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West Papua Travel Guide

West Papua marks the eastern extremity of the Indonesian Archipelago. As the western half of Papua, the world’s second biggest island, it’s a sizable chunk of land with only a relatively small population of less than 880,000.  It’s a land of contrasts – an exceptionally beautiful province boasting vast tracts of impenetrable jungle, cool grassy meadows framed by snow-capped mountain peaks, powerful rivers spilling into massive lowland deltas, coastal mangrove forests interspersed with white sandy palm fringed beaches and hundreds of offshore islands including the famous karst peaks of Raja Ampat . And within this montage of landscapes, an amazing array of endemic and exotic flora and fauna such as the Bird-of-Paradise, cassowary, tree kangaroos and the cuscus, a woolly tree-dwelling marsupial.

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Few places in the world boast such a rich and fascinating tribal culture as West Papua. More than 250 tribal sub-groups have been identified, each having their own language, traditions and customs. The coastal tribes were visited by Sriwijava traders from as early as the 7th century. By the 16th century, European traders were on the scene in search of spices and bestowing names such as Bougainville, Cape d’Urville and the Torres Straits.

Contact with the inland tribes came much later after the Dutch claimed the entire island of Papua in 1828. Various administrators, traders and explorers made sporadic forays into the interior and they were quickly followed by missionaries and settlers. During WWII the Japanese occupied the north for two years until Allied forces drove them out in 1944. Subsequently, the United States established over twenty bases in the region and in excess of half a million troops moved through the area. It was in Yos Sudarso Bay (then called Humboldt Bay) below the provincial capital of Jayapura that General MacArthur assembled his fleet for the invasion of the Philippines in 1945.

Despite the gradual push inland, some tribes remained completely isolated and unknown until as recently as 1970 when the tree-house dwelling Korowai tribe was discovered in the south-east. As intriguing as it is to imagine more undiscovered tribes living deep in the jungles of Papua this is not the case, despite some less than scrupulous tour companies promoting “First Contact” expeditions. It is true though, that there are still tribes living without any significant or regular contact with the modern world.

West Papua has been mired in bitter dispute ever since Indonesia won independence in 1945 and claimed all of the territory of the former Dutch East Indies. Arguing that the Papuan’s were ethnically different and vowing to maintain control over the province until the locals were capable of self-determination, the Dutch clung stubbornly to their Papua holdings. By 1961 the Indonesian’s forced the issue by invading the territory. The UN quickly stepped in and by September 1962, convinced the Dutch to relinquish the territory to a temporary United Nations administration, which would in turn transfer to Indonesia on the proviso that a plebiscite, the so-called “Act of Free Choice” would be held before 1969 to enable the local population to determine their own future.

The subsequent plebiscite has been widely criticised as anything but an “Act of Free Choice.” Voting was restricted to 1,025 musyawarah , a consensus of elders carefully selected by the Indonesian military and coerced into unanimously voting for integration with Indonesia. Pro-independence activists immediately began campaigning through diplomatic and peaceful protest for a re-vote on a one man, one vote basis. Their calls fell on deaf ears. By 1976 the Free Papua Movement (OPM) stepped up their campaign by sabotaging the massive Freeport gold and copper mine in the central highlands. It was the beginning of a guerrilla warfare campaign that has continued ever since, particularly around the Freeport Mine region. Allegations of swift and violent retribution by the Indonesian security forces against OPM supporters, and anyone viewed as sympathetic to the separatist movement, have been widespread.

Throughout much of this period, the Indonesian government actively promoted the migration of hundreds of thousands of Indonesians from other parts of the archipelago, particularly overpopulated Java. It’s a strategy critics have decried as an attempt to “Indonesianise” the province. And whilst the indigenous culture remains distinctly and proudly Melanesian, the Indonesian influence is evident. Bahasa Indonesia is now widely spoken across the province, the distinctive Indonesian architecture is evident everywhere, traditional staples such as taro and yam have been substituted with rice, and whilst the population remains predominantly Christian, Islam is becoming more prevalent.

Perhaps this is why the Indonesian government has relaxed its stance against foreign tourists in recent years. It is now quite easy for intrepid travellers to venture to most parts of the province. For adventure seekers, the region is oozing with possibilities; trekking, mountain climbing, dirt biking, village homestays, river journeys or simply losing oneself in tropical splendour for a week or two. Those with deep enough pockets can sail the Raja Ampat in liveaboard luxury, dive some of the world’s best coral reefs or make flying visits to highlands tribes. So whilst West Papua may be well off the beaten track it’s definitely beeping louder on the tourist radar.

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Yali men in Waniyok, Yalimo

Introduction

New Guinea, just north of Australia across the Torres Strait, is the world’s second-largest island. Its dense rainforests, the largest in the world after the Amazon , and its almost impenetrably rugged mountainous terrain ensured that throughout its history almost every tribal group remained fairly isolated even from its closest neighbours (although a certain amount of trade between groups did occur). As a result the island has around 1,000 different languages, one fifth of the world’s total.

The eastern half of the island is an independent country called Papua New Guinea. The western half is an unwilling province of Indonesia called West Papua. Papua New Guinea is by far the more developed and very few locals wear anything other than western dress these days whereas in remote parts of West Papua a few people can still be seen wearing traditional (un)dress during everyday life.

As an example of just how isolated some parts of West Papua still are, cannibalism and tribal warfare continued in parts until the 1990s and there are still unconfirmed rumours among loggers and gold prospectors of encounters with naked nomadic tribes in the depths of the Mamberamo. In 2006 a scientific expedition flew by helicopter into a valley in the Foja Mountains that was so remote it had never been accessed even by locals. Dozens of new species of animals were discovered that had evolved in isolation from humans and as a result were unafraid to walk right up to researchers.

As a tourist, however, you will be disappointed if you come to West Papua expecting to see “Stone Age” tribes. Even in Yali country , the most traditional part of the Highlands, only about 10% of people still wear the traditional penis gourds (kotekas) or women’s bark dresses. In the Korowai area in the South of West Papua the number is higher but in general western clothing has made inroads everywhere. If you can ignore that though you will have a great time: the culture is still extremely traditional, the scenery is spectacular and the locals are friendly and in some parts still very surprised to see outsiders.

In the Mamberamo area in the north of Papua that was until recently closed to tourists there are, as mentioned above, rumours about “uncontacted” tribes, although the veracity of these rumours is hotly debated. In general Mamberamo villagers all wear western dress, although they may strip it off to go hunting in the jungle.

Be warned: if you see any organisation offering “First Contact” tours it is a scam. If you spend some time in West Papua, know Indonesian and make friends with locals you may find people willing to tell you their stories of being paid by tour companies to dress up as the supposed “uncontacted” tribe. There are plenty of them around.

If you see photos where large numbers of people are all wearing traditional dress, this means they were either taken at least a decade ago or the people dressed up especially for that photo.

New Guinea has been inhabited by Melanesians for 40,000 years and its people developed agriculture at a very early stage, at least 10,000 years ago. In more recent millennia Austronesians arrived from South East Asia and settled the coastal regions of New Guinea, maintaining a certain amount of trade with nearby parts of Indonesia and with the tribes of New Guinea’s interior. New Guinea was first sighted by the Portugese in 1511 and landed on by the Spanish in 1545. Since then various parts of it have been under Spanish, French, British, German, Australian, Dutch and, today, Indonesian rule. However, in practice even the coastal inhabitants of New Guinea had no real contact with Europeans until 1855 when some Dutch missionaries arrived.

The first Dutch posts were set up in the far north and south of the island in the late 1890s and early 1900s and the capital Jayapura, then called Hollandia, was established in 1910. In the 1920s a few groups of explorers had some very brief contact with the Dani people of the Baliem Valley in the Central Highlands but the area was not properly explored until 1938 when the Baliem Valley , an area that had previously been assumed to be uninhabited, was shown to be home to 100,000 “uncontacted” Dani tribesmen. However, no missionary post was set up in the Baliem Valley until 1954 and the first missionaries reached the neighbouring Yalimo in 1961. A government post was set up at Angguruk , the largest village of the Yalimo , in 1968. Since then all the tribes of the Central Highlands have been baptised, although the new religion remains mixed somewhat with some older pre-Christian beliefs. There are still people in the Yalimo who remember seeing those first white men walking down from the mountains into their village.

After the Dutch gave up Weat Papua it quickly went over to Indonesian control after a very controversial vote in 1969, a move very unpopular with West Papuans who are ethnically and linguistically completely unrelated to Indonesians. A guerilla separatist movement, the OPM, has been operating in the interior ever since. Also since then the government has moved hundreds of thousands of migrants in from other parts of Indonesia and along with America has been busy extracting West Papua’s very rich resources (gold, silver and copper) while the people remain the poorest in Indonesia .

Until 2001 it was called Irian Jaya, although this name is very unpopular among locals who prefer West Papua. Confusingly, since 2003 West Papua has also been officially divided into two Indonesian provinces: West Papua and Papua.

The first thing to know about travel in West Papua is that everything (guides, transport, permit) can be arranged very quickly and easily upon arrival even if you don’t speak a word of Indonesian. DO NOT on any account think that it’s necessary to book one of those ridiculous adventure tours sold on the internet or by travel agencies for thousands of dollars. In a place as undeveloped and with as few facilities as West Papua, tour companies really can’t offer you anything that you can’t just arrange yourself the same day you arrive.

One very important thing to note is that when applying for your visa, some Indonesian embassies such as the one in London will tell you that it’s impossible to go to West Papua as a tourist. I have no idea where they get this rubbish from but just DO NOT write on your visa application form that you plan to visit West Papua. No one will stop you anywhere and on arrival in West Papua the police will happily issue you your surat jalan (travel permit – see below) which is all that you need to travel freely in West Papua. If, however, you write on your Indonesian visa application form that you plan to visit West Papua, some embassies may put a stamp on your visa saying “Not valid for travel to West Papua.”

The majority of tourists will fly into Sentani , the town where the airport is next to the capital, Jayapura. It is also possible to arrive at Timika and Merauke. Airlines such as Garuda, Lion Air and Merpati all fly to West Papua daily and Pelni has a few ships running here from other parts of Indonesia too.

Once you arrive in Sentani you should go to the nearest police station and pick up your surat jalan (travel permit for the interior of West Papua). It’s just a formality and requires just a few passport photos and a fee (US$5-US$20 depending on your haggling skills).

If you want to do a trek in the Central Highlands such as from the Baliem Valley to the Yalimo and maybe even on to Mek territory you will need to fly from Sentani to a town called Wamena in the Baliem Valley , the largest town in the interior. Only one road goes from the North to the Highlands. It leads from Nabire in the North (accessible by flight or 36-hour ferry from Jayapura) to Enarotali in the Western Highlands (unconnected to Wamena by road). This road is often unpassable. Shop keepers in Nabire or Enarotali should be able to tell you if anyone is planning to drive it soon.

The airline that flies to Wamena is called Trigana and has several flights every day. I never had problems just turning up and getting a seat on the same day but perhaps if you are flying around holiday time you should leave a day or two spare on either side. It costs about US$100 each way.

Once in Wamena lots of English-speaking guides will approach you. Some are quite dodgy so make sure you get one recommended by your hotel in Wamena. Many try to get you to pay for a guide plus a porter plus a cook but of course all that is really not necessary. Your guide should be able to cook for you and carry your bag. The total cost of a trek organised upon arrival in Wamena should be US$60 a day including food for you and your guide. Insist on paying him his daily fee and paying for food (fruit, veg, potatoes, rice, noodles) and accommodation yourself in villages during your trip. Don’t agree to scams such as giving him the money and letting him take care of everything, paying him in advance or paying him extra to take you to an extra-remote place.

If you speak Indonesian you can go out to the villages by public transport and hire a local to be your porter. These non-English speaking locals will be far more honest than the Wamena guides mentioned above. This way maximum total costs per day during your trek should be US$40 (see Baliem Valley page for breakdown).

If you want to visit the famous tree house-dwelling Korowai tribe in the south of West Papua, an entire 2-week trip starting and ending in Sentani with an English-speaking guide should cost US$1500 if flying to Dekai then traveling by local boats to the start point of your trek. Again, this could be slightly cheaper if you speak Indonesian and do not need a guide from Sentani. If that is so, fly to Dekai yourself and catch local boats to Mabul or Yaniruma, good starting points for Korowai treks, and find a local to guide you from there. It is also possible to trek to the Korowai from the Baliem Valley in about a month.

The Korowai area is the most traditional in West Papua. It’s also extremely hard to get around in and requires time for waiting for boats unless you want to charter your own which is almost prohibitively expensive. Indonesian language or an English-speaking guide are essential. Many Korowai still wear traditional (un)dress, live in tree houses, are semi-nomadic, still unchristianised and don’t speak Indonesian. They are not, however “Stone Age”, “Cannibals” or “Uncontacted” as some tour agencies make them out to be.

The border with Papua New Guinea also has some remote groups who wear traditional dress but getting here is extremely hard. The part of the south around Agats (accessible by river from the Korowai area via the town of Senggo or by plane from Timika) is famous for the traditional art of the Asmat people although they now dress in Western clothing. The North coast and Bird’s Head Peninsula have great diving, bird watching and trekking.

• Lani country
• Mek country
• The Baliem Valley
• The north of West Papua
• Yali country

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Indonesia , Worldtrip

2 Weeks Itinerary for West Papua, Indonesia

We never expected we would stay in West Papua for so long, but its wonderful nature and unique culture really got us. Not many people travel to West Papua and the development in the area goes slowly which makes it a place you will not find anywhere else in the world, so pristine and beautiful. There is not much information available online or in print and the flight connections are scarce. So we summarised our favourite 2 -3 weeks West Papua itinerary here. Don’t miss out any highlights and save time an resources flying efficiently.  

2 Weeks West Papua Itinerary  

Jakarta/bali —> sorong (raja ampat) —> jayapura (baliem valley) —> nabire (whale sharks) —> biak (beaches and diving) —> jakarta/bali.

Start out from Bali or Jakarta and fly to Papua’s most famous dive spot Raja Ampat. There is no need to stay in Sorong try to get to your resort or homestay on the day of arrival and enjoy a magical underwater world. Explore the jungle and observe the birds of paradise’s mating dance. You should at least stay 4 days there is really lots to do and see in Raja Ampat.  

From Sorong you can fly to the capital of West Papua Jayapura to get your connection flight to Wamena (Baliem Valley) for an unforgettable hiking trip in the highlands. Experience the culture of the Dani tribe and they in local villages. This will take you about 4 days, but you can also spend more time walking to further villages. The longer you walk the less civilisation.

After all the hiking its time for swimming with the gents giants in Nabire . There are only a few places in the world where you can get so close to whale sharks. Don’t miss that opportunity. This will take 1-2 days depending on your arrival.  

Spend the last 4 days at the pristine Padaido Atoll in Biak . Unwind and relax on untouched Pulau Wundi island. After you are rested go diving and maybe experience your first cave dive at Wundi Cave.  

From Biak you can head back to Jakarta via Makassar.  

You can also do this trip in reverse order. Just be careful there is no flight from Sorong to Nabire, only from Jayapura, Biak or Ambon. For info about every destination please read our other guides for Biak , Baliem Valley and Nabire . You can do all mentioned destinations in 2 weeks, but it would be better to have 3 weeks to full enjoy astonishing West Papua.

3 Weeks West Papua + Banda Islands Itinerary  

Jakarta/bali —> ambon (detour to banda islands) —> nabire (whale sharks) —> jayapura (baliem valley) —> sorong (raja ampat) —> jakarta/bali.

Ambon also offers connection flights to Nabire. So you could first go to the Banda Islands from Ambon for superb diving and wonderful beaches and then continue your journey to West Papua. Your first step would be Nabire to swim with the whale sharks. Afterwards you can fly to Jayapura your getaway to Baliem Valley . From there it is very easy to get to Sorong to explore Raja Ampat.

From Sorong there are regular flight to Jakarta and Bali via Makassar.

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Hello! Where did you stay in Baik? I have heard of Biak Diving with Erik Farwas but cant seem to get a hold of him.

First of all thanks for sharing your story and reading our article. I am totally with you on just wanting less things for your daily care. This was also my motivation as I looked into the topic.

What I noticed during our world trip is that my hair strongly reacts to the weather conditions. If we are in dry climate I almost don’t need to wash my hair at all, but after 4 to 5 days I just have to comb it and therefore I need to wash it or make it wet. Never comb your curlies if they are dry that will make you look like a lion and also make them break. I also need to add more argan oil to my hair to keep it soft avoid breakage

In humid climate I wash more often also because we are in the ocean almost every day. For me cold or hot water doesn’t matter but I need to massage my head regularly to wash off dead skin cells.

So answer your questions it depends on the climate but water only should work for you but I guess India is quite humid so I would recommend washing every 3 day. Just try it out and let me know how it goes

All the best on your no poo journey from Mexico,

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West Papua Travel Guide

What's unique, travel blogs.

Even though West Papua might seem rather ‘wild’ to a lot of travellers, there are some amazing and fascinating places to visit and awe in the spectacle of nature.

Places of Interest :

Pasir Putih Beach :

A soft white sandy beach with clear water with beautiful scenery, gentle breezes makes it a good place for recreation and swimming. Only 2 kilometres from Manokwari town, this beach can be reached by motorcycle, car, or public transport.

Amban Beach :

Facing the Pacific Ocean, having a wave altitude of 2 meters most of the time, this beach is perfect for water skiing and wind surfing. Located five kilometres from Manokwari town, this beach is easily accessible by all manner of transport.

Lake Kabori :

Stretching out with a beautiful panorama, it is a wonderful place for fresh water fishing; like goldfish, mujair (a kind of fresh water fish), and fresh water cat fish. Situated 20 kilometres from Manokwari town, this lake is easily reached.

Rumah Kaki Seribu (Traditional House):

This house is uniquely built by the Arfak ethnic group. Rare and unique in design, this type of house has many poles to support it. It is for this reason that the house is called Rumah Kaki Seribu (House with one thousand feet). Its walls are made of tree barks and its roof is made of coarse grass. These houses can still be found in remote places like Kebar and Anggi .

Meja Mountain and the Japanese Monument :

This mountain, looking like a table in the distance, is a preserved and protected area. Still a virgin forest, having enchanting and beautiful panorama, this area is good for hiking, and other similar sporting activities. A monument, called Monumen Jepang , has been erected on this mountain to commemorate the first arrival of the Japanese Army. Only two kilometres from Manokwari town, this place can accessed by motorcycle or on foot.

Maredred Waterfall :

Located in Pasir Putih village with a beautiful natural panorama, this waterfall has various types of flora and fauna. It is a wonderful bathing place. It can be reached within ten minutes by boat from Fak-Fak town and by walking within two and a half hours following the river bank.

Tubir Seram Island :

Located in front of Fak-Fak town, this island has amazing and beautiful natural scenery. It has a garden full of numerous colourful flowers and many types of plants. A monument, called Perjuangan Merah Putih was erected there. A mini museum was also built there to keep artifacts of historical values. It is accessible within five minutes from Fak-Fak town by boat.

Mermaid Catchment :

This unique fish is traditionally raised in Webra village. This place can be assessed by various types of vehicles.

Pre-historical Hand Palm Paintings :

Ancient reddish pictures of hand palm, weapon, and animals on the cliffs of the islands at an average altitude of 10-30 meters from sea level in front of Kokas town.

This is the coastal city and regency in Papua and has some beautiful islands.

Cape Of Cassowary :

It is a beautiful long and clean beach where there are plenty of exotic corals. It is also suitable for diving. The distance from Sorong town is 3 km and can be reached by vehicles.

Crocodile Island :

An island with slightly sloping beach, soft sand and pure water is very suitable for swimming and fishing. It is located about a half kilometre across Sorong town and accessible by speed boat.

Kafiau Island :

An island located in the middle of Dampir Waigeo Straits. Apart from its scenic nature, it has also an interesting and enchanting sea bottom that is very suitable for diving. It is about 1.5 hours to reach by motor boat from Sorong town.

Matan Island :

An island with various kinds of trees, soft sands and pure water is a place for bathing and fishing. It is accessible approximately 20 minutes from Sorong town by speed boat.

Klaijili Hot Spring :

This hot spring is found in Makbon District and is used to cure skin diseases. It is situated 60 km from Sorong town and reachable by vehicles.

Pepera Monument :

Erected in 1969, and located in the centre of the town, this monument commemorates Indonesia’s struggle to have West Papua (the former name of Papua) back.

World War II Monument :

World War II Monument. Built by the Dutch in 1948 in the center of the town, this monument commemorates the assassination of police officers and other government workers by Japanese Army.

Japanese Army Fortress :

Built in 1944/1945 and located at the centre of Kokas town, this fortress was used as a defence and hiding place for the Japanese Army during the Second World War. It can be reached within four hours by boat from Fak-Fak town.

Research Forest :

This forest has many types of plants and is used by the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry of Cenderawasih University for research purposes. Situated seven kilometres from Manokwari town, it is accessible by motorcycle, car, or public transport.

The Raja Ampat Islands :

Further Reading : www.papuatrekking.com

Photo Credits : westpapuatrekking.com www.deepscape.com syadera.wordpress.com

Young Pioneer Tours

How to Get to West Papua

As some of you might know, YPT runs tours to West Papua now. On our trip, we start from Bali in Indonesia and fly to Jaypura, the ‘capital’ of West Papua. But is that really the only way to get there?

What you need

First of all, it doesn’t matter if you can catch a plane to West Papua. If you don’t have the right documents, you’ll get turned away from the border immediately. Since West Papua is part of Indonesia, the first thing you need is permission to go to Indonesia! That requires a look at the visa policy.

So long as your passport is valid for six months and you are a passport holder of the listed countries, which includes all of Europe, America, Canada and many more, it is possible to visit Indonesia visa-free for thirty days through 29 airports, 88 sea-ports and 7 land border crossings. Only problem with this policy is that you can’t extend your stay or get a different kind of visa. Applicable to many more countries is getting visa on arrival , which allows you to extend your stay for another 30 days for a fee of US$35.

For those who want a multiple-entry visa, want to extend their visa multiple times or belong to a select few countries, it’s necessary to apply for a visa directly at an Indonesian consulate. The countries that require a visa in advance are Afghanistan, Cameroon, Guinea, Israel, Liberia, Nigeria and Somalia. Also North Korea, in case you happen to hold that passport.

How to get to West Papua

Okay, so you’ve got your Indonesian passport, now you gotta get to West Papua. As it happens, there are three main points of entry. By land, by sea and by air. Let’s go over them all individually.

Travelling by Air

We’ll start with air, because that’s how most people get there. Your main point of entry will be Sentani airport, Jayapura. It’s impossible to fly into West Papua via another country, with the sole exception of recent flights from Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea. Your main flights will be found in Jakarta, Makassar, Ambon and Bali, though flights do occur from other airports around Indonesia. From Jayapura, it’s possible to fly to several other airports around West Papua. On a limited level, it’s possible to fly from other parts of Indonesia to these airports, particularly Fakfak, Sorong and Timika.

Travelling by Sea

Indonesia is served heavily by Pelni liners, owing to the sheer number of islands that make up the nation. These liners are your main method of sea transport into West Papua. The main entry point is the coastal town of Sorong, to which five liners travel every two weeks from Maluku, Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Java before continuing onward to Jayapura with several stops along the way.

Travelling by Land

As it happens, there is only one land border in West Papua, that being with Papua New Guinea. While there’s technically many ways to cross between the two, only one entry is known to be open to foreigners. The Skouw – Wutung border crossing between Jayapura and Vanimo, Papua New Guinea is open between 8am-4pm Indonesian time. While there is no visa on arrival for travelling into Papua New Guinea, there is the possibility of a 30 day entry visa on arrival when travelling from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia.

Surat Jalan

Surat Jalan are travel permits required for visiting West Papua. The region is comparatively volatile for Indonesia, so if you decide to move beyond the main coastal towns, it’s important to pick up these permits. You can get them in a day in Jayapura and Biak, which are typically themselves permit-free, allowing freedom of travel. To visit other parts of the island, you’ll need to apply, list the places you’re travelling to and pay 5000 Indonesian rupiah. Less than a dollar, typically. Upon arrival in new destinations, you need to get the permit stamped at the local police station. I should emphasize, you do not need a permit to get to West Papua, only to travel around.

If you want to get to the famous area of Raja Ampat, a special fee has to be paid. There’s an office opposite the airport at Sorong or Waisai, where the permit costs around 1 million rupiah. Or $70.

That should largely cover it! If you’re at all interested in visiting West Papua for yourself, keep this advice in mind. Or sign up for our tour there!

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Dominic Perry

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Manokwari, the capital of West Papua Province, and the majestic Arfak Mountains nearby are things not to miss while in Papua. The mountain area offers unique and diverse wildlife in a jungle setting. The Arfak Mountains is the premier birding destination for birders worldwide, but it is also very well suited for those who seek to learn about the Hatam culture and nature.

Manokwari is a friendly, small coastal town with beautiful beaches and green. A stone’s throw away from the city is historical Mansinam Island, where WWII shipwrecks can be seen by snorkeling and stories of 2 German missionaries coming alive. Also, Manokwari is becoming known among surfers worldwide for chasing the empty waves along the coastline. Surfing in Papua, Manokwari is an authentic experience. Please find out more about the tours we offer in and around Manokwari.

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Papua New Guinea Travel Advisory

Travel advisory january 17, 2024, papua new guinea - level 3: reconsider travel.

Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.

Reconsider travel to Papua New Guinea due to crime, civil unrest, and piracy . Exercise increased caution due to kidnapping, unexploded ordnance, inconsistent availability of healthcare services, and potential for natural disasters. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to:

• Central Bougainville, particularly areas near the Panguna mine, due to  civil unrest .
• The Highlands region, other than the towns of Mt. Hagen and Goroka, due to civil unrest .

Country Summary: Violent crime , including sexual assault, carjackings, home invasions, and armed robberies, is common. There have been reports of criminals attacking resorts popular with foreign tourists to steal goods and money. Tensions between communal or tribal groups may lead to civil unrest involving violence and can occur without warning. Police presence is limited outside of the capital, Port Moresby, and police may be unable to assist due to limited resources. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Port Moresby due to limited transportation infrastructure. U.S. government employees must obtain authorization before traveling to areas of concern, including the central part of Bougainville and the provinces of Southern Highlands, Western Highlands (excluding Mt. Hagen), Eastern Highlands (excluding Goroka), Hela, Enga, Jiwaka, and other areas of Papua New Guinea where one is unable to fly directly.

Piracy is active in the waters surrounding Papua New Guinea. Travelers by boat should reconsider travel to the Bismarck and Solomon Seas along Papua New Guinea's north and eastern coasts. In 2021 and 2022, the Embassy was aware of at least three occasions in which sailboats operated by or carrying U.S. citizens were boarded by criminals. The criminals, who have been known to use physical violence, robbed the boats, and in one incident, severely injured the captain when he attempted to fight back.

Visit our website on International Maritime Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea .

Kidnapping for ransom or political influence occurs in Papua New Guinea, though foreign nationals are not frequently targeted. In February 2023, a foreign citizen was kidnapped. In late 2022, foreign citizens employed by an international company were kidnapped and held for several days.  

Travelers should exercise increased caution when traveling in remote areas of Papua New Guinea due to the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) remaining from World War II. UXO is discovered infrequently throughout the country, often on smaller islands.

Papua New Guinea has inconsistent availability of healthcare services which may be difficult to obtain outside of Port Moresby. Pharmaceuticals may be scarce or unavailable.

Papua New Guinea is subject to periodic seismic activity and is home to several active volcanoes. The country does experience regular volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. U.S. citizens are advised to familiarize themselves with volcano updates , earthquake tracking , and tsunami warnings in Papua New Guinea. U.S. citizens should develop contingency plans in the event of an eruption or major earthquake.  

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Papua New Guinea.

If you decide to travel to Papua New Guinea:

• Do not use local taxis or buses, known as public motor vehicles or PMVs.
• Travel with guides from a reputable tour company, particularly if you plan to hike.
• Avoid walking or driving at night.
• Avoid areas in the vicinity of active volcanoes.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Do not touch unknown metal objects and avoid traveling off well-used roads, tracks, and paths due to risk of unexploded ordnance.
• Bring a sufficient supply of over-the-counter and prescription medicines.
• Avoid sailing around the waters of Papua New Guinea and review the Live Piracy Report published by the International Maritime Bureau.
• If sailing, have functioning communication and emergency equipment, such as a satellite phone, VHF radio, and emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB).
• Review Travel.State.Gov’s Crisis Abroad: be ready page.
• Review volcano updates , earthquake tracking , and tsunami warnings .
• Review the CDC’s suggestions on preparing for natural disasters .
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to assist you in an emergency.  
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Follow Embassy Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Facebook and Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for the Papua New Guinea.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Areas Near the Panguna Mine on the island of Bougainville – Level 4: Do Not Travel

The Autonomous Bougainville Government has designated areas near the Panguna mine as “no go zones" due to the risk of violence from civil unrest. Bougainville police lack the resources to respond to emergency calls.

Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

The Highlands Region (excluding Mt. Hagen and Goroka) – Level 4: Do Not Travel

There is a heightened risk of civil unrest from tribal violence throughout the region, including the provinces of Southern Highlands, Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Hela, Enga, and Jiwaka. The towns of Mt. Hagen (Western Highlands) and Goroka (Eastern Highlands) generally have a more stable police presence than other towns and villages across the Highlands provinces.

Travel Advisory Levels

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