Transportation in Sulawesi

Flights 
Transportation is fairly comfortable. There are daily flights from Ujung Pandang to Palu and Manado and from Manado to Gorontalo and Palu.  

Due to increased competition flights out of Manado are extremely cheap right now. Jakarta ow is just a bit more than Rp. 800,000! There are also three weekly direct flights to Bali on Garuda now, also to Taiwan (the route is Denpasar-Manado-Taipei and back). (2/2002) 

Buses 
Buses can be very comfortable in Sulawesi. The trip from UP to Rantepao with Litha Bus company is very comfortable. They have a fantastic night bus with plenty of space.  

Most of the Trans-Sulawesi "highway" is now in good condition except for a stretch of 21 km near Palu. I also got a report saying that the trip from Palu to Manado by bus is to be avoided, but with private car it's not a big problem. 

Most of the trip between Rantepao and Poso is very twisty. In November '98 there was a lot of construction, especially between Tentena and Poso. 

Car Hire 
It's usual to rent a car with driver for small stretches, like in and around Rantepao (+/- 80.000 Rp) or around Manado (25.000 Rp per hour with maximum of 200.000 Rp, distances are longer here, and the road to Tangkoko is very bad). (prices 5/98)  

You can however also rent a private car and go from UP to Manado. Stephane De Becker gave me excellent info on this. Here are some adresses where you can rent a car:  
1) UP: Safari Car Rental, Jl. Airport Hassanudin, 3. Tel/Fax 0411/511976  
2) Rantepao: Safari Car Rental, Jl. Pongtiku, 3, Karassik. Tel/Fax 0423/23990  
3) Manado: Safari Car Rental, Jl. Maramis, 321, Dusun IV (at 2 km from the airport).  
4) Head office is in Bali, Bali Car Rental, Jl. By-Pass Ngurah Rai, 17 Sanur, Tel 0361/288550 or 288359, Fax 0361/288778.  
- Prices range from 26 US$ to 50 US$ per day for a minibus.  
- You can get reductions if you rent for longer periods: 10% from 4-6 days, 15% from 7-9 days, 20% from 10-13 days, 22% from 14-20 days, 25% from 21 days or more.  
- Add 10 % for insurance.  
- Also add a fee for dropping and picking up the car from Bali to Sulawesi.  
- F.i. Daihatsu Taft 4WD for 27 days UP-Manado costed 1300 US$. Prices were valid in 8/98