Hi, guys! This week, let me show you the beautiful beaches and waterfalls in Sumba, Indonesia 😍 📸 ✨
In this blog post, we will visit three Sumba beaches: Mandorak Beach, Watubela Beach, Puru Kambera Beach, and Walakiri Beach (bonus: Waikuri Lagoon).
Meanwhile, the stunning Sumba waterfalls we’ll explore are Weekacura Waterfall, Lapopu Waterfall, and Tanggedu Waterfall.
Actually, I was supposed to visit Waimarang Waterfall too, but I skipped it because the pathway was tough. At some point, I would have to become ‘Jane’ as I need to use a tree root as a rope to go down! 😂
If you love nature, you can enjoy the view in peace since there aren’t many tourists. I’m not sure why people only go to Bali while Sumba is just 1.5-hour flight from the island…
It’s a good thing, though! Where else can you enjoy beautiful scenery without crowds or influencers taking selfies? Hehe! 😌 😌 😌
First Stops in Sumba: Waikuri Lagoon and Mandorak Beach
On my first day in Sumba, I went to a traditional Ratenggaro Village, Waikuri Lagoon, and Mandorak Beach.
The way to Waikuri Lagoon was smooth, everything went well, but thank God I wore my hiking shoes! Because to get a nice view and photos, I had to walk on karst stones…
So guys, no matter how much you want to take nice photos, remember safety first! Avoid high heels, wedges, or slippers because the karst stones are spikey 😵
Next, we went to the Ratenggaro Village and Mandorak Beach. Usually, beaches in Sumba are very quiet, but when I was there, a part of Mandorak Beach was lively.
There were more travellers and locals (especially children) at the beach. Since tourism was the primary income for the locals, the children were quite skilled in taking photos with mobile phones.
So, if you travel to Sumba without a tour guide cum photographer, you can always ask the local children to help you and give them some money in exchange.
Oh ya, remember to ask for the price first! 😉
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On Mandorak Beach, you can also take photos with ponies for a small fee. For example, luxury beach hotels in Sumba, NIHI, usually offer pony rides on the beach during sunrise.
Clara, what about the traditional villages? Don’t worry, I will write a separate post about the traditional villages in Sumba 😊
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Watubela Beach, My Favourite Beach in Sumba
Watubela Beach is my favourite beach in Sumba. When I was there, it was huge and had only a few travellers.
I really enjoyed my time walking on the beach during sunset, feeling the sand with my naked feet in silence…
And of course, I had an uninterrupted photoshoot – which was great! Karim, my tour guide cum photographer, took many photos and videos with his cameras, drone, and phone.
Alas, in the middle of the photo shoot, the drone suddenly died! It was only Day 2 of the tour, so I was disappointed because we couldn’t capture the beautiful view of Sumba from above…
But it was okay, since the drone was an extra service from the tour. At least I’m very happy with the video and photos! 😍 😍 😍
It was my first time travelling with a personal photographer. And the best part? It was included in the tour package! Thank you so much, Explore Sumba and Karim Haris!
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Puru Kambera Beach and the Iconic Walakiri Beach, Sumba
Sorry guys, there’s an error in the previous post. The hottest sunset destination in Sumba is Walakiri Beach!
It just happened that Walakiri Beach is very near to Puru Kambera Beach, so I made the error.
Since we’ve seen the sunset view of Walakiri Beach in the previous blog post, I will show you Puru Kambera Beach and the other side of Walakiri Beach (without the mangrove trees).
Puru Kambera Beach is another quiet, lovely beach for watching sunset. You can sit comfortably and sip coconut water while admiring the sea.
Or, you can walk barefoot on the clean, white sand.
Walakiri Beach is small and you’ll see many seaweed swept away to the beach. Even if you visit Walakiri Beach, Sumba in the morning (not for the sunset photoshoot), try to walk further barefoot!
I love the soft, warm feeling of walking on the seaweed bed and sand… I was there during sunset, so the water was a bit cold. Maybe it’s warm in the morning 😉
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A Waterfall in the Middle of a Paddy Field? Welcome to Weekacura Waterfall, Sumba!
Besides beaches, Sumba is famous for its amazing waterfall. They’re even more beautiful because you need to walk a lot before reaching them – like opening a gift slowly.
Some waterfalls need a lot of effort to be explored, though!
But don’t worry, you only need good hiking slippers or hiking shoes, and be careful when walking to reach Weekacura Waterfall, Sumba.
Although Sumba is a small island, the roads in this underrated destination are mostly smooth and well-maintained.
Weekacura Waterfall offers a unique view as this natural waterfall is located in the middle of a paddy field. The best thing? There aren’t many people – YET!
When I was there, there were only me, Karim, and a couple. Can you believe it?
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The couple looked very happy, resting underneath a big tree near the waterfall, just the two of them. Me and Karim were busy taking photos and videos, then rested in a wooden gazebo and admiring the view.
Yes, there were just the four of us at Weekacura Waterfall Sumba, enjoying the view in total zen.
If Sumba is as popular as Bali, maybe some people would picnic near the waterfall and leave trash everywhere. Or there would be a long line of people wanting to take photos.
I’m glad that I explored Sumba this year. Who knows if it will become as popular as Bali next year?
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Lapopu Waterfall Sumba, A Romantic Destination for Couples
Alright, if you’re coupled, you’ll have a high chance to enjoy Lapopu Waterfall, Sumba, just for the two of you.
This 90-metre waterfall in the middle of the jungle is a bit secluded, so you can have a romantic outing with your bae. Be it swimming, a picnic, or others, let your creativity run well (not wild) 😉
If you want to have a picnic near Lapopu Waterfall, don’t litter okay? Also, be mindful that you may bump into some locals or other tourists, so don’t get carried away ❤️🔥 ❤️🔥 ❤️🔥
When I was there, a couple who stayed at NIHI, The World’s 10th Best Hotels, came with an entourage.
They came for a romantic lunch by the waterfall, with food freshly grilled and prepared by the hotel’s staff.
I think there were around 10 staff who accompanied them, including some chefs. They even brought BBQ equipment, real plates, etc! 👀 👀 👀 #luxuryhotel
If my cashflow was as rapid as Lapopu Waterfall Sumba, maybe I would stay at NIHI too 💰 💰 💰
During my 6-day solo Sumba trip, I stayed in budget homestays and a 3-star hotel. They were fine, the important things were my room was clean and the AC worked well, ahahhaha 😄 😄 😄
I felt grateful enough to be able to enjoy Lapopu Waterfall in Sumba… Truly, travel when your knees and back are still healthy!
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Tanggedu Waterfall Sumba – the Filming Location of Susah Sinyal
The first time I heard about Sumba was when I watched an Indonesian movie, Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts.
Yes, although I’m an Indonesian, I had never heard of Sumba! The thriller movie was played at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, in the Director’s Fortnight section and received many good reviews.
Another popular Indonesian movie that was filmed in Sumba is Susah Sinyal (aka Difficult to Get Signal).
While Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts mostly shows beautiful hill views in Sumba, this drama comedy movie shows everything Sumba offers – the hills, beaches, and waterfalls!
Susah Sinyal was filmed in September 2017, with the entire 100 filming crew went to the island to shoot the movie. It was one of the best-selling movies in Indonesia that year.
The road to the picturesque Tanggedu Waterfall in Sumba ain’t easy. You need to walk under the hot sun for 2.5km and cross a suspension bridge.
When I was there, I hired ojek aka a motorcycle taxi for the return trip. It cost me 50k rupiah (around RM14 or 3 USD).
After that, you need to go down hundreds of stairs to reach the waterfall. You can do it! 💪💪💪
When they filmed Susah Sinyal in 2017, the road was bumpy and there was NO suspension bridge. So, imagine the film crew carried all the filming equipment, crossing the river… 🫡 🫡 🫡
Interestingly, there was a small warung (shop) on top of the waterfall where you could get a cup of coffee, coconut water, instant noodles, etc. And the place was very clean – there was no trash at all!
Honestly, the photos that I show you don’t do justice to the amazing Tanggedu Waterfall.
Why?? Because it’s best to take photos of Tanggedu Waterfall, Sumba, with drones! Alas, the drone that Karim brought was dead on Day 2 of the tour 🤧🤧🤧
Also, if you’re willing to risk your life (and the photographer’s life) by standing at the end of the rock… you’re welcome (no, please don’t!).
But bear in mind, there were already five people drowned in this waterfall… So, be careful when taking photos, guys! Let the drone do its job, or even better, just enjoy the moment ✨✨✨
Alright, it’s a very long blog post! Wheew, I’m so tired writing this!! Thank you everyone for reading, I hope you enjoy our journey in Sumba, Indonesia!
If you want to explore the beaches and waterfalls in Sumba, I highly recommend joining a private tour for your convenience.
As I mentioned before, there’s no signal in some areas, so if you rent a motorbike and depend on Google Maps, that’s not a good idea…
Plus, there aren’t many petrol stations in Sumba, especially in the remote areas. Most of the time, you need to queue very early coz the queue is SUPER long. Karim and Herman had to queue at 5am!
Okay, so we’ve explored Waikuri Lagoon, Mandorak Beach, Watubela Beach, Puru Kambera Beach, Walakiri Beach, Weekacura Waterfall, Lapopu Waterfall, and Tanggedu Waterfall in Sumba, Indonesia.
Which one(s) is your favourite? Let me know in the comments! 😊😊😊
🎉 15% OFF ALL TOURS! 🎉
Click below and enter my discount code:
CLARA15
Click “Add Promo Code / Voucher” and enter CLARA15 when you checkout at onelifeadventures.com
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