Manado a well known city for scuba divers

Manado is an attractive destination for visitors who like swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. It is a city that is located near Bunaken National Marine Park. Manado is also the capital city of the province of North Sulawesi. Its location that is closer to Bunaken has been a problematic concern among marine environmentalists. Every day plastic trash and domestic garbage flow from the city to the coral reef around the Bunaken national marine park. This is a serious problem that needs attention from the city dwellers, NGOs, and local government.

Manado city

In addition, the rapid growing of population in Manado city creates problems related to traffic jams and air pollution. The layout of the city needs more improvement in the future. The decision on coastal reclamation actually is not an ideal one because it will destroy the coral reefs that exist along the beach of Manado city.

Coral reef in Bunaken National Marine Park

In addition to marine tourism attractions in Bunaken Marine National Park and Lembeh Strait, the forest areas outside Manado city are important destinations for visitors who are interested in wildlife especially birdwatching and butterfly watching. 

Visitors who are interested in birdwatching can go to the farmland at the suburb of Manado city to watch Collared Kingfisher, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Green Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sahul Sunbird, and etc. 

More birds and butterfly can be seen if visitors go further to Sonder forest and farmland, Tincep's Waterfall, and Tounelet Slope. There, visitors could watch various species of birds such as Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Black-naped Oriole, Pale Blue Monarch, Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, and etc.

by Charles Roring

Also read:

• Sonder's Birdwatching and Butterflywatching Sites and Other Cultural Attractions
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birds in the Highland of Minahasa
• Birding in Minahasa Peninsula
• Traveling Across the Villages and Towns of Minahasa Highland