About us

How we started

Insulinde Tours Manado was founded by Jaco and Vie and was born out of a deep passion for showing the beauty of the land and the vibrance of its people to people visiting North Sulawesi. Jaco first came to North Sulawesi in 2003 as part of his study and was immediately captivated. He returned the very next year with Vie, to set up a development program for North Sulawesi on behalf of the Netherlands-Batam foundation. A commitment they dedicated the next two decades to.

During this time, showing guests around North Sulawesi became a natural extension of their work and love for the region and its people. This experience, combined with their backgrounds in tourism, organically led to the vision for Insulinde Tours Manado. In 2017, they proudly welcomed their first guests, turning their passion into a shared journey of discovery.

Our background

Jaco and Vie both have backgrounds in tourism. Vie honed her skills in Tours & Travel at the renowned University of Tourism (STPB/NHI) in Bandung, Indonesia. Jaco specialized in Ecotourism & Wildlife Management at the Van Hall Institute in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands.

Where's our name from?

Insulinde, pronounced as In.soo.lin.deh, carries rich historical and geographical significance. It was the name given to the Dutch East Indies by Douwes Dekker, better known as Multatuli. Deriving from the Latin Insula Indiae, it translates to Indian Islands. Much like the word Indonesia, which means the same but stems from Greek roots. Given that Douwes Dekker once served as secretary of the Manado residence, we wanted to connect 'Insulinde' with Manado, which led to the name Insulinde Tours Manado.

Our promise

We feel passionate about the wonders and beauty of North Sulawesi. We promise to:

Deliver personalized and unforgettable adventures.
Commit to responsible tourism.
Provide exceptional service rooted in local expertise.