By Landolfo Mancini 
Ternate is a small cone-shaped volcanic island in the province of Moluccas in the north of Indonesia. It is unlikely that one day it will become a great vacation spot for tourists, but it has interesting sights and history.
In the XIX century, Ternate was one of the most important kingdoms of the “Spice Islands” of the Moluccas, and the European powers vied here for control over the spice trade. Even today, this small island is the most important gateway to the province of North Moluccas.
If you ever pass through Ternate on your way to another place in Indonesia, it is worth checking it out.
Here is a travel guide for some of the best things to see and do on the island!
How To Get To The Island of Ternate
There is an airport in Ternate (TTE) with direct flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Manado and Ambon. If you are coming from Bali, you must first pass through one of these places.
You can buy flights on Skyscanner, but it is worth noting that all flights to Maluku are somewhat expensive by Indonesian standards, since this region is served by only a few airlines.
Alternatively, you can take a boat from Halmahera to Ternate, which we did after the hike on Mount Dukono. The trip by speedboat from the port of Sofifi takes only about 45 minutes and the tickets are inexpensive.
How To Move Around The Island
Due to its small size, it is very easy to get around on Ternate.
There is a good paved road that goes around the island in a circle, and it only takes about 1.5 hours to drive the entire round. Some side roads can be a bit steep, like the road to Ngade Lake, but the main road is tame and flat.
You can rent a scooter at your hotel or hire a private driver with a car. That’s what we did. Ternate also has the Grab app which is handy for short distance trips.
Best Things To Do And See In Ternate
Tolukko Fort
The Tolukko fort was built by the Portuguese in 1512 to control the spice trade in Ternate and the rest of the Moluccas.
Over the years, it was controlled by the Portuguese, the native Ternate Sultanate, the Dutch, the British and the Spaniards.
You can visit the fort for a small fee and climb to the roof to enjoy the views of Mount Gamalama. It is a photogenic place and interesting to see.
The Kalamata Fort
It is another colonial fortress built by the Portuguese in 1540 and after exchanged hands between the local sultanate and the other European colonial powers.
It is located on the south side of Ternate and therefore offers a beautiful view of the Tidore and Maitara Islands on the other side of the sea, especially if you climb to the roof of the fortress.
Kastela Beach
This beach is one of the best sunsets on the island, with a group of photogenic trees that look a bit like the dancing trees of the island of Sumba.
We only saw the sunset here once, but the colors were awesome!
Be careful when wading in the trees to get a more accurate photo. The water is quite shallow, but I almost stepped on a sea snake swimming around the rocks.
Lake of Ngadé
This lake offers one of the most beautiful views of Ternate, with the volcanic peak of the island of Tidore in the distance. A similar picture could be seen on Indonesian 1,000 rupee banknotes.
The landscape was almost ruined by an hideous and silly bicycle zip line installed at the viewpoint, but fortunately it is still possible to take photos without blocking the view.
They charge a fee for using the drone, which we did not see until it was too after. There is also a swing, which you can use for a small fee.
Lake Tolire
Tolire is a bright green volcanic lake at the foot of Mount Gamalama. It was formed as a result of a strong eruption of Gamalama in 1775, during which 141 people were finished and one of the nearby villages was buried, as a result of which this lake was formed.
According to local legends, Tolire is said to house a white crocodile guarding the lake. We didn’t see any crocodiles when we were there, but the locals told us how people were striked by them when they were fishing in the lake.