What We Haven't Seen in Western Papua

This island although is one of the big island of Indonesia but yet Papua was left behind for economic grow. However Western Papua offers many outstanding spots for adventure. In here you can find marvelous diving spot, trekking, untouched deserted beaches, traditional cultures with great unique customs, arts, crafts and special culinary. So a trip to Papua is an Indiana Jones adventure to you exploring the other world of flora and fauna also the wild life.

It’s because of the nature habitat the WWF also assist Indonesia government to protect the island flora and fauna also and its artifacts. Papua was known a forest fauna includes marsupials (possums, wallabies, and cuscus), some mammals (the endangered long beaked echidna), bird species (cendrawasih, cassowaries, and parrots), world’s largest lizard (Papua monitor) and some butterflies. The salt water also becomes the home of crocodile, flying foxes, bats and etc.

Sorong
You can get there if you reach Sorong which is the hub for all the boat travel along the southern and northern coast. Every two weeks The Rinjani sails to Fak-Fak and Maluku. Sorong is a must go city in Western Papua. The city is the centre of oil, logging and district administration. In Sorong is the perfect place for diving, trekking, and bird watching. In Sorong you will find Kasuari beach which is ideal for snorkeling and swimming. Try to walk around the Doom Island and you see the beautiful site. Rent a boat and go to the Raja Ampat Island, a vast archipelago contains over 1500 small islands, cays and shoals surrounding the four big islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. The Raja Ampat features beauty marine world above and below water. The place is located in the Coral Triangle which holds over 75% species in the world of all known coral species in the sea. The islands have a very different topography with steep mountain shores and deserted white beaches. It is interesting to walk on the island with bare foot and use the boat to move from one dive spot to another.

Here are some of the famous dive sites in Raja Ampat:

Misool Island
Misool is rich with the fish colony, the schooling fishes seems endless and seahorses live the sea not less than 10m
Kaboei Bay Rock Island
This place is the right place if you are looking for rare nudibranches, mollusks and dragonet.
Kri Island
Have lots of pretty corals growth, rich with reefs, schollong fishes and the giant Queensland Grouper
Sardine Reef
It’s the whole fish family in here. There you find bumphead parrotfish, colorful corals and plenty critters.

Fak Fak
Fak Fak is accessible from Ambon Islands and Banda Islands by sea and Sorong by air. The city is a colonial town builds on coastal foothills. You will be surprised with the beautiful landscape of a town’s hill, trees and bright blue sea. Fak Fak is the first city that Ducht colonial settle on Papua islands. There is the famous purported giant bone found in the sea and the rock art sites along the coast. Around there located the Kokas beach on the north coast of the peninsula. At the beach you will find some of the Japanese cannons, tunnels and shipwrecks and a mosque built in 1870. Do not forget to see Ugar Islands for diving and Madedred Waterfalls.

Manokwari
Manokwari in Biak language means Old village. Manokwari is a city that near Teluk Cendrawasih. The city is easy to explore and provited most of the facilities. Visit Gunung Meja Park picturesque, a wild forest with protected birdlife and butterflies. Also you should not miss Japanese Monument and track down some Japanese Cave that was built for escape route by Japanese soldier in World War II. There is one of the whole sited near the stone steps leading to Arfak Hotel.

In Papua you will find also Lorentz National Park, the largest protected area in the Asia Pacific region and one of the most ecologically diverse national parks in the world. It’s the only area that contains full ecosystems from marine areas, mangrove, tidal and freshwater swamps, lowland and mountainous forest, alpines areas and glaciers.

A little bit to the west you will able to see the Cendrawasih Bay Marine National Park. This reserve area are consists 18 islands, 500km of coastline and 14.300 sq km of the area. You can say this is the largest preserve area in Indonesia; the government protects the endangered species of giant’s clams, turtles and dugongs. However as usual if you want to explore the area please make sure that you have the transportation. The largest inhabitant island in the reserve area is Rumberpoon, Mioswaar, Roon and Angrameos islands. Rumberpoon island also provide snorkeling among fascinating corals and marine life not to mention great hiking. It’s also worthwhile to rent a boat and explore nearby islands such as Wairondi Islands which is famous with the turtle unseen population.

Three tribes are living on the valley of Papua which is Dani, Lani and Yani. Dani villages are often visit by tourist when they reach Western Papua and they are famous for several hundreds years mummies of famous tribesmen.

However there are top things to do in Papua which you don’t want to miss
Lake Sentani
Visit the lake Sentani which is virtually untouched by modern civilization. The local people are still live with the traditional ways and owned their own wood work and pottery. In here you can also see the mummy named Jiwika and traditional round shaped houses that Wamena people called Honay.
Mount Carstenz Pyramid
The highest in the ocean continent (4884 m above sea level) and located in the western central highland above the Pasir Putih Beach, a soft white sandy beach with its clear water and beautiful scenery, best for recreation and swimming.
Watch the Tifa dance, Fire dance and Mayai Marowa dance.
Visit Rumah Kaki Seribu
This is the famous traditional house built by Arfak Ecthic group
Visit Klaijili Hot Spring in Makbon district
And see the Mermaid Cagement a unique fish traditionally raised in Webra village.