Need help! Madang to Vanimo --> Jayapura

We are currently roaming around the highlands and would head towards Indonesia in mid August by land. I guess the only option would be to go to Madang first, and then find a way to Vanimo.
Some locals here told us about a ship running the route Madang-Vanimo once or twice a week. As we tried finding more info about this, some say there ain't any ship running this journey at this time. We also heard about a long, exhausting route by land and rivers from Madang to Wewak, and then to Aitape and Vanimo. Anyone has taken this journey recently? Or some advice, tips?

Ships to Vanimo are scarce, possibly only 1 or 2 monthly. If it happens to go when you need it, great.

If not, it gets more complicated.
You first need to get to Wewak, either by one of the more frequent ships (1 or 2 weekly) or by a complicated road+river journey.
From Wewak, you can travel by road at least to Aitepe. From there to Vanimo, you travel either by road again, or by speedboat.

The final leg from Vanimo to the border is easy by road, as is the onward trip to Jayapura.

firstly do you have indonesian passports or visas ? if not you will not be able to enter from PNG via land at vanimo AFAIK - you may be able to get a visa in port moresby

your travel options from mount hagen

you can fly to vanimo (with touchdown in wewak)

you can fly to wewak then by PMV bus then banana boat to vanimo

you can get by land on PMV to madang then by boat to wewak - either a mix of banana boat and pmv
or there are larger ships that run to wewak (cargo ships which take passengers not on a fixed schedule)
i understand a main bridge down outside madang has made this trip more difficult

there is no port at vanimo so large ships do not stop there

Aren't visas available in Vanimo any more?
I got them there in the past.

But Jayapura sea port also allows for visa on arrival, and I believe Wutung land border is on the visa-free entry list - though the latter list has recently disappeared from the Indonesian immigration website, making it hard to check.

anyone trying should be aware of the possibility that they cannot obtain the visa and have to go back
whether the indonesian consulate in vanimo can issue visas is something which should be confirmed
you report that they have in the past others but have reported that they will not (at least for not for non-PNG citizens)

There are now two ways to enter Indonesia without a visa issued before arrival.
Both should work either at the Wuntung land border (visa-free entry) or at Jayapura sea port (visa issued on arrival).
This renders the Q of whether visas are available in Vanimo or not far less relevant.

thanks laszlo i think you are right - checking with those who could not get visa they are old news - since the new indo border post opened last year it is a legitimate entry for visa free arrival for a 30 day visa permit on arrival (requires 6mo validity of passport and proof of
onward or return travel) - if you need more than 30 days you need a visa in advance as the 30 day permit cannot be extended

Skouw is C7 on this official list

http://www.imigrasi.go.id/index.php/en/layanan-publik/bebas-visa#immigration-checkpoint

countries applicable are here

http://www.imigrasi.go.id/index.php/en/layanan-publik/bebas-visa#free-visa-countries-list

be aware that the border can close from either side if there is trouble in the border area but this is usually resolved quickly

There is another option which you may not have considered. In 1982 and 1983 in two separate month long trips I walked between Mendi and Ok Tedi near the Indonesian border. I have heard of others who have done similar month long treks (eg from Telofomin to the coast) You can walk almost anywhere in PNG if you have enough time, courage confidence and experience. Just a thought. Also try contacting MAF airlines - they fly to remote places.

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