Crossing from Vanimo to JayapuraWest Papua

lcgraham_200007:26 UTC16 Jan 2010

We've been travelling in PNG since 18 Dec. It has been more enjoyable than expected, but also more expensive. We now wish to see West Papua, so have sold back our air ticket and plan to head for Vanimo.Has anyone recently crossed the border here? Were there any problems? Do you actually have to show a ticket out of Indonesia when applying for your visa in Vanimo?(we don't yet know where we want to go from West Papua, so don't want to waste money on buying a ticket we won't use)
Also, my travel book is about 20 years out of date!! I don't know where to stay in Jayapura, or that area. We hope to arrange to go to the Baliem valley, then get a Pelni boat to the spice islands.Does anyone know of a good hotel/travellers's cafe/travel agents where we can get up to date info in Jayapura. My ancient book mentions Sentani as an alternative place to stay. Has anyone done this and been to the Baliem valley recently? Finally, is it absolutely mad to head for the Baliem Valley during the rainy season? We've just been to a lovely place called Simbai in PNG and it rained, but was still worth it.
One more question! We've got a week in Wewak. Has anyone been to the Sepik river during the rainy season, and is it actually possible to travel there at this time?
If anyone wants to know more about PNG, we can give you a few tips!
Thanks a lot. Linda.

Laszlo10:55 UTC16 Jan 2010

The Indonesian consulate in Vanimo tends to ask to see a ticket out.
Spending say $20 on an e-ticket with say Tiger Airways should be a pittance after traveling in PNG even if you just throw it away later! ;-)

You could buy the Papua chapter of the latest LP online - click on Shop above.

No real travellers' scene in Jayapura or Sentani, but Hotel Ayu is a good budget place.

No real rainy season in the Baliem.

More info on Papua in my signo line.

Rainy season on the Sepik was OK, but there were MILLIONS of mosquitos and I caught my first malaria there! ;-)

donbrisbane09:33 UTC17 Jan 2010

ok i am just back from sepik,vanimo/border.,sepik is fine to attempt in january,but unpredictable,depends what part of the river you want to get into?i travelled overnite to pagwi,no problems,and mossies at ambunti nearly non existant due to a fish eating most of the mossie eggs this year,it was great not to be bombarded,
you will need some form of forward air tiket to get through the indo visa at vanimo...week before xmas big problems at border with a shooting murder...right at main gates!very tense but still open to passport holders/this area changes weekly/you may have to walk up the big hill if the yellow gates at wutung are closed.accom in jayapura try dafonsoro hotel in city centre,in sentani ratna manunggal hotel near airport/wamena the putri dani inn/or mas budi hotel.
good luck

Crossing from Vanimo to Jayapura(West Papua) Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Papua New Guinea
lcgraham_200007:26 UTC16 Jan 2010	We've been travelling in PNG since 18 Dec. It has been more enjoyable than expected, but also more expensive. We now wish to see West Papua, so have sold back our air ticket and plan to head for Vanimo.Has anyone recently crossed the border here? Were there any problems? Do you actually have to show a ticket out of Indonesia when applying for your visa in Vanimo?(we don't yet know where we want to go from West Papua, so don't want to waste money on buying a ticket we won't use) Also, my travel book is about 20 years out of date!! I don't know where to stay in Jayapura, or that area. We hope to arrange to go to the Baliem valley, then get a Pelni boat to the spice islands.Does anyone know of a good hotel/travellers's cafe/travel agents where we can get up to date info in Jayapura. My ancient book mentions Sentani as an alternative place to stay. Has anyone done this and been to the Baliem valley recently? Finally, is it absolutely mad to head for the Baliem Valley during the rainy season? We've just been to a lovely place called Simbai in PNG and it rained, but was still worth it. One more question! We've got a week in Wewak. Has anyone been to the Sepik river during the rainy season, and is it actually possible to travel there at this time? If anyone wants to know more about PNG, we can give you a few tips! Thanks a lot. Linda.
Laszlo10:55 UTC16 Jan 2010	The Indonesian consulate in Vanimo tends to ask to see a ticket out. Spending say $20 on an e-ticket with say Tiger Airways should be a pittance after traveling in PNG even if you just throw it away later! ;-) You could buy the Papua chapter of the latest LP online - click on Shop above. No real travellers' scene in Jayapura or Sentani, but Hotel Ayu is a good budget place. No real rainy season in the Baliem. More info on Papua in my signo line. Rainy season on the Sepik was OK, but there were MILLIONS of mosquitos and I caught my first malaria there! ;-)	1
donbrisbane09:33 UTC17 Jan 2010	ok i am just back from sepik,vanimo/border.,sepik is fine to attempt in january,but unpredictable,depends what part of the river you want to get into?i travelled overnite to pagwi,no problems,and mossies at ambunti nearly non existant due to a fish eating most of the mossie eggs this year,it was great not to be bombarded, you will need some form of forward air tiket to get through the indo visa at vanimo...week before xmas big problems at border with a shooting murder...right at main gates!very tense but still open to passport holders/this area changes weekly/you may have to walk up the big hill if the yellow gates at wutung are closed.accom in jayapura try dafonsoro hotel in city centre,in sentani ratna manunggal hotel near airport/wamena the putri dani inn/or mas budi hotel. good luck	2

Crossing from Vanimo to Jayapura(West Papua)