Balikpapan (Borneo Indonesia)

Balikpapan is a port city located on the eastern coast of Borneo island, Indonesia. This is the gateway city of the Kalimantan region. Prior to the oil boom in the early-1900s, Balikpapan was a small Bugis fishing village. Today here are headquartered major oil companies from all around the world operating from eastern Kalimantan.

The city is relatively clean, tiny, with clear blue skies but not much nightlife. Plaza Balikpapan is the city's largest shopping mall. At Kebun Sayur Traditional Market tourists will find gems, jewelry, handicrafts. Among the most popular beaches are Manggar, Lamaru, Dapur Bunda and Crocodile Farm.

In Balikpapan, tourists may also enjoy a jungle trail, rainforest trekking (through solid foliage beneath the canopy) or Wanariset Samboja Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Cruisers on Mahakam River may visit a Dayak community in Pampang, and see a unique structure of the longhouse community.

On Apr 3, 2018, Indonesia declared a state of emergency around port Balikpapan after a large oil spill and fire killed 4 people. The accident occurred on March 31. The spillage spread over an area of 12 km2 (4,5 mi2). It originated from an underwater pipeline from the oil refinery of the state-owned company Petramina.