It’s very easy to get around on Ternate because of how small it is.
There’s a good paved road that wraps around the island in a circle, and it only takes about 1.5 hours to drive the whole loop. Some of the 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 from your hotel, or hire a private driver with a car. That’s what we did. Ternate also has the Grab app, which is convenient for short distance trips.
The Tolukko Fort was built by the Portuguese in 1512 to control the spice trade in Ternate and the rest of the Maluku islands.
Throughout the years, it was controlled by the Portuguese, the native Ternate Sultanate, the Dutch, the British, and the Spanish.
You can visit the fort for a small fee and climb to the rooftop for views of Mount Gamalama. It’s a photogenic and interesting place to see. Kalamata Fort
This is another colonial fort that was built by the Portuguese in 1540, and subsequently traded hands between the local sultanate and the other European colonial powers.
It’s located on the south side of Ternate, so it has nice views of the Tidore and Maitara islands across the sea, especially if you go up to the roof of the fort.
• Ngade Lake
This lake has one of the most amazing views in Ternate, with the volcanic peak of Tidore island in the distance. A similar picture was featured on Indonesia’s 1,000 Rupiah cash notes.
The scenery was almost ruined by an ugly, silly bicycle zipline that was installed at the viewpoint, but thankfully it’s still possible to take pictures without it blocking the view.
They charge a fee for drone use, which we didn’t see until it was too late. There’s also a swing you can use for a small fee.
