Baubau is a city that is placed within the administration of Southeast Sulawesi Province, having granted the city status since the year of 2001. Located on the southern part of the province that is bordered to the north by Baubau Strait, it is further divided into seven different districts, being the second largest city in Southeast Sulawesi Province after the city of Kendari. With a total population 137,118 residents living in the city area of 306 square kilometers as of 2010, its history can be traced to as early as the fifteen century when it became the center of the Buton kingdom. It continued to be the administrative center even when the kingdom turned into sultanate around 1542. Afterward, the city continues to thrive, with the port of Murhum becoming its primary access by sea and Betoambari Airport as its main access by air. Its economy is mainly driven by the service industry as well as agriculture, with hotels and trade being the main contributor to the economy. Its main product is sea cucumber which is exported throughout Sulawesi.

Airports in Baubau

Betoambari Airport

Betoambari Airport is the main airport in the province of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia that is meant to serve the city of Baubau as well as other nearby areas. Located about 9 kilometers away from the center of Baubau, the airport is owned by the government of Indonesia and operated by the Ministry of Transport. At an elevation of 32 meters above the sea level, the airport has a runway that is 1,800 meters long and is made of asphalt. It typically handles airlines such as Garuda Indonesia and Wings Air for destinations to and from Ambon, Kendari and Makassar among others. To reach the city, one may be able to come over to Buol from Manila by heading to Jakarta or Makassar first before taking the flight to this airport.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Baubau?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Baubau and the nearby province of South Sulawesi.All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Baubau.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Baubau?

The off-peak season to visit Baubau, as well as the nearby regions, is usually around December which is considering among the wettest months in Baubau with pretty high precipitation. As such, one can expect travel costs to be much lesser if you are travelling around this month. The peak time to visit Baubau is usually around May, July and August when the weather is terrific, therefore expect prices to rise around this time. If you plan your trip well, you can undoubtedly save your money because the price for hotels and flights during these peak seasons will cost you a lot of money.

Baubau in a similar fashion to the nearby areas is said to have a tropical monsoon climate according to the Köppen climate classification which is characterized by the lack of clearly pronounced dry and wet seasons. The average temperature is usually about 27.5 degree Celsius and could reach an average high of 32.5 degree Celsius as well as an average low of 22.5 degree Celsius. The precipitation is about 3,137 millimeters annually, which will vary between the months with the wettest months from December to March.

In Baubau, just like any other parts around the region, you can look forward to enjoy a couple of festivals similarly to the locals would. Just like other parts in Indonesia, Baubau has a multiracial and multicultural demography majorly consisting of the Butonese, Buginese, Javanese, Moluccans and Sundanese people among others. The primary demography is typical of Islamic faith, will observe Hari Raya Aidilfitri, with celebrations done after fasting for one month during Ramadan. They will also observe other Islamic religious activities such as Aidiladha, Muharram and Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday. On the other hand, there is a small minority practicing Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism may observe Christmas and Deepavali, among others.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Baubau?

Buton Palace Fortress – Originally known as the Wolio Palace, this 16^th-century palace was built specifically for the third sultan of Buton and was used as the residence of the Buton sultanate during their reign over Baubau and nearby areas. Claimed as the broadest fort in the world, the palace covers an area of 23,374 hectares.

Samparona Waterfall – Among the many natural attractions that can be found a few good kilometers away from the city, the waterfall is only about 13 kilometers east from the city and located in a still-preserved lush jungle. Once going through the forest, be mesmerized with the view of water coming down from a 30-meter summit that is unlike any other.

Nirwana Beach – A beach that is relatively accessible from the city area, the Nirwana Beach has a white sandy beach accompanied by seawater that is of three color tones of white, turquoise and light blue. It has been slightly developed with a proper gazebo and restaurant for people who wanted to be able to enjoy the meals and relax while having a good view of the beach and sea.