Poso is the main town, port and terminal for road transport on the northern coast of Central Sulawesi. For years, violence between Muslims and Christians made it a no-go zone, but tensions have eased. A major attraction in the area is Danau Poso (Lake Poso). Danau Poso is Indonesia’s third deepest lake and is located in South Central Sulawesi. It is beautiful but is today rarely visited by tourists due to the strife in the region. Those interested in visiting Danau Poso will usually use the small town of Tentena as their home base. At relatively high elevation (about 1,000 feet), Tentena with its jungles and diverse wildlife is an ideal outdoor escape for tourists in Indonesia.

Airports in Poso

1. Kasiguncu Airport (PSJ)

PSJ is a small airport located in Poso, Central Sulawesi Indonesia. The airport only services two airlines which are Wings Air and Xpress Air and offers only one flight a day to Makassar and Palu. International travellers interested in visiting Poso will first need to disembark at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta and then take a domestic flight to either Palu or Makassar for another domestic flight to Poso.

2. Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport (PLW)

PLW was formerly known as Masovia Airport and is the closest major airport to Kasiguncu Airport. This airport is in Palu, Indonesia and is located about 100 km from PSJ. As the largest airport in Central Sulawesi, Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport serves as the main port of entry to the city of Palu as well as the surrounding area.

3. Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG)

Another entryway to Central Sulawesi is via Makassar’s Sultan Hasanuddin International. It is located 20 km northeast of Makassar's city centre and is operated by PT. Angkasa Pura I. This airport is the main gateway for flights to the eastern part of Indonesia. Despite being an international airport, the only international flights this airport services are to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

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When is the Best Time to Fly to Poso?

With temperatures being warm throughout the year as well as a fairly constant level of humidity, means that a visit to this area at any time of year is a good idea. However, travellers are encouraged to visit during the vibrant, vivacious and colourful Festival Danau Poso which is held in the town of Tentena every August. Villagers from across the region flock to this little town by the masses to observe this spirited celebration of local culture. The festivities include dancing, singing, various traditional sports, and plenty of eating and socialising.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Poso?

1. Danau Poso (Lake Poso) - Lake Poso, measuring 32km by 16km, is located at around 650m above sea level and is a lot cooler than many places in the region. This beautiful lake is ideal for swimming and boating, and facilities for both of these activities are widely available. Those who visit will find a stunning blue lake surrounded by pretty beaches and a black orchid forest. The lake shores are comparable to the beaches of Lombok; such is their beauty. There is also a fair amount of wildlife at Danau Poso, including the pig deer (babirusa) and the dwarf buffalo (anoa), both of which are endangered and indigenous to Sulawesi.

2. Lore Lindu National Park - Lore Lindu National Park is a forest reserve in the south of Central Sulawesi Province. It contains stunning flora and fauna along with a collection of impressive 700-year-old stone megaliths. Set up in 1992, Lore Lindu National Park has now become a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve owing to its excellent infrastructure. Lore Lindu National Park also has a large collection of interesting animals, including the dwarf buffalo, the even more curious babirusa and the tarsier (the world’s smallest primate). Trekking in this forest is increasingly popular, and tour guides are starting to offer six-day hikes from Tentena to Gimpu in the park.

3. Sulewana Waterfall - Sulewana Waterfall or commonly referred by local people under the name of Air Luncur Sulewana is one tourist attractions in Sulewana village, North Pamona, Poso, Central Sulawesi. The name comes from the waterfall with local language consists of two words; Sule means the heart and Wana mean The flow of the water comes from Lake Poso, which is about twelve kilometres. This waterfall also has a large water discharge and is very heavy so that apart from being a tourist spot, the waterfall has also become a source of electricity generation with a magnitude up to 800 Mw.