Putussibau is the name of the town that is found in Kapuas Hulu Regency of West Kalimantan province in Indonesia. The town is named after a combination of two words, 'putus’ that means to break or split, as well as Sibau, which is the name of a tree species that is also the name of a Kapuas tributary river. It was said in the legends that once, a Sibau tree broke and fell into the river, causing it to split, and the nearby area was named after the historic event. It is estimated that the population is about 12,459 residents living over an area of 139.3 square kilometers. Initially a village far remote in the jungle before being turned into a colonial outpost, the town later thrived as a market town due to its location that is far upstream on the Kapuas River. It becomes its main economic driver till the present day, allowing Puttussibau to become the Kapuas Hulu Regency's seat and industrial center.

Airports in Putussibau

Pangsuma Airport

Pangsuma Airport is the main airport that functions to serve the city of Putussibau as well as nearby areas around Kapuas Hulu Regency. Being located about 3.7 kilometers away from the city, the public airport handles flights heading to destinations around and within Indonesia such as Pontianak and Sintang which are typically handled by Garuda Indonesia, NAM Air, Susi Air and Wings Air. Owned by the Government of Indonesia, it is operated by the Ministry of Transportation under the management of UPT Ditjen Hubud which is an agency within the ministry. It is situated at an elevation of 91 meters above sea level with one runway measuring about 1,800 meters and is made of asphalt. One may be able to come over to Putussibau from Manila by heading to Jakarta first before taking the flight to Pontianak and land at Supadio International Airport which acts as an international gateway for the area.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Putussibau?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Putussibau and the nearby regency of West Kutai.All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Putussibau.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Putussibau?

The off-peak season to visit Putussibau, as well as the nearby regions, is usually in February which is the least humid month in Putussibau. As such, one can expect travel costs to be much lesser if you are travelling around this month. The peak time to visit Putussibau is usually around November to January, therefore expect prices to rise around this time. If you plan your trip well, you can undoubtedly save your money because the price for hotels and flights during the peak season will cost you a lot of money.

Putussibau, just like other regions around Indonesia and surrounding countries especially the ones around the region of Borneo, has a tropical rainforest climate which dry season is shorter, and rainfall usually is heavy throughout the year. The average maximum temperature in Putussibau would typically reach around 32 and 35 degree Celsius while the average minimum would go to 23.4 and 24.4 degree Celsius. The hottest months are usually around April, May and June. Putussibau also has a high humidity with some months being more humid than others with chances of precipitation to happen all year round.

In Putussibau, you can similarly enjoy a couple of festivals to the locals would. Just like other parts in Indonesia, Putussibau has a multiracial and multicultural demography majorly consisting of the people practicing a couple of faiths such as Islam and Christianity. Therefore they will observe Hari Raya Aidilfitri, with celebrations done after fasting for one month during Ramadan, as well as other festivals in the Muslim calendar such as Aidiladha, Muharram and Prophet’s Birthday. On the other hand, the settlers practicing Christianity may observe Christmas among others.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Putussibau?

While Putussibau may seem like your usual town or regency, there are still a handful of attractions that can be considered to visit if you are planning to come here.

Betung Kerihun National Park – A national park located further inland that lines alongside the Malaysian border, Betung Kerihun National Park has been established since 1995 and governed by the Ministry of Forestry. This mountainous park has Borneo montane and lowland rain forest with varying altitudes from 150 meters to 1,800 meters and covers an area of 8,000 square kilometers or 5.5 percent of the West Kalimantan province.

Lake Sentarum National Park – Lake Sentarum National Park is known for having one of the world’s most biodiverse lake systems, lying in the upper Kapuas River tectonic basin that is a vast floodplain. First gazetted as a reserve in 1982 before being declared a National Park in 1999, the 1,320 square kilometers park has recorded 240 species of fish and 237 bird species.

Betang Banua Tengah – Said to be built around 1864, the Betang Banua Tengah is the oldest longhouse in the region, has built since 1864. Its floor is situated 4.5 meters above the land and can be found 54 kilometers northwest of town, which can be accessed via bus or taxi.