Tumbak Village
Tumbak is a Bajo village located in the south-east coast of North Sulawesi Province. Tumbak can be reach approximately 3 hours from the Sam Ratulangi International airport of Manado. Tumbak is localized in a lagoon close to a large island also called Tumbak Island. Tumbak is surrounding by a large sample of coastal ecosystems like coral reefs and big mangroves. But this environment is not the only reason to come in Tumbak. Tumbak is a unique village in North Sulawesi. The village was first discovered by a bajo family in 1918. Bajos are the sea gypsies of east Indonesia and a large part of the village is on-water. Peoples have a traditional way of life close to the sea and almost all the villagers are fishermen. Tumbak is a gate to the world of the Bajos, villagers of Tumbak have strong connections with other Bajos village all around Indonesia. You can meet in Tumbak people from Banggai Islands, Wakatobi Islands, Maluku, Gorontalo and Tilamuta area. They will glad to speak with you if you have little notion of Bahasa Indonesia. If you don’t it’s a good place to learn. Each years, volunteers from NGOs come in Tumbak and learn bahasa Indonesia from villagers, some of them are very good teacher. A journey in Tumbak is a unique experience with very friendly peoples in an amazing environment.
An ecotourism and underwater paradise in Tumbak Bay
Environment around Tumbak Bay or Island is perfect for ecotourism. You could explore the 200 hectares of mangrove with canoe or in snorkeling for those who have clear water. The 500 hectares of coral reefs will give you amazing snorkeling and diving experiences. The reefs in Tumbak offer a very large diversity of underwater landscapes: slopes, drop-off, lagoon, soft corals gardens, hard corals included rare species, sea fans gardens in shallow for some locations, clear water mangroves and sea grasses. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an experience diver, you will find locations make for you.
Terrestrial ecosystems are also very diversified, especially on the desert Tumbak Island with its forest, swamp, grasses fields, mangroves, white sandy beaches and different plantations (coconuts, mango, pineapples, banana). The fauna on the island included a large diversity of birds and butterflies, lizards, coconut crabs.
Activities and excursions surrounding Tumbak
You could find a lot activities and excursions that will make your journey in Tumbak fun and unforgettable. From Snorkeling or Diving to Adventure around the Tumbak Bay and Island such as Canoeing, Trekking, or even meet with the Local Bajo’s People.
Snorkeling and Diving in Tumbak Island
When viewing the underwater beauty snorkeling or diving with your eyes will be spoiled with underwater scenery is so beautiful with hundreds of species of fish with a variety of types such as common lionfish, banggai, nudibranchs, cardinalfish, clownfish, napoleon wrasse, angelfish, surgeonfish, unicornfish, morish idol, damselfish, groupers, parrotfishes, zebra lionfish, lizardfishes and much more. In addition you can also see various sea stars are so beautiful with a wide variety of colors. Besides seeing beragaram types of fish, your eyes will also be spoiled with such a vast expanse of good coral and hardcoral softcoral area of, approximately 100 acres with various forms of beautiful coral and colorful (brain coral one). Not only there, if you are already proficient diving/snorkeling, you can see the sea fan forests of diverse types of 300 meters at a depth of 3-6 meters. When snorkeling at some point you can see the small islands are surrounded by stands with beautiful white sand like ponteng island, island propellers, island steamer, horse back island (because of the shape of the island resembles the back of a horse), the white island and the pakolor island.
Bellow is sample of package tour for Tumbak Island Tour Package.
Tumbak Island Tour Package
3 Days 2 Nights
Itinerary:
Day 1: Manado Arrival (D)
Arrival in Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Meeting service and transfer to hotel in Manado. Arrive at hotel, check-in, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Manado – Tumbak Village (B,L,D)
After breakfast at hotel, Transfer to Tumbak Vilage. Tumbak village blessed with amazing natural beauty. Underwater beauty Tumbak no less impressive with the beauty of Bunaken marine park that is famous throughout the world. But the natural beauty above the sea in the form of small islands of white sandy become more value that is owned by the village. Arrive at Tumbak Village, check-in at Water Cottage, prepare for lunch at Local Restaurant. After lunch, Sail to Baling Baling Island with traditional boat. Arrive in Baling Baling Island, take a Short trekking to the hill in Baling Baling Island. From here, the trip will be more severe because they have to climb the steep path. Arriving at the hill, Enjoy the beautiful panorama over the Tumbak Bay then Trekking back and transfer back to Cottage. Free Program in the afternoon.
Note: During your free time, you can watch the sunset from the cottage area. There is no best place besides here to see the sunset which goes down on the left side Mt Soputan Volcano South Minahasa, in the middle there Mt Klabat North Minahasa and visible on the right side of Mt Two Sodara, Bitung.
Day 3. Ponteng Island Sunrise – Snorkeling – Transfer-out (BL)
Early morning call at 4AM, at 4.30AM Sail to Ponteng Island, and short trekking to the hill in Ponteng Island. Enjoying sunrise and expore Ponteng Island. Ponteng Island is a small uninhabited island located in the village Tumbak, District Posumaen, Southeast Minahasa regency. White sand that surrounds the Ponteng Island plus the beauty of the underwater world around the island, emphasized the beauty of this island. After sunrise, trecking back and sail to cottage. Breakfast at cottage. After breakfast, you can take a snorkeling. After snorkeling, back to cottage for repacking. Leave Tumbak Village for Manado. Lunch enroute. Arrival in Manado, transfer to Sam Ratulangi International Airport for your next destination flight.
~~~ End of Service ~~~
