A perfect combination of turquoise and blue sea that stretches as far as the eye can see. Feel the soothing whisper as the wind breeze as you admire the heart-shaped shoal, love is in the air and you will find it in Pulo Cinta.
Pleasantly situated on the Gulf coast of Tomini in the Gorontalo province, in the northern part of island of Sulawesi (Indonesia) Pulo (or Pulau) Cinta literally means the island of love. You may not notice it right away, but if you look from above or through the lens of a drone camera, the design on this little one complex forms the physiognomy of a heart, as if Mother Nature sculpted the universal symbol of love.
Pulo Cinta also got its name from a local legend similar to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. According to the story, during the Dutch colonial era, a prince from the Kingdom of Gorontalo fell in love with a daughter of a Dutch merchant. It was a story of forbidden love, those two lovebirds who resided from the conflicting sides would go to the small island just to be together. Thus, Pulo Cinta would become their secret escape, a place of love amid bloodshed and violent warfare.
Fortunately, if you want to honor your love story, you can also do it on the island of Pulo Cinta thanks to the presence of the Pulo Cinta Eco Resort, a charming resort built on the island that takes the shape of a heart.
This eco-resort opened in late 2015, and consists of 15 luxurious wooden villas built on stilts over the shallow, crystal clear waters that surround the central sandbar on Gorontalo Island.
The complex, considered 3 stars, has a 24-hour reception and room service. The accommodation has sea views and a terrace. Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack, as well as free coffee, tea and mineral water.
Likewise, all the accommodations in the complex are equipped with a seating area. Some units at the Pulo Cinta Eco Resort have a terrace and a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries.
As can be seen with the images, the connection of these villas (as well as the main pier) is a wooden “love” bridge.
Imagine how great it would be to wake up to a perfect panorama of the sunrise while listening to the soft sound of the calm waves. The area is ideal for snorkelling and the accommodation provides free snorkeling equipment.
Pulo Cinta is among the 23 inhabited islands in Tomini Bay, a hidden gem in the North Sulawesi, also known as Sulawesi Island.
Among the activities to enjoy in this place, you could spend time on the warm white sand beach or explore the magical underwater wonder, which is part of the beautiful Coral Triangle of the world.
Pulo Cinta is surrounded by incredible dive sites in immaculate conditions. Among the many sites, you will find Salvador City Dive Sites, which has several types of Salvador Dali corals in a unique way.
With the sunset and the early hours of the night, you will be able to contemplate millions of stars that decorate the sky making you feel a little closer to the wonders of the universe.
Good news for Gorontalo and post-Covid-19 local tourism: the Gorontalo district government officially reopened the tourism sector on Sunday, June 21, 2020.
How to get to Pulo Cinta
There are more than 30 daily flights available from Jakarta to Jalaludin Airport in Gorontalo. Alternatively, international flights are also available to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province. With this other option, from Manado you can take connecting flights to Gorontalo.
For its part, Pulo Cinta Eco Resort offers exclusive airport pickups that will take you from the airport via Boalemo Regency on a 2-hour trip before departing by boat to the resort in Boalemo Harbor.
