Additional tips for backpackers in PNG

Accommodation is expensive but not necessarily as the LP suggests it. Indeed, in all the towns, you will be able to find some “cheaper” guesthouses if you ask locals. They usually have bad reputation among locals and expatriates but they will definitively fit with budget backpacker standards. If you are a couchsurfer, it is also possible to find a couple of unforgettable options in Wewak, Goroka, and Port Moresby.

Border crossing Jayapura : the exact rule for the border crossing is that you only need to be stamped for exit in Jayapura if your indonesian visa is a VoA, if you have another kind of visa, don’t mind the LP and just go at the border. It won’t cost you anything for the stamp. A charter by 4wd to the border should not cost you more than 300.000 Rp. You can get in touch with these taxis in front of Yasmin Hotel or in front of the hotels in Jl. Ahmad Yani.

Vanimo : the lift from the border to town (PMV) is 10 Kina. Note that it is impressively easy to hitchhike for free anywhere in PNG. For accommodation, you have several choices: if you don’t find somebody to host you (if you are not looking enough like desperate on the beach) or because it’s harder to be hosted if you are not travelling alone, don’t go to Vanimo Beach Hotel. The cheapest choice is the CBC Guesthouse a little bit further up to the hill, it is not signed so ask for the directions. A double room is 60 kina. Another option is 8km before reaching Vanimo, there are some bungalows in Lido (I’m not sure of the name). Price is 55 kina/person. It is also possible to bargain with the director of Vanimo Beach Hotel if you are alone, to get inside for « only » 80 Kina/night. But I would not count on this option.

Madang : the cheapest option is not in LP, not in the Tourism Office as well. Locals will say that it is a shitty place, for backpackers it is a good value. This place is called DalCrescend Guesthouse behind the RedScar and in front of the Tourism Office on Modilon Road. A double room is 71.5 kina exactly which is a good value in town if you are two people. Bathroom is shared but who cares ? You can get cheap cold beers (4 kina) as well. However, the area outside the guesthouse is not safe at night. Lutheran Guesthouse was asking for 85 kina/person/night ! then CWA Guesthouse is still the same price as indicated in LP and it’s true it’s a nice place well-located (55 Kina/person/night).

Bandit/Saidor : experiencing the village life is a great thing to do down there. One festival occurs each year, organised by the Dugu Ruts Association as mentioned in LP. In 2009, it was on 29th and 30th of May. More than 36 singsing groups were present performing all day and night! and only 7 tourists…You can find information at the Madang Tourism Office as it is promoted by it. Getting there is easy and takes 3 to 5 hours by speed boat (60 to 70 Kina one way/person). Once you get there, you can walk up to the hill (2-3 hours) to reach Bandit or take a car if you find it. Be careful on the way back as their trucks don’t always have brakes! We have been quite lucky this year with only one person injured… (me ☹). The new guesthouse near the small museum is simply lovely (20 kina/person, meals included). Better to contact O’Neil in Madang Tourism Office if you plan a trip there.

Mount Hagen: We stayed in the new “Mala Guesthouse”, which is cheap if a little dirty (double room: 50 kina) however it has a really nice garden. You can make fire and use kitchen facilities. There is no sign apart from the Mala Painting Company, which is attached to the guesthouse. It is a little bit outside the town but the owner can take you in town.

Enjoy and safe trip !!!

Good stuff!

Damn...wish I had known about the CBC guesthous in Vanimo! I spent one night in the Vanimo Beach Hotel in the delux suit (180/night!!!!) because the manager wouldn't let me in the cheap rooms and it was pissing rain so I didn't want to walk around! The Vanimo Beach Hotel manager was a prick!!! DONT GO THERE!
I moved to a little guest house up on the hill that cost 130 a night....Vanimo killed my budget!

Also, in Wewak, the Wewak Backpackers Guesthouse only seems to have rooms for 100 a night now. There is a CBC guesthouse above town that charges around 30-40 a night and another guesthouse (listed in LP) on the hill above town that charges 50 a night.

thanks a lot djulz. excellent stuff!