Located off the northern tip of Sulawesi, Bunaken National Marine Park is world-renowned for its sheer vertical coral drop-offs, crystal-clear waters, and vast population of green sea turtles.
If you are looking for an authentic, budget-friendly island escape in Indonesia, Panorama Backpackers on Bunaken Island is our absolute go-to home away from home. We love this place so much that we stayed here for over three weeks across three separate trips (February, May, and December 2023).
Here is our complete review of staying at Panorama Backpackers, including room options, communal meals, and how to join their unbeatable daily boat snorkelling trips.
🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む: 【ブナケン島】3食付きで格安！Panorama Backpackers宿泊レビュー＆1日50,000ルピアで行ける絶景ボートシュノーケリング
Watch: Boat Snorkelling & Sea Turtles at Bunaken National Park
Before diving into the details, check out our short video clip below to see what boat snorkelling around Bunaken Island’s famous reef walls actually looks like!
What is Panorama Backpackers Like?
Bunaken Island is wonderfully low-key, and because there are very few standalone restaurants in this local area, most guesthouses operate on a full-board basis (3 meals a day included in the room rate).
Panorama Backpackers sits right on the beach, offering a relaxed, communal atmosphere where backpackers, divers, and long-term travellers gather from all over the world.
Pricing & Room Options (Includes 3 Daily Meals)
Prices are charged per person per night, including all three daily cooked meals (solo travelers may pay a slight surcharge):
- Main House Rooms: From ~Rp 250,000 per person (~£13 / $16 USD).
- Garden View & Sea View Bungalows: ~Rp 300,000 – Rp 400,000 per person (~£15–£20 / $19–$25 USD).
- Family Rooms: Features one double bed plus bunk beds—ideal for groups or those wanting extra space.
Our Favourite Rooms: During our three weeks here, our absolute top picks were Bungalow 12 and the spacious Family Room.
Rooms, Facilities & Essential Tips
The accommodation is simple, rustic, and clean—perfect for island life:
- Air Conditioning: There is no AC, but rooms are equipped with electric fans and mosquito nets over the beds. Tip: Bring plenty of mosquito repellent, as mosquitoes can be active around dusk!
- Bathrooms & Water Supply: En-suite bathrooms feature a flush toilet and a cold-water shower (no hot water). Water tanks are shared between several rooms; if a tank runs empty, the water can briefly stop running. Keep the large mandi bucket filled with water just in case!
- Toilets: Flush toilets are provided with toilet paper. Please place used paper in the waste bin provided—do not flush it down the pipes!
- Toiletries: No soap or shampoo is provided, so bring your own biodegradable toiletries.
[Related Articles]
➡ How to get from Manado to Bunaken Island: Public Boat & Charter Guide
➡ From Bunaken Island to Makassar via Manado
➡ How We Travelled from Gorontalo to Manado and then to Bunaken Island
Meals: Delicious Local Cooking & Communal Dining
One of the highlights of staying at Panorama Backpackers is the social dining experience.
Breakfast (7:00 AM)
Breakfast is ordered individually. You can choose from:
- Fluffy banana pancakes
- Fried eggs or omelettes served with toast
- Savory Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice, when available)
- Hot coffee or tea
Lunch & Dinner
Lunch and dinner are served family-style on large platters at set times. All guests gather around the shared dining tables to enjoy home-cooked Indonesian dishes—featuring fresh fish, vegetables, tofu, tempeh, and rice. It is a fantastic way to meet fellow travelers and swap snorkelling stories!
Daily Boat Snorkelling: The Best Value in Indonesia!
Adjacent to Panorama Backpackers is a professional dive center run by the owner’s family. While dive boats leave every morning for scuba divers, snorkellers are warmly welcomed to join!
Snorkeling Trip Details
- Departure Time: Boats leave every morning at 8:00 AM.
- Cost: Rp 50,000 per person (~£2.50 / $3.20 USD).
- Itinerary: The boat takes you out to two distinct dive/snorkel sites along Bunaken’s famous reef walls each morning.
Having taken boat snorkelling trips right across Indonesia, we can confidently say that joining the Panorama dive boat is the absolute best value-for-money snorkelling trip in the entire country. You get to explore deep ocean drop-offs, swim alongside dozens of giant sea turtles, and see thriving coral reefs for a fraction of standard tour prices. Occasionally the boat cannot take snorkellers because the dive sites they are going to are not suitable.
[Related Articles]
➡ How to get from Manado to Bunaken Island: Public Boat & Charter Guide
➡ From Bunaken Island to Makassar via Manado
➡ How We Travelled from Gorontalo to Manado and then to Bunaken Island
Final Verdict: Why We Keep Returning to Panorama Backpackers
If you want luxury resort amenities, Panorama Backpackers might be too rustic for you. But if you want clean budget rooms, three delicious cooked meals a day, friendly family hosts, and daily access to world-class snorkelling for £2.50 a day, there is simply no better place on Bunaken Island.
Quick Summary
- Unbeatable full-board value (~Rp 300k–400k/person incl. 3 meals)
- Daily morning dive boat snorkeling to 2 spots for just Rp 50,000
- Incredible sea turtle & coral wall encounters
- Warm, social communal dining atmosphere
- Clean rooms with fans, mosquito nets & ocean views
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