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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Tumbak
Spend 1‑2 days: walk the fishing village, snorkel, stay at Tumbak Island Cottage; reach via Manado bus to Ratahan then ojek.
Tumbak is a tiny Bajo fishing village in North Sulawesi with basic accommodation, walkable streets and good snorkeling. With limited services, a short stay of one to two days is enough to explore the beach and nearby dive sites.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (rainy season, higher flood risk)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp300,000–350,000 excl. transport (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- General 112 · Police 110 · Ambulance 118
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus ticket Manado → Ratahan | Rp35,000 |
| Ojek ride Ratahan → Tumbak | Rp30,000–50,000 |
| Snorkeling half‑day tour | Rp150,000 |
| Standard cottage room per night (meals included) | Rp300,000–350,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MDC · Sam Ratulangi International Airport
- About 2–3 h by taxi or bus+ojek to Tumbak; check
Typical fares
- Manado → Ratahan bus
- about Rp35,000, 2‑hour trip (check)
- Ratahan → Tumbak ojek
- about Rp40,000, 15‑min ride (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is easy to walk; no motorised transport inside. For the last leg from Ratahan, take an ojek (motorbike taxi) for Rp30‑50k.
See and do
Known for
- Snorkelling
- Diving
- Traditional Bajo fishing village
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tangkoko Nature Reserve | Ojek from Tumbak to Ratahan, then bus to Bitung, then ojek to reserve entrance; about 2 h total | 2–2.5 h |
| Manado | Ojek to Ratahan, then bus to Manado; about 2–3 h | 2.5–3.5 h |
| Tomohon | Ojek to Ratahan, bus to Manado, then bus to Tomohon; about 3 h | 3–4 h |
Sleep
- Tumbak Island Cottage Ratahan
- Standard rooms Rp300,000/day; private cottage Rp350,000; meals included; electricity 08:00‑18:00; walkable distance to beach.Standard rooms Rp300,000/day; private cottage Rp350,000; meals included; electricity 8:00 AM‑6:00 PM; walkable distance to beach.
- Tumbak Homestay
- Basic homestay, contact +62 852‑4028‑8058.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Halohalo |
| How much? | Berapa?berapa |
| Thank you | Terima kasihterima kasih |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- Buses from Manado leave only when full; plan ahead.
- Road from Tantengesan Satu can flood during high tide; motorbike riders may get wet.
- No ATMs in Tumbak; nearest are in Ratahan or Langoan.
Tumbak is low‑risk but limited medical facilities; carry cash and basic supplies.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tumbak yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Snorkelling
- Diving
- Traditional Bajo fishing village
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Tumbak coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/QXXXXX
- Wikivoyage: Tumbak, revision 5301598 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5301598
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tumbak). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.