Bacan Island Island
Tropical Maluku island with historic spice trade past
Part of North Maluku's Bacan group, the island combines coastal reefs, fishing villages and a forested interior; visitors come for diving, local markets and glimpses of the region's sultanate history.
Bacan Island at a Glance#
Address: Bacan Island, South Halmahera/West Halmahera area, North Maluku, Indonesia
Hours: Open daily (no set hours)
Admission: Free (no admission)
About Bacan Island#
Bacan Island is one of the Maluku Islands located in North Maluku province of eastern Indonesia and forms part of the Bacan island group. The island occupies a position southwest of the island of Halmahera within the Maluku archipelago.
The island has a mix of coastal villages and interior forested terrain and is part of a region long associated with the historic spice trade. It was the centre of the local Sultanate of Bacan, which played a role in regional politics during the precolonial and colonial periods.
Today Bacan is administered as part of North Maluku province and is reachable by sea from nearby regional centres; local livelihoods include fishing, agriculture and small-scale trade.
Geographically the island lies in eastern Indonesia within the chain of Maluku Islands, southwest of Halmahera and within the maritime zone of North Maluku province.
- Historical role: Historically the island was the seat of the Sultanate of Bacan, one of the precolonial polities in the Maluku (Spice) Islands.
Best Time to Visit Bacan Island#
Best during the dry season (May-October) when seas are calmer and beach and boat activities are more reliable.
Weather & Climate near Bacan Island#
Bacan Island's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 22°C to 31°C. Abundant rainfall (1776 mm/year), wettest in January.
January
January is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). The wettest month with heavy rain (179 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Significant rainfall (151 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Significant rainfall (172 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Significant rainfall (174 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Significant rainfall (166 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Significant rainfall (163 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Significant rainfall (162 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Significant rainfall (132 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Significant rainfall (105 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Regular rainfall (89 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is the warmest month with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Significant rainfall (119 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Significant rainfall (164 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
