Gorontalo

Sleepy Gorontalo remains a traveller’s favourite on the route through largely untrodden Sulawesi. That’s a little to do with the fact that it is the perfect jump off point for exploring the paradisiacal Togean Islands to the south, but it’s also because of the town’s charming colonial centre, pristine coral reefs and rugged surrounding backcountry. Perhaps most famously Gorontalo, is one of the best places in the world to see the bulbous and elusive Salvador Dali Sponge—named for its unpredictable and often surreal formations. If that’s got you thinking, then be sure to ask your Gorontalo tour guide for tips on the best dive instructors around the Tomini Bay and Olele Village to explore the most coveted of the city’s 25 diving spots. True to its post-colonial character, Gorontalo central also boasts a fortress and Dutch era colonial buildings in addition to a real range of European eateries, mixed with a smattering of classic Indonesian warungs. Particularly good are the fresh fish dishes of Meranti Indah, or the spicy regional chicken plates of Mawar Sharon.