Morotai, a small island in Indonesia’s North Maluku Province, is one of the country’s lesser visited destinations despite its history and natural setting. Once part of the Spice Islands trade route pursued by Portuguese and Dutch traders from the 16th century onward, the island later served as an important Allied base under General MacArthur during the Second Word War. Wreckage from that period, including jeeps, tanks and planes, still rests on the seafloor around the island and is now part of its appeal for divers.
The Resort
Moro Ma Doto sits on Morotai’s Eastern coast and consists of 13 rooms: seven villas, two beachfront rooms, two beachfront tents and two hilltop rooms. All accommodations are built from natural materials, including wood, linen, cotton and bamboo, and offer sea views. The aesthetic appeal is visible thanks to the resort’s architect who also designed NIHI Sumba. One one-bedroom villa, Kuwele, includes a private pool; the remaining villas share a pool between every two units.
Getting there
Morotai is reached via Ternate, which has direct connections to Manado, Makassar, Jakarta, Ambon, Surabaya and Labuha. Flights from Ternate to Morotai operate twice weekly at the moment, on Mondays and Thursdays. The resort is approximately an hour by road from the airport or harbor, and transfers are arranged for guests. Flight schedules can be affecged by activity at Dukono, an active volcano in the region.
Activities: Surf and Dive
The resort was established by a group of surfers and is located directly in front of two breaks, with additional breaks nearby. Surf season runs from October to April. Outside of surf season, Morotai remains a strong diving destination, with more than 70 dive sites offering coral reefs, wreck diving, muck diving and black tip sharks. The resort can arrange for transfers to dive sites and surf breaks, along with the diving itself and visits to nearby villages.
Dining
Moro Ma Doto operates on a fill-board basis, with breakfast, lunch and dinner included, along with access to the wellness area (excluding treatments), a stocked minibar and various daily experiences. Meals are made to order with produce largely sourced from the resort’s own kitchen garden, supplemented by local producers.
Wellness and Sustainability
The resort’s Jungle Rock Spa is built into the surrounding rock formations and includes a dedicated treatment room. Additional wellness facilities include a hot jacuzzi, sauna and ice bath.
Moro Ma Doto operates without single-use plastics on-site and sources its food locally, or from its own garden. The resort is staffed entirely by residents of Morotai, or other Indonesian islands.
Good to Know
Getting there: fly into Ternate, then take one of two weekly flights to Morotai (Mondays and Thursdays). The resort is about an hour by road from the airport and arranges transfers.
When to go: surf season runs from October to April. Diving is available year-round.