Summary
Paisu Pok Lake is a breathtaking blue lake located in Banggai, Indonesia. This stunning natural attraction is becoming increasingly popular on social media, making it a must-visit destination.
Our recent visit to Paisu Pok affirmed its incredible beauty, matching the captivating images circulating online. Accessible for travelers already in Sulawesi, this island offers numerous attractions worth exploring.
This travel guide will detail how to reach Paisu Pok Lake in Banggai, along with essential information to enhance your visit.
How To Get To Luwuk & Banggai
Paisu Pok Lake resides on Peleng island, part of the Banggai Islands Regency in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The journey begins with a flight to Luwuk. Daily, non-stop flights are available to Luwuk Airport (LUW) from Makassar in South Sulawesi. If you’re departing from Bali, Jakarta, or other Indonesian locations, expect to transit in Makassar prior to reaching Luwuk. You can search for flights using Skyscanner.
Upon arrival in Luwuk, taxis are readily available to transport you to town in approximately 20 minutes, with a fare around 50,000 Rupiah.
From Luwuk, utilize the public ferry from Luwuk People’s Port (‘Pelabuhan Rakyat’) to travel to Leme Leme on Peleng island. The ferry departs daily at 2 PM, taking about 2 hours, though delays are common.
Tickets, priced at 54,000 Rupiah (~$3 USD) per person, can be purchased on-site and usually do not sell out.
For a more private experience, consider hiring a speedboat to explore Peleng island’s highlights, including Paisu Pok and Poganda Beach. This journey takes about 1 hour from Luwuk, and you may spot dolphins along the way.
A roundtrip day tour with a private speedboat can cost between 1.5 to 4 million Rupiah (~$100 to $250 USD), which, while pricier than the ferry, can be economical when shared among friends.
Regardless of your transport choice, the waters remain calm between Luwuk and Peleng island, ensuring comfortable crossings.
How To Get To Paisu Pok Lake
The ferry takes you to Leme Leme port on Peleng, positioned 23 kilometers from Paisu Pok Lake.
From here, you can rent a scooter from Novpitri Homestay, or opt for a private driver. Google Maps may indicate a 40-minute trip, but it’s closer to an hour by scooter due to rough road conditions requiring caution.
Traffic is light, making navigation straightforward. Downloading an offline map could be useful. Use this location for easy direction.
The walk from the parking area to Paisu Pok Lake is a brief 5 minutes on a paved path.
After your lake visit, ferries return to Luwuk from Leme Leme daily at 8 AM or you can head east to Salakan for further adventures in the Banggai islands!
Paisu Pok Lake: What To Expect
Paisu Pok Lake offers a stunning visual experience. Our first glimpse in the morning was impressive, but the lake’s vibrancy truly shines under the midday sun.
You can explore the lake by renting a small boat, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard, or swim and snorkel in its refreshing waters. Morning temperatures may feel cold, but by midday, the lake becomes a delightful escape from Sulawesi’s heat.
The lake’s interior features fallen logs and rocks, contributing to its unique charm. Water clarity is remarkable, enabling clear visibility to depths exceeding 10 meters!
Interestingly, no post-processing color adjustments were made to the photos in this article—this is the true appearance of the water, aptly named ‘Paisu Pok’ meaning ‘black water’ or ‘dark water’ in the local dialect.
Such enchanting lakes are rare in Indonesia; others include Labuan Cermin in Kalimantan and Danau Kaco in Sumatra.
Conservation At Paisu Pok Lake
This breathtaking lake faces potential risks of overdevelopment. It is crucial for both locals and tourists to prioritize its conservation.
My wife expressed gratitude to the residents for preserving the lake and encouraged them to maintain the natural landscape by refraining from excessive tree removal.
The surrounding jungle enhances the lake’s allure, and converting the area into a commercialized attraction would detract greatly from its beauty, much like what has occurred at Alas Harum in Bali.
If you share these sentiments and know some Bahasa, consider urging locals to prioritize conservation efforts—untainted nature requires no enhancement through unwanted structures.
Tourist Fees
- Lake Entrance: 5,000 IDR
- Parking (Motorbike): 3,000 IDR
- Parking (Car): 10,000 IDR
Rental Fees
- Canoe Rental: 30,000 IDR
- Paddleboard Rental: 100,000 IDR
- Snorkel Gear Rental: 50,000 IDR
- Gazebo Rental: 30,000 IDR
- GoPro Rental: 200,000 IDR (+150,000 IDR with photographer)
- Camping Overnight: 35,000 IDR
Note that these fees are subject to change as the lake gains popularity. Some prices may be negotiable, such as paddleboard rates, which might allow for full-day rentals at standard one-hour prices.
Other Tips For Paisupok Lake
- Facilities: A small shop at the lake offers food and drinks, along with a toilet and changing room.
- Where To Stay: Basic homestays are available in the nearby Luk Panenteng village. Staying there allows for daily swims in the lake. We opted for Novpitri Homestay, slightly further away in Leme Leme. Alternatively, more developed accommodations in Salakan are also available, though it’s a 3-hour drive from the lake.
- Language Barrier: As this area is relatively new to international tourism, patience is advised when communicating with locals. A translation app can be helpful.
- Mosquitoes: Minimal mosquito presence was noted, yet it is advisable to wear repellent if you are not swimming.
- Cell Service: We enjoyed phone service with Telkomsel at the lake and Leme Leme, facilitating internet access and communication.
- Wildlife: Small fish inhabit the lake, and Banggai is home to lizards with bright blue tails matching the lake’s color. Rest assured, there are no crocodiles in the lake as it lacks direct ocean access.
- More Things To See Nearby: Nearby attractions include Pantai Poganda, a stunning white sand beach, and Paisu Batango, a beautiful turquoise lagoon, both easily combined with your visit to the lake.
Local Contacts For Paisu Pok Lake
- Boni – Local taxi driver in Luwuk. He offers transfers from the airport or harbor. Reach him on WhatsApp: ☎ +62 853-8562-5578.
- Novpitri Homestay – The guesthouse we selected in Leme Leme. For a reservation, use the WhatsApp number on their Google Maps listing.
- Luk Panenteng Homestay – A guesthouse situated just a 5-minute walk from the lake. The WhatsApp contact number is available on their Google Maps listing.
- Anto Unus – Van driver in Leme Leme; contact him at ☎ +62 822-7855-7858 or via Instagram.
- Michael Wagey – A freelance tour guide specializing in the Banggai islands; reach him via WhatsApp: ☎ +62 813-4201-5440 or through his Instagram page.
- Acho Akina Chowji – A freelance tour guide in the Banggai area; contact him on WhatsApp: ☎ +62 822-9374-8745 or through his Instagram page.
- Butros Galileo Delim – Freelance tour guide based in Peleng island; reach him via his Instagram page.
- TripBanggai – Tour company in Banggai; contact via WhatsApp: ☎ +62 811-433-7690 or on Instagram.
- HV Trip – Tour company offering shared tours to Banggai. Reach them via WhatsApp: ☎ +62 821-5942-7772 or on Instagram.
Best Time To Visit Paisu Pok Lake
Any month is suitable for visiting Paisu Pok Lake, though avoid rainy periods for optimal photography conditions. The dry season, typically from April to November, is preferable, although Banggai’s weather can be unpredictable. We visited in early December and enjoyed sunny skies all day.
Weekdays present the best opportunity to explore the lake, while Indonesian holidays should be avoided due to increased local tourist traffic. Weekends can get quite busy, making it necessary to limit time on the boardwalk to avoid crowding.
Time of day also matters; afternoons often yield the best experience, as our early morning visit at 7 AM was not ideal for photography due to backlighting and a chilly swim temperature.
For a dazzling experience, aim for a calm, sunny day to appreciate the lake’s incredible clarity and vibrant color, resembling glass with a bluish tint.
Is Paisu Pok Lake Worth It?
Absolutely, the lake warrants a visit. Its stunning beauty fulfills the social media buzz surrounding it, although overdevelopment could jeopardize this pristine setting in the future.
While a trip solely to Luwuk may not be necessary, the ample attractions in Banggai make it worthwhile to dedicate a few days to exploring the region if you’re already journeying through Sulawesi.
More Banggai Travel Tips
Thank you for reading! We hope you found this guide to visiting Paisu Pok Lake in Banggai, Sulawesi, informative and enjoyable. It truly is one of the most beautiful lakes in Indonesia.
