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). As the easternmost province (and provincial capital) of Indonesia, it is somewhat far from most of the country's major cities and perhaps contributes to the less modern development of the town. However, with the intensification of development in the Papua province, this city is growing, and attracting investment and tourism.
Papua has always been considered the most ignored part of Indonesia, in terms of development and tourism; a reputation that stems from the very far distance from other big cities in the nation. Jayapura began as a trading post nestled on a bay right at the centre of New Guinea, further developed by the Dutch in the 1900s as a port of entry to explore Eastern New Guinea, and gave the name Hollandia which means "the village of the Dutch". The area houses the frontline of the United States Air Force in World War II by General Douglas MacArthur for the 1945 Philippine Conquest and to prevent Japan from taking over New Guinea and Australia to its south.
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. Dedicated drivers can be arranged through the Swiss-Bel hotel for around Rp800,000 per day.
1 General MacArthur Memorial, Jl. Hawai Sentani, Sentani Kota (take the road on the right in front of BRI on your way to the airport). 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. (updated Feb 2017) 2 Base G Beach. A white sandy beach with pristine light blue waters overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Lake Sentani Festival (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. (updated Feb 2017) 1 Lukas Enemble Stadium Complex, Nolokla, Sentani. There is an aquatic center, shooting range, indoor stadium, and football main stadium. You may see a football match on the weekend. (updated Sep 2022)
1 Rumah Laut, Jl. Koti, ☏ +62 967 5367673. 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. (updated Feb 2017) 2 Ungkea Jungle Resto, Kwadeware, Waibu. Open 07:00. 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. (updated Nov 2022) The street food is plentiful and good. Different areas of the city have their own specialty.
Drinking in Jayapura is limited. Most restaurants will serve Bintang beer if you ask; however, it may not necessarily be cold. There are some bars and nightclubs in Entrop (5-min drive from the city), but they are not heavily frequented. The Swiss Belhotel bar is nice, but quiet.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Sep, Jayapura typically sees ~31°C daytime highs and 22 rainy days.
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