About 40,000 years ago humans made their mark on South Sulawesi. The hand stencils in Pettakere Cave are said to be at least 39,900 years old, making them the oldest hand stencils in the world.

The cave paintings can be found in Maros, only 30 kilometres north of Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province and a center of Indonesia’s tourist development.

Makassar Future City 
Makassar is the largest city in eastern Indonesia and the fifth largest city in Indonesia, making it far more futuristic than the Maros caves. Positioned in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, Makassar is also an important port city and a busy air hub. As a stopover, it is a great destination between Sumatra, Java or Bali and Sulawesi, North Maluku, West Papua or Wakatobi.

The city offers a range of historical sites and architectural landmarks, a popular waterfront boardwalk, a plethora of culinary offerings, and exciting tourism developments.
 

Itinerary Top Tips - what to see in South Sulawesi:
Fort Rotterdam - a well-preserved bastion to discover Makassar’s dutch history. The fort dates back to the 17th century when it was built by a Sultanate of Gowa only a few decades before the Dutch completely rebuilt it.
Losari Beach is a waterfront promenade with a festive atmosphere. It is popular at sunset for tasting the local cuisine and visiting the modern blue domed “floating” Amirul Mukminin Mosque.
Trans Studio Makassar is one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world. 22 features and amusement rides include the unusual "Dunia Lain", which in English means "Another World".
Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park is an expansive, lush and mountainous park famous for the incredible karst limestone formations, huge waterfalls, butterflies and giant sculptures. 
Malino Highlands is a sanctuary of natural beauty popular for holidays from the city, with lush tea plantations, fantastic views, and an enjoyable cooler climate. 

Wakatobi’s Protected Paradise 
The Wakatobi National Park covers an incredible 1.4 million hectares of protected area, of which 900,000 hectares are abundant with colourful species of tropical coral reefs and marine life. It is the largest barrier reef in Indonesia, the second-largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. 

Wakatobi is situated within the Coral Triangle, recognised as having the highest number of reef and fish species in the world. For those wanting to see more fish than tourists Wakatobi is a great alternative to the popular destination of Komodo National Park.

Itinerary Top Tips - what to see in Wakatobi:
The world’s best dive sites are easily accessible from the major islands. Some of the spectacular diving and snorkeling spots include Coral Garden, Cornucopia, House Reef, and Roma.
Wangi-wangi Island is a dreamy holiday location with attractions on land such as many forts and a Dutch colonial era Lighthouse as well as several incredible underwater destinations.
Kaledupa Island exudes a cultural charm with several festivities and traditions, including dances that dates back to ancient times and historical sites preserved by the local community.
Tomia Island is known for idyllic waters, incredible beaches, coral quays and low-lying offshore islands perfect snorkeling. Tomia is also the home of the highly-rated Wakatobi Dive Resort.
Binongko is the southernmost of the main islands in Wakatobi it is also the least explored, with long sandy coastlines, charming villages, and plenty of green space.

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