Getting Around

Main form of transport within Sulawesi is by bus. Unfortunely they do not keep a very regular schedule and times can very alot depending on the condition on the road, the weather or the number of kilos of rice-sacks packed in the bus.
Another possible problem is that, since sulawesi is very mountanious, the roads tend to go around in circles and also up and down alot. Maybe this doesn't make you sick, but it makes the local people throw up alot. You have to be very resistant not to feel sick during hours of windy roads and mountainpasses, and add to that the constant smell of puke. On the other hand, the cost is very cheap and the nature is very beautiful.

From Makassar there are decent air-conditioned buses going north to Rantepao overnight every evening.
If you plan on going further north up into central Sulawesi the travel gets harder and since central Sulawesi has had alot of internal violence (and recently, june 2005, a bomb in Tentena) expect alot of police controls along the way.

Kijangs, mini-vans, can be a very good alternative to the buses! You rent a seat (front seat more expensive than back-seat) and once the kijang is full it leaves for the destination without making stops on the way. Not only does this cut alot of time but it's more confortable. Prepare to pay around 60,000-100,000 rp for a 8 hours journey.

Several airlines fly daily within Sulawesi. Main hubs are Makassar, Manado, Palu and Gorontalo. Costs vary but you can find some cheap tickets if you look around.
Why spend several days on a bus from the south to the north when you can sit on an airplane for an hour instead?