Papua today is very different than was 10 years ago. Various development programs to improve the tourism business have been successful and opened opportunities for many more tourists to come to visit Papua. Many people enjoy the Lake Setani Festival held annually in June (in Sentani). Other highlights worth visiting are the Tolikara- and the Baliem Festival in the Highlands held annually in August. Also in August is Indonesian Independence Day (August 17) which includes much other festivities. Whether trekking or diving in Papua, plan your visit well. Attending these events will maximize your experience.
Papua is home to some of the world’s most amazing diving areas. The richest areas for diving are the Raja Ampat Islands and the Triton Bay. Scientists have identified more than 540 species of hard coral in the Raja Ampat - 70% of the world’s total. There are also 699 species of mollusk, 1.200 species of reef fish, including four species newly recorded by scientists. The Triton Bay, perhaps not as diverse as the Raja Ampat, still maintains one the most diverse ecosystems in the Indo-Pacific area. Papua also has many great trekking opportunities. Good climbing can be found in the high mountains of Mount Trikora (4750 m.) and the Cartensz Pyramid (4884 m.), which is the highest mountain in Papua and coverted with ice and snow. June is the dry season in some parts of Papua and a good time to visit the Merauke regency in the southern part of Papua. There, during the mating season, you can see many kinds of birds from New Guinea and Australia in the big swamps of Kaisa Merauke. Butterflies and insects are also abundant. Even if you have visited Papua before, a return visit is well worth considering as everything changes from year to year. You may have heard about cases of social unrests. However, the reality is that demonstrations and active political debates occur peacefully and do not interrupt people’s work and daily activities. In fact the economy is growing, which is obvious from the many new businesses that are being created. Airplane travel is the only way to reach many areas in Highlands. If you travel in Papua by plane, make sure you purchase your tickets well before the date you want to fly. Buy always a one-way ticket to get to the area you choose to visit. Don’t buy a two-way ticket, because sometimes the weather changes in the Highlands and other areas, so some airlines cancel their routes because of the weather. Flexibility must be built into your travel schedule. This problem can be happen in the trekking areas too. Sometimes roads are closed because of flooding or landslides. Therefore, I recommend you schedule several extra days in Sentani before your planned departure to Jakarta or Bali, so you won’t miss your flight.
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sago's girl
I am one of a tourist guide in Papua. ArchivesCategories |