Muna Island Journey Information For Sulawesi, Indonesia –

We just lately spent a couple of days in Muna, an island in Sulawesi that has some spectacular caves, lakes, and pure sinkholes.

Most individuals go to Muna at the side of Buton, its neighboring island. They’re nicely linked by a brief ferry trip, so it’s straightforward to trip between the 2 islands.

The blue water sinkholes in Muna are form of just like the cenotes in Mexico, besides with out the crowds. There’s even a lagoon the place you possibly can swim with 1000’s of stingless jellyfish!

One other factor you possibly can see in Muna is the prehistoric cave artwork, which is at the moment the oldest recognized human artwork on this planet. It’s distinctive.

This journey information will clarify easy methods to get to Muna, the place to remain, and what to see and do on the island!

Drone pic of the lakes at Liwu Wandala

How To Get To Muna

Muna island is positioned off the coast of southeast Sulawesi. There are a couple of methods to get there.

It has an airport in the principle metropolis of Raha (RAQ) with flights from Makassar (UPG), however there’s just one flight per day, as of 2026. The flight time is a bit beneath 1 hour.

The opposite most important choice is to fly to Baubau (BUW) in Buton from Makassar, after which take the ferry from Baubau to the Wamengkoli harbor on the south finish of Muna. That’s what we did. The ferry trip solely takes half-hour, and it may deliver automobiles and motorbikes.

Both means, for those who’re flying from Bali or Jakarta, you’ll must transit in Makassar on the way in which to Muna. You possibly can shop for flights at Skyscanner.

The third choice is to take a quick ferry from Kendari to Raha. It departs twice day by day and the journey takes about 3 hours.

You possibly can swim in cenotes on the Moko lakes

How To Get Round

When you arrive in Muna, the subsequent query is easy methods to get round.

You possibly can lease a automotive or motorcycle and drive your self, or rent a driver with a automotive. We got here to Muna from Buton on the ferry, and introduced our driver and his SUV with us. It was fairly clean and painless.

I’ll share some contacts for good tour guides later within the article. They will help prepare drivers, boats, and different issues for you.

Should you select to drive your self, the roads in Muna are in fairly good situation now. They was horrible, however many of the most important roads had been reworked just lately.

There isn’t a lot site visitors outdoors of city, so it’s not a tough place to drive by Indonesian requirements.

Sea turtle on the Moko lake

Greatest Issues To Do In Muna

• Moko Lakes

The Moko lakes are a gaggle of blue water sinkholes in central Muna.

There are 5 lakes in complete, all inside a 1.5 kilometer stretch, however solely three of them are good for swimming.

These are form of just like the cenotes in Mexico, besides you may need all of them to your self!

Moko Lake #1

Ladders make it straightforward to get within the lake

The primary Moko lake is the largest, and the simplest to succeed in. It’s simply 5 minutes off the principle street, and there are many parking areas.

It’s a very nice lake, with brilliant blue water that’s nice for cooling off on a sizzling day. There are some ladders for getting out and in of the lake.

There’s even a resident sea turtle you possibly can swim with! He was apparently dropped at the lake when he was younger, which I don’t condone, however he has tailored and he’s semi-domesticated now.

He’s not afraid of people, and he lives a reasonably snug life within the lake. The locals stated he’s lived there for a very long time. A few years, actually.

Sea turtle within the lake

Our information swimming with the ocean turtle

Sadly, the convenience of entry to the primary lake additionally makes it widespread with the native younger individuals, and a number of them have thrown their trash carelessly on the bottom across the lake.

We noticed an annoying quantity of bottles, wrappers, and different plastic trash across the lake, and even a bit bit contained in the lake. This could by no means be taking place in such a pleasant place.

The excellent news is that the second Moko lake is a little more secluded, and it’s extra pure.

It’s only a 300 meter drive from the primary lake, however we didn’t see any individuals there, and virtually no trash both.

There weren’t any ladders into the water, however there’s a rocky path that provides quick access if you wish to go for a swim.

Other than that, it was virtually completely undeveloped, which is nice.

Moko Lake #2

The third Moko lake is just like the second, however greater. It’s secluded and surrounded by jungle.

You possibly can attain it in simply 5 minutes of driving from the primary lake.

Once more, we didn’t see any individuals at this lake and it was pristine. The water is so blue!

There’s a rocky path that results in the water’s edge if you wish to swim.

Moko Lake #3

This lake remains to be pure

• Napabale Lakes Journey

One of many high issues to do in Muna is the boat journey at Napabale, which lets you see a number of good lakes, together with the jellyfish lake.

This journey begins from a lagoon that initially appears to be like completely surrounded by rocks, however there’s really a small tunnel that’s been worn away by the tide, and you may exit by way of it, boat and all!

We went when the tide was low, in any other case I’m undecided if that is even attainable.

Bear in mind to observe your head, as a result of the tunnel is extremely slim. You may even must lie right down to hold from bumping your head.

The boat man will sluggish his engine and paddle by way of the tunnel, and it solely takes a couple of minutes.

 
When you go by way of the tunnel, you’re now within the second Napabale lake.

The boat man will cross from right here to the open ocean, after which to a 3rd lake known as Liwu Wandala Lake. The entire boat trip could be very tame and solely takes about half-hour.

This third lake is extremely good, with brilliant turquoise water. It appears to be like like Raja Ampat.

Liwu Wandala lake

Drone pic of our boat

The lake from above

From right here, you’ll must go ashore to trek to the jellyfish lake, which is surrounded by karsts and jungle on all sides.

There are a number of routes to the lake, however the one we used took about quarter-hour of mountain climbing. It was steep at occasions, however by no means harmful.

The lake has two completely different species of jellyfish. There are literally thousands of them, however they’re stingless and utterly innocent, so you possibly can safely swim with them. It’s wonderful!

The lake is surrounded by steep partitions

Discovering a path right down to the lake

Swimming with jellyfish

• Prehistoric Cave Artwork

One other factor it’s a must to see in Muna is the prehistoric cave artwork.

There’s a complete advanced of karsts and caves within the northern a part of the island, however one of the best two caves to see are Liang Metanduno and Liang Kabori.

They’re only a brief distance from the parking space, so you possibly can attain Metanduno in 5 minutes of strolling, and Kabori in 10 minutes.

Metanduno cave

A hand stencil in Metanduno cave was recently identified by researchers because the oldest recognized human artwork on this planet. It’s believed to be a minimum of 67,800 years previous.

There’s numerous prehistoric cave artwork in different elements of Sulawesi, like Leang Leang, Rammang Rammang, and Sombori, however that is the oldest discovery thus far, which is fairly fascinating.

Other than the hand prints, they’ve numerous depictions of horses and different animals, though these aren’t fairly as previous.

Prehistoric artwork

Entrance to the primary cave

• Wakumoro Pool

This can be a pure pool in central Muna the place the locals prefer to swim. It has good clear water, and the pool is surrounded by large timber.

Sadly this place was too crowded and littered to be something particular. There have been so many items of plastic trash all around the car parking zone and even some within the water! It was unhappy to see. It desperately wants a cleanup.

It nonetheless doesn’t harm to cease right here and have a look. You’ll most likely be driving previous Wakumoro anyway in some unspecified time in the future throughout your journey, so that you may as nicely test it out. The pool is sweet.

Wakumoro pool

• Koo Cave

Koo cave (pronounced Ko’o) is a big cave with two blue swimming pools on the backside.

The primary view of the swimming pools is wonderful, with jungle and stalactites on all sides, and it may be reached in simply 5 or 10 minutes utilizing a steel stairway.

Trying on the two lakes from above

From right here, you possibly can hike right down to the underside of the collapse one other quarter-hour, however there’s numerous awkward and slippery footing, so watch out.

I believe every of us slipped and fell a minimum of as soon as on the way in which down, getting our garments muddy within the course of.

It’s nonetheless price going to the underside of the cave, although, as a result of it’s a must to see the blue pool up shut. It’s extremely blue!

We had been fortunate to have the solar shining into the cave once we had been there within the morning, as a result of the daylight actually brings out the colour of the water.

The primary pool

It’s so blue

On the backside of the cave

• Laumehe Cave

This can be a deep collapse south Muna that’s filled with spectacular stalactites.

It’s fairly straightforward to succeed in the mouth of the cave with a ten minute stroll from the parking space, after which there’s a handy steel walkway with stairs main down into the cave.

They provide helmets in case you bump your head on the ceiling, which you most likely will a couple of occasions, like I did.

It took us about half an hour to every the tip of the cave, other than the time we spent taking images, and the entire journey was spectacular. Don’t miss it.

The walkway doesn’t really attain the tip of the cave. It goes on and on!

Laumehe cave

• Bidadari Cave

That is an attention-grabbing cave that’s near the street in south Buton.

You possibly can attain it in simply 5 minutes of strolling, though the trail down into the cave is a bit rocky.

Inside, there are a number of swimming pools of clear water, and an open ceiling that pours daylight into the cave. It’s cool.

Bidadari cave

• Different Issues To See In Muna

There are nonetheless a number of hidden gems and new locations being found on Muna island.

We deliberate to go to a few of these ourselves, however we ran out of time on this journey.

Listed here are some additional locations I hope to go to in Muna subsequent time I’m there:

• Inoli Lalibo Cave — An enormous cave with an especially blue pool inside. It appears to be like form of like Koo cave, however the water is much more blue, if that’s attainable. It’s additionally pristine and largely untouched, in contrast to Koo. I used to be actually hoping to go to this cave, however I didn’t have sufficient time. It’s important to do some trekking simply to succeed in the mouth of the cave, after which there’s an especially steep path to go to the underside. It may very well be harmful. Here’s a post on Instagram that reveals how loopy the trail is.
• Randano Ghaghe Lake — A distant lake in north Muna that’s nonetheless largely unknown even to locals, however the water is a loopy colour of inexperienced and turquoise. I wished to see this lake, however it requires some trekking to succeed in it, and I ran out of time to go there.
• Bajo Villages — There are some sandbars in northwest Muna the place Bajo villagers have constructed homes on the sandbars. You possibly can go to them, however it takes about 2 hours of driving by automotive, after which half-hour by boat to succeed in the villages, so it’s virtually a full day endeavor whenever you determine roundtrip journey time.
• Kotaeono Cave — This spot is only a 5 minute stroll from the street, so it’s straightforward to go to. It’s a cave with a lagoon and a small boat the place you possibly can take footage. On the finish of the lagoon is a cave that results in the ocean.
• Wantopi Seaside — A crescent formed sandbar. It’s close to the Laumehe cave, so you possibly can go to each locations collectively when you have time.
• Pasi Bungi Lake — An enormous lake in south Muna that’s formed form of like a coronary heart. There doesn’t appear to be a lot to do there besides possibly fly a drone.

Above Koo cave

Lakes & lagoons at Liwu Wandala

• Buton Island

Most individuals go to Muna at the side of its neighboring island, Buton.

Should you’re planning a visit to Muna, then you definately’ve most likely already heard about Buton as nicely, since most flights undergo there.

Buton has nice waterfalls, caves, and unique seashores. I wrote a separate information for it, which you’ll learn within the hyperlink beneath.

Learn Extra: Buton Island Journey Information

Swimming at Bahari seaside in Buton

Cliff view at Napang Sangia in Buton

Map Of Sights In Buton & Muna

Right here’s an interactive map of the principle sights on Buton and Muna islands. You need to use this to plan your journey.

The blue icons on the map are issues you possibly can see by driving, and the purple icons are issues to see by boat.

Journey Itinerary For Buton & Muna

Right here’s a pattern 9-day itinerary you should use in your journey to Buton and Muna.

This matches our personal itinerary fairly intently, with a couple of tweaks and enhancements primarily based on our expertise:

• Day 1 — Should you arrive at Buton within the morning, you possibly can spend the day seeing issues in and close to Baubau city, just like the Wameo conventional market, Malige palace, and Sultanate fortress. Then go to Lakeba seaside, which is simply outdoors of city, and do a brief boat journey to the Batu Buti rock. Should you’re nonetheless up for extra actions, you possibly can finish the day by seeing Tirta Rimba waterfall or watching the sundown near city.
• Day 2 — Do a ship journey to Siompu and Liwutonkidi islands. Calm down on the seaside at Napa Sangia and do the brief hike as much as the perspective on the cliff. Do a brief detour by boat to Buata seaside for extra swimming.
• Day 3 — Spend the day doing a ship journey in southern Buton to see the Sampolawa river, Lasoka seaside, Karamba floating restaurant, and Lakadao seaside.
• Day 4 — Do the Samparona waterfall trek, which has two massive waterfalls and a bat cave. You possibly can swim on the waterfall after mountain climbing. Should you make it again in good time, it is perhaps attainable to do another actions after the trek as nicely.
• Day 5 — Drive 2 hours to northern Buton to see extra waterfalls: Lantangahi, Lapangan, and/or Kandawu Ndawuna. Some trekking and route discovering is required, so that you’ll most likely have to select simply two of the waterfalls to see in a day. On the drive out of Baubau, it’s also possible to get pleasure from some fantastic views of rice fields within the Balinese village.
• Day 6 — Go to the hilltop viewpoint at Bukit Wakoea, and the standard village at Rongi. Then go for a swim at Bahari seaside. On the drive again to Baubau, cease at Nirwana seaside.
• Day 7 — Take the morning ferry from Baubau (Buton) to Wamengkoli (Muna). Make a fast cease to see Bidadari cave and Kotaeono collapse southern Muna, then drive north to the Moko lakes, the place you possibly can swim in clear blue water on the sinkholes.
• Day 8 — Drive to Napabale lake, after which take a brief boat trip and trek to the jellyfish lake, the place you possibly can swim with 1000’s of stingless jellyfish. Subsequent, drive to the caves at Liang Kabori to see prehistoric artwork. Should you nonetheless have time, you possibly can finish the day by seeing the pure swimming pool at Wakumoro.
• Day 9 — Drive to Ko’o cave and do a brief trek to the blue swimming pools on the backside of the cave. Alternatively, you are able to do the extra excessive trek at Inoli Lalibo cave, which additionally has a surprising blue pool on the backside. After that, go see Laumehe cave, which is extra customer pleasant and has a few of the greatest stalactites and stalagmites. You too can make a fast cease at Wantopi seaside, which is near the cave. Whenever you’re executed in Muna, take the ferry again to Baubau to complete your journey.

Blue pool at Koo cave

Driver & Information Contacts For Buton

Listed here are some helpful contacts in your journey to Buton and Muna. I can advocate all of those individuals from my very own private expertise:

• Aspin Chatilombuz — Aspin was the principle contact for our journey to Buton and Muna. He was an enormous assist and answered numerous my questions earlier than our journey. We had been touring with our 1 12 months previous child, and he was in a position to advise us which actions can be good with our child, and which issues can be safer for me to do alone with him, like trekking.

  As soon as we acquired to Buton, Aspin organized drivers, boat excursions, and different actions for us primarily based on what I wished to see and do. You possibly can contact him by WhatsApp at ☎ +62 823-7286-6231 or on his Facebook page.

• Laode Ibnu Rajab — Laode is affiliated with Aspin, and he was the principle information throughout our journey, since Aspin acquired sick a couple of days after we arrived. Laode could be very pleasant and useful, and he is aware of all the nice locations to see in Buton and Muna. He additionally joined me for trekking to a bunch of various caves and waterfalls. You possibly can contact him by WhatsApp at ☎ +62 822-3921-1302 or on his Facebook page.
• Mario Kojongian (Sulawesi Eco Journey) — Mario’s firm gives excursions for all the great locations in southeast Sulawesi: Buton, Muna, Wakatobi, Labengki, and Sombori. He speaks good English, and he was glad to reply a bunch of our questions on Buton and Muna.

  Sadly, he was busy touring in Sumatra once we got here to Buton, so we weren’t in a position to line up our schedules, however that wasn’t his fault. His firm is excessive rated and he was a useful contact, so I’d fortunately advocate him for a visit to Buton and Muna. You possibly can contact him by WhatsApp at ☎ +62 821-9590-1528, or on his company’s Facebook page.

Moko lake

The place To Keep

A lot of the lodging in Muna is in Raha city, on the north finish of the island.

Listed here are some beneficial locations to remain:

• Kadena Glamping Dive Resort — That is the place we stayed. It’s one of many solely choices on the south finish of the island, close to the harbor in Wamengkoli. Kadena is a glamping resort for cave divers, and there’s even a cave behind the resort. It’s expensive by Indonesian requirements, however the location is certainly handy.
• NES Inn Hotel — That is at the moment the nicest resort in Raha, as of 2026. It’s a 2 star resort with free breakfast.
• DJ Hotel — If I used to be touring solo and staying in Raha, this might most likely be one in every of my high decisions. It’s one other 2 star resort with free breakfast.

© DJ Hotel in Raha

Different Suggestions For Muna Island

• ATM — There are ATMs on the island, however they’re extra scarce than in Buton, and could also be much less dependable. You will discover ATMs at Raha within the north of the island, or Lombai within the south.
• WiFi — Don’t rely on good WiFi right here. Ours didn’t work besides on the foyer.
• Cell Service — Native SIM suppliers like Telkomsel have good reception all throughout the island. I used to be even in a position to ship texts whereas doing boat rides within the north.
• Infrastructure — They reworked the roads just lately in Muna, so most of them are fairly good now, however there are nonetheless some tough pockets outdoors of the principle journey areas.
• Apps — Maxim is out there in Raha, however I’m undecided about Seize or GoJek.
• Malaria — In response to this Lancet study from 2018, malaria has been majorly decreased in Muna island, which is nice. We didn’t take Malaria capsules, however we had been cautious to keep away from bites. Satirically, the one place we ever noticed mosquitoes in Muna was at our resort, and nowhere else.
• Conservation — Among the locations we went in Muna had a disappointing quantity of plastic trash, which is widespread in Indonesia. It was particularly dangerous at Wakumoro pool and one of many Moko lakes. We picked up some trash at each place we went in Muna, and our guides did too. I’d encourage you to do the identical for those who’re in a position. Even when every of us solely cleans up a bit little bit of trash, it provides as much as rather a lot when all of us do it.

Turquoise water at Liwu Wandala

Greatest Time To Go to Muna

Usually one of the best time to journey in Sulawesi is through the dry season, particularly from Could to October.

We went to Buton and Muna in mid to late April, and the climate was good for seashores, boat journeys, and swimming holes. The caves are good in any climate, though they give the impression of being greatest once they have some daylight.

You possibly can go to Muna in any month, however I’d most likely keep away from Indonesia’s rainiest months, that are usually December by way of February.

Majestic sea turtle

Extra Indonesia Journey Guides

Thanks for wanting! I hope you loved this information for visiting Muna island in Sulawesi.

Don’t overlook to take a look at my different journey guides for Indonesia earlier than you go!
 

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