Ternate in February

April through October brings the dry season, with September and October offering the clearest skies for Gamalama volcano hikes. Avoid January through March—monsoon rains turn dirt roads into mud slides and cancel boat trips to nearby islands. Clove harvest season runs July through September, filling the air with that Christmas cookie scent and bringing traditional festivals to villages around the island. But expect higher accommodation prices and crowded markets during peak harvest. The shoulder months of April and October give you great weather without the spice trader crowds, plus calmer seas for island hopping to Tidore.