Bitung, Sulawesi, Indonesia Cruise Port

Located in the province of North Sulawesi, Bitung is a city on the northern coast of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It faces Lembeh Island and Lembeh Strait and is the second-most populated city in the province, after the capital. This vibrant port town has a welcoming natural harbor protected by its neighboring island and is an industrial center for shipbuilding, as well as commercial fishing. The city is quaint with little, charming pieces of infrastructure such as a 40-foot replica of Paris’s Eiffel tower located in the center of a roundabout leading into town. A previous mayor erected it to showcase his love for the “City of Lights” where he studied as a boy. The region is well-known for its unique spices, and vendors all over the city sell their specialties like cinnamon, vanilla, ginger and cloves. Unique souvenirs depicting spices—such as figurines made of cloves—can be found within the city’s many shops.

• Divers from near and far come to experience the Lembeh Strait. Great, colorful coral and various maritime species are in abundance under the water and make for grand viewing.
   
• Hikers and natural-born explorers will love venturing through the Tangkoko National Reserve. There is so much flora and fauna to discover, including the delightful tarsier monkeys.
   
• The Trikora Monument is a tall, aged remembrance of conflicts past. There are a few planes to observe, including a crashed Japanese fighter from WWII.
   
• Visit the city’s unofficial trademark, the Cakalang Statue. This statue features numerous fish as a nod to one of their major economic industries.