Best time to visit Sumba and what the weather is like
Dry season, rainy season and what each means for beaches, waterfalls and roads.
Sumba has two seasons. The dry season runs roughly from April to November: sunny days, dusty roads and savanna that turns gold, especially in the east. The rainy season runs roughly from December to March, when the hills turn green and waterfalls are at their fullest, but some dirt roads become hard to drive.
Which month for what
Beaches and road trips: May to October. Waterfalls with water and passable roads: April to July. Green landscapes: January to April. Pasola festival: February or March, on dates set each year by Marapu elders.
East versus west
East Sumba is drier, with open savanna and a long dry season. The west and south-west are greener and get more rain. Plan waterfalls for the west and savanna sunsets for the east.
Rains can come late
In some years the rains arrive weeks late. Check our live forecast before you travel and read The Sumba Times for weather news.
Guides
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.