Vacationing to West Papua, Raja Ampat is one of the mandatory destinations. Raja Ampat has indeed become the global tourism objects in West Papua so that not a few people include this destination in their bucket list.
Tourism Objects in West Papua that’ll Blow Your Mind
However, apart from Raja Ampat, there are still many charms of tourist attractions in West Papua that you can still explore, you know! Want an anti-mainstream vacation? Check out the various tourist destinations in West Papua besides Raja Ampat, which is a pity to miss below!
1. Kofiau Island Apart
Of the islands in Raja Ampat, Kofiau Island is the most visited island. What’s more, this island has the most extensive coral reefs in the world with white sand. What makes this island unique is the discovery of several volcanic hills covered in rainforest and coral limestone.
This hidden paradise on the island also offers beautiful underwater views. The clear water makes it easy for you to swim, dive, snorkel, and even do photography of underwater wealth.
2. Namatota Village
Namatota Village is rich in history from the past where this village is one of the Islamic kingdoms in Kaimana, namely the Namatota Kingdom. In the past, the Namatota Kingdom was also known as the Kowiai Kingdom. The Bomberai Peninsula itself is an area filled with Islamic kingdoms.
Besides being a royal site, Namatota is home to various marine life, making it one of your favorite destinations for diving enthusiasts. Its underwater beauty is so famous that many call it Raja Ampat’s twin brother.
The choice of beach tourism is also a mainstay in Namatota Village, one of the best beaches that can be visited is Sangnus Worait Beach, located in the northeast of the village.
3. Kontilola Goa
Wamena is the capital of Jayawijaya Regency, which has many exciting tourism objects in West Papua. One of them is Kontilola Cave, the center of conspiracy theories about aliens. This cave can be found in a relatively extreme hilly area, close to where the Dani tribe lives.
This cave is classified as anti-mainstream because there are ancient paintings in it. As reported from various sources, the photographs displayed in Kontilola Cave look like humans. The man in the painting has a bald head and only four fingers.
With this mysterious painting, local people believe that some aliens once lived in Kontilola Cave with the image as a trace. This theory increasingly convinces people because the location of the painting is on the wall very high and far from the ground.
In addition to the alien theory, Kontilola Cave is known as the bat kingdom. When walking through this cave, the deeper you will find hordes of bats.
4. Baliem
Valley is another anti-mainstream tourist attraction usually used as a trekking route for tourists. A traditional Dani village will make up the surrounding scenery, which is far from boring.
There are lined honai houses with a characteristic round shape and roofed with dry thatch grass. The residents are still wearing traditional clothes. In the Baliem Valley there are also purple weeds.
This sighting can only be seen once a year, namely in May. According to Kabarpapua.co, the weeds are also often nicknamed Lagalaga Eka or Owasi-Wasika, making the grass plant purple. People sometimes call it May Grass according to the time the weeds change color.
5. Lake Idenberg
Another anti mainstream tourism objects in West Papua is Puncak Jayawijaya. There, there is a beautiful lake called Lake Idenberg. The location is pretty remote. Like it or not, you must climb Mount Puncak Jaya first to get there.
There, you will be fascinated by the appearance of a snowy lake. Interestingly, the lake water is sometimes total, and sometimes it just disappears. For this reason, this lake is also often referred to as a mysterious lake due to this phenomenon.
6. Tapurarang Archaeological Site
Not only nature tourism, but tourism objects in West Papua are also inseparable from its thick culture. That is why many heritage sites are still preserved as a form of respect, including the Tapurarang Archaeological Site.
It sounds scary to know that there are traces of blood from human and animal palms on the site’s rocks. These traces come from prehistoric times that have existed for hundreds of years. This historical tourism destination in West Papua, located in Kokas, Fak Fak, is surrounded by beautiful mangrove forests.
This mangrove forest is also a habitat for various birds, from storks to birds of paradise. This tourist destination in West Papua is the perfect choice for those who like fauna photography.
Wrapping Up
That row of tourism objects in West Papua must be included in your visit list. The land of Papua is very well preserved for its natural and cultural preservation and cannot be found anywhere else.
For those who want to leave the house, always apply the “6M” health protocol, such as wearing a mask, washing hands, maintaining distance, staying away from crowds, reducing mobility, and avoiding eating together.
