Getting Around, Maluku Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Maluku / Moluccan Islands, Indonesia)



The public transport and various travel options really do vary greatly throughout the Maluku Islands, and what is available will very much depend upon where you are staying and headed. Daily flights travel between Ambon (Maluku) and Jakarta (Java), as well as a handful of other Indonesian destinations.

On land, the transport mainly comes in the form of buses, minibuses (bemos) and taxis, although it should be noted that a number of the roads on the Maluku Islands can be quite rough and suited to 4WD vehicles. For short journeys, bicycle rickshaws (becaks) are especially suitable, while for island hopping, ferries and speedboats are usually fairly easy to locate.


Airports / Arriving by Air

The main airports on the Maluku Islands are located on both Pulau Ambon and Pulau Ternate. Both Ambon's Pattimura Airport (AMQ) and Ternate's Babullah Airport (TTE) feature regular flights to Jakarta (via Surabaya), as well as Makassar and Manado (Sulawesi). From Pattimura Airport, there are also limited flights to Papua, and Langgur on the Kei Islands. Both Dumatubin Airport (LUV) in Langgur (Kei Islands) and Pitu Airport (OTI) on the island of Pulau Morotai are also of note.

Car Rental

Car rental isn't really an option at Maluku, with islands such as the Pulau Neira (part of the Banda Islands) being really quite walkable. However, if you are looking for your very own set of wheels on one of the larger islands, such as Pulau Ambon or Pulau Suram, then it is possible to charter your own private bemo / mobil (minibus), or hire yourself a taxi for the entire day - after first negotiating yourself a favourable price. Regional flights are also available around the Maluku Islands, being operated by Merpait and Trigana Air, although these planes are quite small and their schedules are prone to last-minute changes.

Buses and Coaches

The largest Maluku islands can be quite mountainous, with poorly maintained roads and few signposts. Both the islands of Pulau Ambon and Pulau Seram offer the most comprehensive choice of bus routes and public transport. On Pulau Halmahera and other islands, shared 4WD 'Kijangs' are more commonplace and can seat up to seven passengers, although are generally a more expensive way to travel. For short journeys around Maluku, bemos (minibuses) and 'ojeks' (motorcycle taxis) are often preferable and considerably cheaper.

Trains

There are no trains in operation on these islands.

Taxis

Many taxis are available for hire around the main resorts and can be arranged by most hotels, being perfect for short distances between attractions and beaches. Taxis should always use a meter to calculate the fare as they drive, rather than charging a fixed amount, although minimum fares will usually apply. For popular routes from airports, taxis can often take advantage of the demand and inflate their prices.

Boats and Ferries

Being that Maluku is made up of a series of different islands, both large and small, boats really are an essential and heavily used mode of transport in this part of Indonesia. Passenger boats and ferries connect most of the islands, although not always on a regular basis, with boats sailing between Ambon and Ternate on a fortnightly basis. Speedboats are generally your best bet for island hopping and for accessing villages with no roads. For longer journeys, ASDP ferry transport and wooden boats (with motors) are available at times, although very popular, so be sure to arrive in plenty of time to book your space. It is also possible to travel onboard one of the Perintis cargo boats, which sail to Maluku's ports, but since these are not designed for passengers, don't expect much in the way of comfort:











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Maluku Islands, Indonesia - Transport and Car Rental - Last updated 7/9/2019 - gprofile - Google+

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