Best Things to Do in Jayapura: From Greenscape to Seascape

Best Things to do in Jayapura – Jayapura, home to wonderful lush green scenery and alluring seascape is a destination that anyone should visit at least once in a lifetime, especially for people who love adventures. Jayapura is the pearl of Indonesia that you will wholeheartedly adore as soon as you learn more about it,

Well-known for its breathtaking beauty, Jayapura is also home to budget-friendly destinations that will paint memorable pictures in your mind.

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Discover Jayapura, From Youtefa Bay to Love Lake

Jayapura offers lots of natural charms to tourists; from hills, mountains, lakes, savannas, to waterfalls. Planning a trip could be frustrating sometimes, but worry not! tiket.com has manually curated the best things to do in Jayapura for your next visit, t-mates! 

1. Adore the Beauty of Youtefa Bay from Jokowi Hill

The first and foremost alluring destination that you can visit during your Jayapura trip is Youtefa Bay, where both nuance and beauty are splendid. Jokowi hill is the perfect alternative if you want to enjoy Youtefa’s jaw-dropping view, t-mates. 

Yes, you are right! The name itself was inspired by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. It is named after Jokowi’s visit in 2016 and has become a destination for the locals and the tourists. Except for a glass of young coconut ice that you perhaps want to drink, visitors do not have to pay for anything to witness the beauty of Youtefa Bay from Jokowi Hill. Fun, isn’t it?

If you want to explore the beauty of Youtefa Bay more than just its view, you can go ahead and visit Youtefa Bay directly, t-mates! You can do various things on the site, where you can sightsee, photograph, and do island hopping! All you need is good weather and you’re good to go!

2. Capture the Magic of Lake Sentani and Local Culture

Being the biggest lake in Papua Province, Sentani is situated near the Cyclop Mountains and has been a destination for many. The spacious lake is surrounded by lush green grasses and shrubs, creating a beautiful panorama. If you are adventurous enough, the lake temperature is perfect for you to swim!

More than just a lake, Sentani has been a resource for the livelihood of people around it. Locals use boats to catch fish using nets or fishing poles. As a tourist, you can even hop on the boat to visit one of the villages and spend your time tasting local cuisine, taking photographs, and blend in with the local lives for a bit.

3. Discover Love Lake and its Magnificent View

Just like its name, the “Love Lake” literally has the shape of a heart or love, t-mates. If you want to, you can get here after your visit to Sentani as it is located near to it. Hike your way to  the edge of lush green hills and get yourself rejuvenated by the air and beautiful panorama. 

If you want to get a clear view of the heart shape, it is the best for you to get on top of the hill. Since we are going full mode nature, there won’t be any shelters or toilets or kiosks along your way, so you must visit the lake at the right time to avoid the heat. Bring your own water bottles, t-mates 😉

4. Explore the Breeze of Sentani Cyclop Waterfall

Located just minutes away from Sentani airport, Cyclop waterfall can be reached by hiking along a mountain trail for 20 minutes approx. Don’t worry t-mates, your weariness will pay off as soon as you arrive at the spot.

The foamy water falling over the rocks adds a fresh ambiance to the atmosphere. It’s a perfect spot to take some photographs!

5. Visit the Well-Known Base-G Beach

Just a few minutes away from the heart of the city, Base-G beach offers its own beauty and peaceful ambiance. A visit to Jayapura will not be perfect without a stroll or even a swim at Base-G Beach. For something so close to the city, Base-G Beach is located at a strategic location so you don’t have to spend a lot of effort to get there.

Base-G Beach is well-known for its clear blue waters, and pristine atmosphere. The water is so clear that you can even look down into the sea and capture its underwater beauty. So, what to wait for? Build your own sandcastle and put Base-G Beach on your itinerary, t-mates 😉

6. Get a Taste of Papua Delightful Signature Dish: Papeda

We have discovered the beauty of Jayapura and the next thing we must have on our list is of course to get a taste of Papua’s signature dish, Papeda! Made from sago starch, Papeda is a sago porridge that is eaten as a main course along with other side dishes. It is in fact, a substitute for rice and the staple food of native people of Papua and Maluku.

Just like steamed rice, Papeda is a dish that should not be eaten unaccompanied, it is often served with yellow fish soup, or other fishes with turmeric and lime as the main ingredients.

There is only one unique way to eat this thick, glutinous, and viscous meal. You need a pair of wooden sticks to roll it, then plop about a cup-sized chunk of Papeda in your plate 😉 A full main course of Papeda would cost you approximately 50.000 IDR to 100.000 IDR, t-mates. 

7. Souvenirs Hunting at Hamadi Market to Bring Back Home

We have explored the beauty, the local culture, the mouthwatering dishes, and now… What is something else exciting other than souvenirs hunting?! Papua is rich in its culture and offers you tons of unique handicrafts that are parts of cultural identities that represent local materials, techniques, and talents.

There are not many shops in Jayapura where you can buy souvenirs, but there is a famous one, Hamadi Market. Well known as great sculptors and waivers, you can perhaps consider buying a noken bag; traditionally made from wood barks and fibers. There are Asmat Wood Carvings, Pandan Hat, Tifa, also traditional accessories that you can buy and give to your loved ones.

Enjoy Your Budget-Friendly Jayapura Trip 😉

Let us recap our “Best Things to Do in Jayapura” list that we have written down, t-mates. And YES! It will only cost you under 200K to visit those destinations above and enjoy a full course of Papeda 😉 Of course, this does not include the hotels, transportations, and souvenirs that you want to bring home or other things that you might want to buy along your way, t-mates. But hey, now you know a little glimpse of the numbers at least. 

So, what to wait? Use tiket FLEXI for flexible dates and book your flight tickets to Jayapura only at tiket.com! The pearl of Indonesia awaits you, t-mates!

*The information is valid at the time of writing. Price and other policies are subject to change at any time without prior notice.