5 Waterfalls To See Near Manado, North Sulawesi

If you’re looking for some extra things to do in North Sulawesi, why not go see some waterfalls?

There are a bunch of good waterfalls near Manado, and most of them are not too hard to reach. Here’s a guide!

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1. Tumimperas Waterfall

Tumimperas is a nice waterfall hiding in the Tomohon area, about 20 minutes from Tomohon town, or 1 hour from Manado. Here’s a map.

There are three different concrete paths down to the waterfall, and they’re all pretty short and easy, although the jungle may get overgrown during the rainy season. Reaching the bottom takes about 15 minutes.

The waterfall is taller than it looks in photos, and during the rainy season it can get several times bigger. When we went in mid May, it was already starting to shrink a bit, but it was still nice.

It’s a great spot to combine with Bukit Kasih and other sights in the Tomohon area.

Air Terjun Tumimperas Waterfall in Tomohon Sulawesi

Bamboo forest

2. Kali Waterfall

Kali is one of the more well known waterfalls in the Manado area, and it’s about 45 minutes from the city. Here’s a map.

The road to Kali cuts through some rural villages and ends at a group of run down houses where some friendly locals were singing Gospel songs.

After a very humid hike that had us drenched in sweat, my guide and I reached this massive twin waterfall deep in a ravine in the jungle.

Pictures don’t do it justice! On the way, we even saw some rare black monkeys (Sulawesi macaques) hiding in the trees.

The hike to the falls from the parking area is steep and strenuous, but not dangerous, and only takes about 20 or 30 minutes.

Kali Waterfall

3. Desa Tincep Waterfall

This is a nice roadside waterfall in the Tomohon area, about 30 minutes from Tomohon town, or 1 hour from Manado. Here’s a map you can use.

You can actually see this waterfall from the road, or you can walk down to it in 2 minutes to get a better look up close.

Sadly there’s a lot of new touristic development going on around the waterfall, with swings, restaurants, and photo platforms, but the view of the waterfall itself is still nice.

Desa Tincep Waterfall

4. Kanderawatu Waterfall

This waterfall is hidden in the jungle, about 15 minutes from Tomohon, or 30 minutes from Manado. Here’s a map.

Hiking to this waterfall takes about 15 minutes, and it’s just 500 meters from the main road.

It’s paved with handrails, but the path was very overgrown with jungle vegetation when we visited in May. There were some parts where the plants were so thick we could’ve used a machete.

After a short walk, you’ll hear the thundering sound of the waterfall, and then there’s a small platform for viewing it from above.

Kanderawatu Waterfall

Overgrown hiking path

5. Tunan Waterfall

This is another waterfall about 45 minutes from Manado. Here’s a map.

You can combine this one with a visit to Tangkoko National Park since they’re not too far apart.

When I hired a driver to take me back to Manado from Tangkoko, I offered to pay an extra 50k Rupiah (~$3 USD) to stop here on the way back, and he was happy to oblige.

As a bonus, the drive to the waterfall is very scenic too!

Tunan Waterfall

The hike to the waterfall is flat and pretty easy, and only takes about 10 or 15 minutes. The falls are really nice, and there’s a pool you can swim in at the bottom.

I’ve heard the waterfall is 85 meters tall, and I don’t know if that’s accurate, but it’s definitely taller than it looks in photos.

There’s a rough path to climb up to the top of the waterfall, but it was getting dark so I was content to just take photos from the bottom this time.

There was a small entrance fee and a booth at the parking lot manned by some little local kids collecting payment for the hike, although they may not always be there.

Tunan Waterfall

Entrance Fees

Most of these waterfalls are free to visit, but one or two may have a small parking fee.

Our Manado Driver

We did this trip with driver Roy Paoki from Manado.

He's a super experienced tour guide and his price for driving is around 700k Rupiah ($50 USD) for a full day trip (12 hours) in the Manado area.

I've done several trips with Roy over the years, and he's an awesome guy. He's probably my favorite guide I've had anywhere in Indonesia.

You can contact him via WhatsApp at ☎ +62 823-9351-6786 or on his Facebook page.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at Istanaku Guesthouse 2 in Manado city and paid $20 USD for a double room with cold A/C and a hot shower.

I've stayed here several times over the years, and always had a great experience. The staff here is very friendly, the rooms are clean, and the location is great.

It’s a 5 minute walk from a KFC restaurant, and a short drive to the Manado waterfront if you plan to visit Bunaken Marine Park for snorkeling.

Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.

Our Manado hotel