Pulau Run

Pulau Run is in the Banda Islands in Indonesia.

Understand
Run is a small island ('pulau' being Indonesian for 'island') with an outsized historical importance. It was a centre of the nutmeg and mace trade, as one of the 'Spice Islands', coveted by European traders and rulers. The British were the first Europeans to occupy the island, in the 17th century, but they were soon expelled by the Dutch, and gave up all claims to the island in exchange for Dutch recognition of British rule over the former New Netherlands (which now comprises much of the U.S. state of New York). The British eventually were able to transplant nutmeg trees in other colonies they controlled in the early 19th century, finally breaking the longtime Dutch monopoly on the nutmeg trade. Pulau Run is quiet now, but the people there continue to grow nutmeg trees as their forefathers did.

Get in
Take a public boat or charter boat from Banda Neira.

Get around
On foot or you may ask the locals to ride you by motorbike or rent their motorbike to get around the island. If you want to go to Nailaka Island, you may rent a boat for Rp100,000.

See
Beaches and plantations.

Do
The best snorkeling spot is at, at the northeastern side of Run Island.

Eat
You may order the food in the hostelry.

Drink
No alcohol, you may drink mineral water or fresh coconut water.

Go next

 * Pulau Ai