Gorontalo

GORONTALO

Gorontalo

WHALE SHARKS, BABIRUSA & CORAL REEFS

Gorontalo

Gorontalo gets skipped on most Sulawesi itineraries. The province sits between Bunaken and the Togeans. Its airport is Djalaluddin Airport (GTO), and many travellers only pass through. Whale sharks come to Botubarani, just east of the city, in most months, most often from May to August. Off Olele, a reef wall has Salvador Dali sponges.

Botubarani village, 20 to 30 minutes east of the city, is the encounter site. Since 2020 they have been seen in every month, most often from May to August. In earlier years some months had none, and in May 2024 they left for a few weeks after two orcas came. All are young males, most of them 3 to 7 metres long. Waste from a shrimp-processing plant, and shrimp heads fed from boats, are thought to draw them in. Officials have asked for the feeding to stop since 2016. Local guides take visitors out by boat to swim with them.

The dive scene is small. Most divers come for the wall at Olele, where Salvador Dali sponges grow. Two dive operators run trips from Olele village.

Ask us on WhatsAppSee where to stay

Gorontalo, on the northern arm of Sulawesi: whale sharks off Botubarani, diving at Olele, the hilltop Otanaha fort, and the Nantu forest of the babirusa.

When to go and how to get there

Rain in Gorontalo, month by month, and the journey in from the nearest airport.

Driest months

Aug – Sep

August is the driest month, with 48 mm of rain on average. May is the wettest, with 198 mm.

  • Driest months
  • In between
  • Wettest months

January: 106 mm, February: 84 mm, March: 96 mm, April: 107 mm, May: 198 mm, June: 156 mm, July: 101 mm, August: 48 mm, September: 55 mm, October: 123 mm, November: 134 mm, December: 123 mm

Rain: CHIRPS v2.0, Climate Hazards Center, UC Santa Barbara, average of 1991-2020. See the weather in Sulawesi by month

Getting there

  1. 01 · Fly

    To Gorontalo (GTO)

    Batik Air flies nonstop from Jakarta daily, about 3 h. Lion Air flies from Makassar daily, about 1.5 h (October 2026).

  2. 02 · Drive

    Airport → city

    30 min by Grab or hotel pickup.

  3. 03 · Drive

    City → Botubarani

    20 to 30 min east by road. The boats leave from the village beach.

Gorontalo weather by month

The average rain, temperatures and sea of each month, measured over many years.

MonthRain (mm)Sea (°C)Rough for small boats (% of time)
January10629.10
February8429.11
March9629.30
April10729.70
May19829.60
June15629.30
July10128.80
August4828.50
September5528.70
October12329.10
November13429.60
December12329.51

Rain: CHIRPS, 1991-2020. Sea temperature: NOAA Coral Reef Watch, 1991-2020. Waves: NOAA WAVEWATCH III, 2017-2026, in the open sea about 60 km away. Bays and straits are calmer. Rough means waves of 1.25 m or more, BMKG's warning level for small boats.

See Gorontalo on the live weather page

Gorontalo travel guides

The Sulawesi.com guides that cover Gorontalo.

Tours that go to Gorontalo

Every published trip that reaches this part of the island.

Experiences in Gorontalo

Day trips and activities in and around Gorontalo. Each one has its own page.

Plan your own trip

Or plan a trip of your own: answer seven questions, and get a first plan for it.

Plan my trip

Where to stay

See all 102 places to stay in Gorontalo

Local businesses in Gorontalo

Contact each business directly.

So, ready to start?

Chat on WhatsApp