Note: The schedule is based on the information of the operating companies. Most boats are private and changes in the schedule can happen. Please check shortly before your arrival about current schedules and times. This is of course a selection of routes to simplify things a little bit.
FIRST: BOAT SCHEDULE AMPANA TO TOGIAN ISLANDS
AMPANA TO BOMBA (POKI POKI)
SPEEDBOAT
The daily speedboats leaving Ampana ("HERKULES" & "MANAKARA") bridge the route Ampana – Bomba – Wakai. The ride to Bomba takes about 45 minutes. Herkules leaves Ampana at 9:00 am, Manakara leaves Ampana at 13:00 pm. If you are going to Poki Poki please make sure to tell the captain that you wish to get out at the Jetty from Araya Dive Resort (Bomba Divers) since the village Bomba itself does not have an own jetty. The ticket costs about IDR 130.000 per person, children up to 7 years old pay half. Buy your ticket at the harbor at the official ticket point.
CHARTER BOAT
You can reach the area of Bomba and POKI POKI anytime via charter boat. The ride takes about 2 hours and the price is somewhere around 1.300.000 IDR. Boats are best arranged with Edy (Marina Cottages) or Dadang (Triple R Homestay).
FERRY BOAT
A bit slower are the public boats leaving Ampana to Bomba on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Please ask your hotel in Ampana if they are on schedule. The ticket costs about IDR 50.000 per person.
AMPANA TO WAKAI (KADIDIRI)
SPEEDBOAT
The daily speedboat Herkules, leaving Ampana at 9:00 and Manakara, leaving Ampana at 13:00 to Wakai are the fastest option to Wakai (and you can get out at the area of Bomba as well). The ride takes less then two hours and the boat brings you straight to Wakai. Once in Wakai the boats from the hotels in Kadidiri will pick you up to bring you to their resorts. The ticket costs about IDR 130.000 per person, children up to 7 years old pay half. Buy your ticket at the harbor at the official ticket point.
KM. Wamburabura brings you to Wakai on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Leaves Ampana around 10:00 and takes less than two hours. This new speed boat is a little bit bigger than the other two and can take up to 100 people.
The speed boat Touna Express should go every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday about 10:00 to Wakai, and Malenge up to Popoli. This boat is often privately chartered. Ask your hotel in Ampana if this boat is really going, but don´t rely on it first hand.
AMPANA TO MALENGE
PUBLIC BOATS
KM. Wamburabura brings you to Malenge on Tuesday,Thursday and Sunday. Leaves Ampana around 10:00 am and is the fastest way from Ampana to Malenge.
The boat Touna Express should go every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday about 10:00 to Wakai, and Malenge up to Popoli. This boat is often privately chartered. Ask your hotel in Ampana if this boat is operating.
SECOND: BOAT SCHEDULE TOGIAN ISLANDS TO AMPANA
BOMBA TO AMPANA
SPEEDBOAT
The daily speedboat Manakara and Herkules connect Bomba with Ampana at 9:30 and 13:00. The ride takes about 40 minutes.
FERRY BOAT
A bit slower are the public boats leaving from Bomba and other villages in the west of Togian Islands towards Ampana almost every day. However, since their schedules are not very reliable we will check with you on the spot which boat you could take on the day that you are leaving. The ride takes about 3 hours.
WAKAI (KADIDIRI) TO AMPANA
The daily speedboat Herkules and Manakara leaving Wakai at 8:30 and 12:00 to Ampana. The ride takes less than two hours and the boat brings you straight to Ampana.
KM. Wamburabura brings you to Ampana on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please check with your hotel about the departure times.
The boat Touna Express should go every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday early morning from Wakai to Ampana. This boat is often privately chartered. Check with your hotel on the islands if the boat is operating.
MALENGE TO AMPANA
KM. Wamburabura brings you to Ampana on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please check with your hotel about departure times. This is the fastest route from Malenge to Ampana.
The boat Touna Express should go every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday early morning from Wakai to Ampana. This boat is often privately chartered. Check with your hotel on the islands if the boat is operating.
THIRD: BOAT SCHEDULE GORONTALO TO TOGIAN ISLANDS AND BACK
Since the good connectivity from Ampana to Togian Islands the main hub in the North of Togian Islands, Gorontalo, is getting less and less interesting to approach the islands. At least for travelers which do not plan to visit the north of Sulawesi. However, if you are making your way from or to the north you might take the ferry “Tuna Tomini” which connects the Togian Islands (Wakai) with Gorontalo in the north of the islands.
The ferry connects Gorontalo with the Togian Islands two times a week. The ferry departs from Gorontalo to the islands on Tuesdays and Fridays in the afternoon (around 17:00). We recommend to be there a bit earlier since it is never clear at what time exactly the ferry takes off. To go from the Togian Islands to Gorontalo the ferry leaves Wakai every Monday, and Thursday in the late afternoon. IMPORTANT: Please note that the ferry does not operate on the first weekend of each month (first saturday and first sunday of the month). An alternative travel route to the north brings you to Luwuk, and via flight from Luwuk to Manado.
The cruise takes around 12 hours and goes overnight. You will reach your destination the next (early) morning. It is possible to book cabins on the boat which give you a bit more privacy but are far away from any luxury or comfortable beds. If you wish to do so please contact your hotel in Gorontalo or ask at the ticket sale for more information.
SHORTCUT: A SELECTION OF BOATS AND THEIR ROUTES
SPEEDBOAT HERKULES
Route: AMPANA – BOMBA – WAKAI
Daily at 09:00
Route: WAKAI – BOMBA – AMPANA
Daily at 12:00
SPEEDBOAT MANAKARA
Route: WAKAI – BOMBA – AMPANA
Daily at 08:30
Route: AMPANA – BOMBA – WAKAI
Daily at 12:00
SPEEDBOAT KM. WAMBURABURA
“fastest way to Malenge & Co.”
ROUTE:AMPANA – WAKAI – KATUPAT – MALENGE – PULAU PAPAN – POPOLII – DOLONG
Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, 10:00
ROUTE: DOLONG- POPOLII – PULAU PAPAN – MALENGE – KATUPAT – WAKAI – AMPANA
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, please check at your hotel about departure times
FERRY BOAT TUNA TOMINI (new schedule since 01/2022)
“the connection to the north of Sulawesi”
ROUTE: GORONTALO – WAKAI
Tuesday & Friday afternoon (approx. 17:00)
ROUTE: WAKAI – GORONTALO
Monday & Thursday afternoon (approx. 18:30)
IMPORTANT: Ferry does not operate on the first weekend of each month (first saturday and sunday of each month).
OTHER ROUTES
There are other routes which connect for example WAKAI with UNA UNA or the city of MARISA with the Togian Islands. We are not brave enough to keep track of their schedule and kindly ask you to check with your hotel at Togians about their times and prices.