Discover the Sumba few people see
Lagoons, waterfalls, megalithic villages and empty beaches, on one map, with live weather and honest tips. Part of the Sumba network with The Sumba Times.
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Waingapu
Waikabubak
Tambolaka
Waibakul
Regions
6 placesSouthwest Sumba
The wild south-west: Weekuri Lagoon, the megalithic villages of Kodi and remote beaches. The gateway is Tambolaka airport.
5 placesWest Sumba
Green hills, the town of Waikabubak, traditional villages and the Pasola grounds of Wanokaka and Lamboya, with long beaches on the south coast.
2 placesCentral Sumba
The forested heart of the island and Matalawa National Park, home to Lapopu and Matayangu waterfalls. The least visited region.
14 placesEast Sumba
The biggest and driest region: golden savanna, Wairinding hills, Walakiri's dancing trees, ikat villages and the wild south coast. The gateway is Waingapu.
Secret spots
Places most visitors miss. Go with respect, take your rubbish with you and leave them as you found them.
VillagesSecret spotWainyapu Village
Southwest Sumba
Ratenggaro's quieter neighbour, across the river mouth.
BeachesSecret spotPero Beach
Southwest Sumba
A working fishing village on the Kodi coast with wooden boats pulled up on the sand and a reef break that draws a handful of surfers.
WaterfallsSecret spotMatayangu Waterfall
Central Sumba
A hidden waterfall deep in the forest of Matalawa National Park in Central Sumba, reached on foot along a jungle trail.
ViewpointsSecret spotBrotherhood Hill
East Sumba
Bukit Persaudaraan, a ridge of savanna hills just outside Waingapu with wide views over valleys, rice fields and the sea.
VillagesSecret spotPraiyawang, Rende
East Sumba
The old royal village of Rende in south-east Sumba, famous for some of the largest carved stone tombs on the island and for fine ikat.
WaterfallsSecret spotWaimarang Waterfall
East Sumba
A waterfall that drops into a round, jade-green pool surrounded by rock walls, in the Rindi area of East Sumba.
BeachesSecret spotTarimbang Bay
East Sumba
A remote bay on the south coast of East Sumba, reached by a long, winding road through the hills.
ViewpointsSecret spotWanggameti
East Sumba
The highlands around Mount Wanggameti, the highest point of Sumba, inside Matalawa National Park.
WaterfallsSecret spotTanggedu Waterfall
East Sumba
A river that has carved a narrow rock canyon in the hills of East Sumba, leaving a staircase of turquoise pools and small falls.
BeachesSecret spotWatu Maladong Beach
Southwest Sumba
A remote beach on the south coast of Southwest Sumba, framed by big rock formations and clear water.
VillagesSecret spotWunga Village
East Sumba
A traditional village on the dry north coast of East Sumba.
ViewpointsSecret spotNapu Valley
East Sumba
Wide grassy hills and a green river valley around the village of Napu, in Haharu on the north coast of East Sumba.
Guides
Best time to visit Sumba and what the weather is like
Dry season, rainy season and what each means for beaches, waterfalls and roads.
How to get to Sumba and get around the island
Airports, flights from Bali, ferries, distances and why most visitors hire a car with a driver.
Respect and etiquette in Sumba's villages
Marapu, guestbooks, photos and gifts: how to be a welcome visitor.
Sumba in 3 days: a route for the west
Three days around Tambolaka, Kodi and West Sumba: lagoons, megalithic villages and waterfalls.
Sumba in 5 days: west and east
Five days crossing the island from Tambolaka to Waingapu, with the highlights of both sides.
Sumba in 7 days: the complete route
A full week to see Sumba slowly, including the remote south and north coasts.
Surfing in Sumba: where and when
Reef breaks, empty bays and what to know before paddling out in Sumba.
Pasola: Sumba's horseback spear ritual
What the Pasola is, where it happens and how to watch it respectfully.
Sumba ikat: how it is made and how to buy it well
The island's famous hand-woven textiles, and how to support the weavers.
How much does a trip to Sumba cost?
What you will spend on in Sumba and how to plan your budget.
Health and safety in Sumba
Hospitals, insurance, mosquitoes, the sea and the roads: what to know before you go.
Sumba or Bali? An honest comparison
Crowds, flights, healthcare, culture and nature: where each island wins.
Plan your days
One day per region, in an order that makes sense on the road.
All places
BeachesWeekuri Lagoon
Southwest Sumba
A saltwater lagoon cut off from the open ocean by a wall of coral rock.
BeachesMandorak Beach
Southwest Sumba
A tiny cove of white sand squeezed between two cliffs, a few minutes from Weekuri Lagoon.
VillagesRatenggaro Village
Southwest Sumba
A traditional Kodi village of towering thatched roofs and stone megalithic tombs set right above the beach.
BeachesMarosi Beach
West Sumba
A long, wide stretch of pale sand on the Lamboya coast of West Sumba, backed by palms and fields.
WaterfallsLapopu Waterfall
Central Sumba
One of Sumba's tallest waterfalls, tumbling down a series of rock terraces inside Matalawa National Park, on the border of West and Central Sumba.
VillagesTarung Village
West Sumba
A hilltop traditional village in the middle of Waikabubak, the capital of West Sumba.
CulturePasola field, Wanokaka
West Sumba
The open field where Wanokaka holds the Pasola, a ritual contest in which riders throw blunt wooden spears at each other on horseback.
ViewpointsWairinding Hill
East Sumba
Rolling grass hills beside the main road west of Waingapu, green in the rainy season and gold in the dry months.
VillagesPrailiu Royal Village
East Sumba
A traditional royal village inside Waingapu, known for its hand-woven ikat.
BeachesWalakiri Beach
East Sumba
A shallow beach east of Waingapu where small mangrove trees stand in the water.
BeachesPuru Kambera
East Sumba
Where the savanna of East Sumba runs straight into the sea, north-west of Waingapu.
VillagesWaigalli Village
West Sumba
A hilltop traditional village in Wanokaka, West Sumba, with high-roofed houses and stone tombs, close to the field where the Wanokaka Pasola is held..
BeachesLonda Lima Beach
East Sumba
A long stretch of sand a short drive north-west of Waingapu, where local families come at weekends and in the late afternoon.
BeachesRua Beach
West Sumba
A pale-sand beach on the south coast of West Sumba, with clear water and few people.
BeachesPadadita Beach
East Sumba
Waingapu's town beach, where fishing boats come in and locals gather in the evening.