Sumba Travel Guide
Sumba is one of Indonesia's southernmost islands known for its quietness, surfing and traditional Sumbanese villages. It resides in East Nusa Tenggara Province, around 300kms southeast of Bali.
- What is It?
- A large, sleepy island in the southern part of East Nusa Tenggara.
- When to Go
- May through November has the nicest weather in Sumba.
- Nearest Town
- Waingapu is the Sumba capital, located on the north coast.
- Don't Miss
- the traditional villages and Baing for the surfing.
- Trivia
- Sumba was home to many groups before the Majapahit Empire came about.
The largest town on Sumba is Waingapu, although with a population of a little over 10,000 it is hardly a bustling metropolis. It is the main gateway to Sumba, with air and sea ports and has a nice beach nearby. Heading south of the capital is Baing on the south coast of Sumba. It has the best surfing on the island at Kalala Beach.
Waikabubak is a popular West Sumba town, known for its close access to authentic Sumbanese villages, including that of Tarung. Pero is just northwest of here and also comes with some good surfing and pretty beaches.
Overall, Sumba isn't a popular destination in Indonesia as there are many more interesting and developed islands to check out, yet it is good for those looking for peace and quiet.
Travel to Sumba - Getting There
Waingapu Airport in the capital city receives flights from nearby Kupang on West Timor as well as from Denpasar on Bali. Flights come in several times a week. Flight time from Bali is 1 hour, 20 minutes. Boats also land at Waingapu from Flores and other islands in West Nusa Tenggara, along with Kupang to the east.
