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Capital and largest city of Papua, Indonesia
Photo: Ministry of Public Works and Housing of Indonesia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Jayapura is the capital and largest city in Papua, with a population of 315,000 people in 2014. The city has also been known in the past as Hollandia (1910-1962), Kota Baru (1962-1963) and even Sukarnopura (1963-1968).
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A monument honoring the American general Douglas MacArthur that defended the Philippines, New Guinea, and Australia from Japan on World War II; Then-Hollandia was where the military airplanes and operations took off. Whilst the memorial is basic, the steepness of the terrain makes the site a spectacular vantage point. A number of old Dutch colonial houses can also be seen on the road up to the memorial.
A white sandy beach with pristine light blue waters overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Quiet and undisturbed, yet not so far from the city center. The gazebos there are for rent though and preferable for a long rest in groups. Though entrance to the beach is free, beware of rip-offs from locals.
A local harbor beach near the city. On the beach are four large artillery emplacements from the World War II. Further down the beach are the local fish markets. The beach is not very well-kept and covered in rubbish. However, at night a number of food stalls are set up and provides plenty of atmosphere. Also the new Holtekamp Bridge nearby is quite an eye-catching phenomenon.
Watching sunset in the dusk. There is a natural freshwater pond on this beach.
A white sand beach.
A "blue" water river.
Lake Love, Danau Love
A love-shaped lake.
Danau Sentani
A large freshwater lake surrounded by steep mountains. A small number of restaurants and guesthouses are located on the edge of the lake.
An equivalent to Seattle's Kerry Park or Los Angeles' Griffith Park, the park on the mountain has a wide and perfect view of the Jayapura city and the bay it nestles in.
Bukit Teletubbies
A scenic grassy hill that was named for its resemblance to the hill from the Teletubbies television show.
Pos Lintas Batas Negara Skouw
The border post between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. There is a lighthouse so you may watch Solomon beach, Wutung in Papua New Guinea from above.
A new landmark of Jayapura.
Festival Danau Sentani
Every June, a portion of the lake (both the shore and the water) is used for a 4-day festivity that celebrates the diverse indigenous culture of Papua. The stage is lit with dances and traditional ceremonies, as crafts and local food & beverage favorites are on sale.
There is an aquatic center, shooting range, indoor stadium, and football main stadium. You may see a football match on the weekend.
An upmarket place, built on stilts above the waters of Jayapura Bay. Literally meaning "The Sea House", the menu includes seafood in addition to the usual Indonesian classics.
Traditional Papuan restaurant in the middle of sago plantation. They serve authentic Papuan dishes, papeda (the jelly carb from sago), ouw (grilled sago wrapped in banana leaf), kha ebehele (snakehead fish in black gravy), etc.
Meatball soup with many variants.
Serves mie ayam (chicken noodle). A halal food.
Tahu Tek Kaki Lima
Tofu dish with peanut sauce.
A mid-range hotel, right at the heart of the city center and a close walk to the large shops.
A 3-star hotel. Free Wi-Fi, refrigerator, and breakfast.
A 3-star hotel. Set in a colorful, contemporary building, this casual hotel is 3 km from the beach at Pantai Dok 2, 3.3 km from the Port of Jayapura, and 5 km from Mandala Stadium, a 30,000-capacity venue hosting soccer matches. Modern, streamlined rooms and suites come with flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and safes, as well as minibars, and tea and coffee-making facilities. Some suites have separate living and dining areas. Room service is available. Amenities include a coffee shop, a fitness center, and a casual guest lounge, plus a chic spa and an indoor pool. Free parking is provided.
The most luxurious option in Jayapura, as its hotel and pool overlooks the bay. The facilities are of high standard and more importantly for travelers with no Indonesian language skills, some of the front desk staff can speak English.
MJ
The largest in the metro area and the only mall in the city center. Though it's no different than any metropolitan shopping malls, this is the most chic place you can find to shop for everything you need.
A basic mall at another district. Not as much anchor tenants as Mal Jayapura other than the first KFC in the city that made the locals hyped.
By car
From the neighboring Papua New Guinea, you can travel for up to 2 hours from the border crossing at Skouw Checkpoint.
The public transport system consists of numerous minivans which have their destination route printed on the side. Each trip usually costs Rp6,000 per person.
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Sentani · International · DJJ
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