The Nutmeg Tree Banda

Our family spent a week here and it was one of the most memorable stays we’ve had in Indonesia. The guesthouse is right on the ocean, with a stunning view of Mount Api in front. Rooms are rustic and charming, in a converted old house, with comfortable beds, good quality linens, and air conditioning. There is a relaxed feel to the place— one of my favorite activities was sitting outside at a picnic table overlooking the sea, chatting and having coffee. The owner Reza organized a 7-day tour and arranged everything for us, including transport from/to Ambon to Banda. Since we don’t do diving, we spent most of our time visiting the surrounding islands and going snorkeling, as well as learning about the history of the Banda Islands from our knowledgeable guide, Bemo. He took us to visit old plantations, villages, and historical sites, and told us lots of stories. As for snorkeling, the waters around Banda islands are clean and we could see a variety of different fish and colorful corals. The guesthouse has only four rooms and we were the only guests during our stay, which meant that we had personalized attention throughout. The staff were flexible in accommodating our interests— thanks to them, we had some special experiences like visiting the home village of our guide, and going to the market in the morning to buy fish for the evening meal. The staff prepared coffee and tea for us throughout the day, afternoon snacks, and delicious meals, which were all included in the tour package. I especially enjoyed the local dishes cooked by Sinta, including fish soup and eggplant with kenari nut sauce. It was home cooking at its best. I would highly recommend the place for anyone wanting to enjoy being close to nature, relaxing and learning about the special place that is Banda. The only drawback is how difficult it is to get there, but perhaps that is part of the experience. We hope to come back someday!