Luwuk

CENTRAL SULAWESI

Luwuk

GATEWAY TO THE BANGGAI ISLANDS

Luwuk

Luwuk is the town at the end of Central Sulawesi's east arm. Travellers fly in for the Banggai Islands, the maleo beach at Bakiriang and the road to the Togean Islands. No road crosses the Gulf of Tomini from here to the north arm.

Bakiriang, about three hours away by road, is a nesting beach of the maleo, a Critically Endangered bird found only on Sulawesi and nearby Buton. The female buries her egg in sand that a geothermal vent keeps at about 33°C. Visitors watch from a timber platform about 30 metres back. Laying peaks from April to June and from October to December.

Boats link Luwuk with Salakan on Peleng, the largest of the Banggai Islands. Most of the islands accept only cash. Bring enough from Luwuk. The sea here is calm all year: waves reach 1.25 m less than 1% of the time.

Plan one or two nights in Luwuk. It combines with five to seven days in the Banggai Islands, or with the Togean Islands through Ampana.

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Luwuk, on the eastern arm of Central Sulawesi, is the gateway to the Banggai Islands and Lake Paisupok. The Salodik waterfall is in the hills nearby.

When to go and how to get there

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

Driest months

Aug – Nov

November is the driest month, with 65 mm of rain on average. June is the wettest, with 159 mm.

  • Driest months
  • In between
  • Wettest months

January: 80 mm, February: 93 mm, March: 137 mm, April: 136 mm, May: 115 mm, June: 159 mm, July: 133 mm, August: 78 mm, September: 98 mm, October: 70 mm, November: 65 mm, December: 109 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 Luwuk (LUW)

    Batik Air flies nonstop from Makassar daily, about 1 h 10 (October 2026).

  2. 02 · Drive

    Luwuk → Bakiriang

    About 100 km, 2 to 3 h, on a road that is paved, then rough. Leave at 04:00 to be there for the busiest laying hours, 06:00 to 09:00.

  3. 03 · Ferry

    Luwuk → Salakan

    Boats cross to Salakan on Peleng island in about 3.5 – 4 h. Confirm the day's sailing at Luwuk port.

  4. 04 · Drive

    Luwuk → Ampana

    5 – 7 h by road. Ampana is the port for the speedboat to the Togean Islands.

Luwuk 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)
January8029.70
February9329.80
March13729.70
April13629.70
May11529.40
June15928.90
July13328.10
August7827.80
September98280
October7028.70
November6529.40
December10929.70

Rain: CHIRPS, 1991-2020. Sea temperature: NOAA Coral Reef Watch, 1991-2020. Waves: NOAA WAVEWATCH III, 2017-2026, in the open sea about 24 km away. Bays and straits are calmer. Rough means waves of 1.25 m or more, BMKG's warning level for small boats.

See Luwuk on the live weather page

Luwuk travel guides

The Sulawesi.com guides that cover Luwuk.

Tours that go to Luwuk

Every published trip that reaches this part of the island.

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Where to stay

See all 40 places to stay in Luwuk

Local businesses in Luwuk

Contact each business directly.

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