Maitara Island

Maitara Island is a small volcanic island located between Ternate and Tidore Islands in North Maluku, Indonesia. Administratively part of Tidore Islands City, it is renowned for the iconic view of Tidore's Mount Kie Matubu framed by its coastline, featured on the 1,000 Indonesian Rupiah banknote. The island offers clear waters, coral reefs, white sandy beaches, and a traditional fishing village, making it a popular day-trip destination for snorkeling and photography.

Visitors can expect a small, inhabited island with white sandy beaches, clear turquoise water and coral reefs suitable for snorkeling and swimming. The interior features a traditional fishing village with stilt houses, a mosque and narrow paths. The main attraction is the scenic viewpoint looking toward Tidore Island with Mount Kie Matubu in the background, the same view depicted on the 1,000 IDR note. Access is by small boat, and exploration is on foot along the coast and village.

Maitara Island lies in the historic Spice Islands area that was part of the Tidore Sultanate, a major clove-producing kingdom that interacted with Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch traders from the 16th century. The island's scenic coastline with Tidore's volcano in the background was selected as the image for the 1,000 Indonesian Rupiah banknote, giving it national recognition.

The island is home to a traditional fishing community of the Tidore people, predominantly Muslim, with livelihoods based on fishing and small-scale agriculture. The village, mosque and daily coastal life reflect local North Maluku island culture and hospitality, and the island is valued as a cultural landscape representing the Tidore-Ternate island community.