MOUNT API BANDA TREKKING

BANDA ISLANDS
South of Seram and Ambon is Kepulauan Banda, or the Banda archipelago. “Founded’ by the Portuguese in 1512, it was the Dutch who arrived a century later to set up a spice monopoly. The English, who came later, undercut the Dutch efforts of price control by shipping nutmeg and mace to Europe from Run island, in the Bandas. The Dutch monopoly was restored when Manhattan was traded for Run, but as spices were increasingly produced elsewhere, the nine Banda islands faded into onscurity.

The bandas importance in the English-Dutch struggle to control the spice trade is evidenced in its remaining forts. A military headquarters until 1860, Benteng Belgica was restored in the early 20th century and dominates Bandaneira, the major island of the archipelago. Closer to the sea, Benteng Nassau, important during VOC Governor-General Jan Pieterszoon Coen’s effors to control Banda in 1621, crumbles in neglect. The string of forts continues on neighbouring Banda Besar island with Benteng Concordia and Benteng Hollandia, built by Coen high on a ride to command the surrounding seas, and destroyed by earthquake in 1743. Benteng Revingil (revenge) rises from the ocean on Ai island. On both island, old nutmeg smokehouses line trails through fragnant nutmeg groves, dotted with huge mango and kanari (tropical almond) trees, coffee and other exotic plants as tropical birds fly overhead.

Energetic souls may want to climb Gunung Api, an active volcano directly opposite Bandaneira. It last erupted in 1988, but fortunately almost all of the lava and ash fell on the side away from the town. The view from the summit is spectacular. Attempt this with a guide and get an early start to beat the heat of the day. In Bandaneira, the Museum Rumah Budaya holds many historical artefacts.

Other sites include a church dating from 1852, its interior stone slab graves inscribed eith the names of Dutch colonialists, and the Mesjid Hatta Syahrir. The Istana Mini, the old governor’s mansion, has the former resident’s suicide note carved on one of the window panes. Next door is the former VOC headquarters, which has a statue of King Williem III, the great-grandfather of the present Dutch queen. The Museum Mohammad Hatta and the Museum Syahrir contain memorabilia of Indonesia’s top nationalist leaders who were exiled in Bandaneira in the mid-1930s. The Museum Captain Cole was named for the british leader who captured Banda from the Dutch in 1811.

The Bandas is the primary tourism destination in Maluku because of its excellent diving and snorkeling. Barracuda, rays and wrasses swim in deep waters while butterfly fish dart among the corals in shallower depths. Steep vertical walls lead to caves where lobster and moray eels lurk about. In April and October, the seas are calm and visibility is excellent. The Bandas also have seasonal fishing, primarily for tuna, marlin and snapper.

Mount Banda Api Trekking
The highlight tour is hiking to the top of Gunung Api (volcano) 660 meters highest peak of Banda.

Your tour will start approximately at 06.00 am from the south side of the volcano and you will reach the summit at 08.30 am more less. After the 1988 eruption the crater became wider from 40 to 400 meters.
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