When we say Morotai, we mean much more than an idyllic tropical atoll out of time and space. With dozens of tiny islands in its territory and a strong historical legacy from its role during WWII, Morotai is an interesting place where nature and history intertwine, and tourists remain a rare sight, attracting crowds of curious locals. You can spend your days exploring the WWII sites and imagining what the area must have looked like with war aircrafts incessantly landing in Daruba Bay, using Morotai as a strategic war base, with soldiers, war officials and nurses making up much of the population. This quest will bring you inland as well as in the water, as you can discover WWII museums, rust amphibian tanks, as well as an old aircraft wreck and sunken jeep covered by corals.
Island hopping is an easy way to explore other lands and the underwater world. The amazing diving potential is largely untapped, and you will truly connect with marine biodiversity as you meet and greet black-top sharks, turtles and even dugongs, but watch for the saltwater crocodiles in the river estuary near Pilowo. If you happen to visit during the right season, you may witness the spectacular event of turtles clambering out of the luminescent sea to lay their eggs on the shore. Nature walks will bring you to caves, waterfalls and through traditional villages along the coast, where you can happily indulge in a seafood feast and lick your fingers after enjoying steamed crab marinated in spices. Morotai has only recently been added to tourist itineraries in Indonesia, so be prepared to put up with limited infrastructure, power cuts and very limited internet. This is the price you’ll pay to have deserted islands with soft, white-sanded beaches and pristine waters to yourself!
