Sangir Islands

The Sangir Islands (Sangihe Islands) are an Indonesian archipelago in the northern part of Sulawesi’s maritime region. The group consists of multiple volcanic islands and is part of North Sulawesi province.

The islands are characterized by steep volcanic topography, coastal reefs and marine channels, and are used for fishing, inter-island transport and small-scale agriculture. Visitors use the islands for diving, fishing and to experience remote island communities.

The islands are formed by volcanic activity and are administered within Indonesia; they have long been settled and used by local communities with transport links to Sulawesi and the Philippines.

Geographically the archipelago lies north of Sulawesi and south of the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, forming part of the chain of islands that separate the Celebes Sea from the Philippine Sea.

• Administration: Administratively part of Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province and located between the northern tip of Sulawesi and the southern Philippines.

• Treat the Sangir (Sangihe) Islands as a remote destination: plan logistics well in advance because air and ferry connections from mainland Sulawesi (Manado) are infrequent.
• Arrange transfers and local guides before arrival and confirm schedules - boats and flights can run only a few times per week, so one missed connection can significantly disrupt your trip.
• Carry sufficient cash and basic supplies on arrival; services and ATMs are limited on the smaller islands, and provisioning options are reduced compared with mainland towns.