Waingapu is the capital of the East Sumba Regency, which can be found on the island of Sumba, which is part of the group of Lesser Sunda Islands. In addition to that, Waingapu is also the largest town that can be found on Sumba Island, with a total population of 52,755 inhabitants. Among the attraction of Waingapu is its handful of natural attractions such as decent beaches and lush forest that is still relatively untouched compared to the more developed tourism sites in addition to the unique culture of the island settlers that are still mostly having firm grips of their traditions and customs. Given Waingapu’s importance, in a way, it is the main gateway for tourists intending to come over to explore the regency and the island.

Airports in Waingapu

Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport

Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport which is formerly known as Mau Hau Airport, is the main airport in the East Sumba Regency that is meant to serve the city of Waingapu and its nearby areas. Located roughly about 24 kilometers away from the city center, it is the primary gateway to the regency and generally the island of Sumba. Owned by the government of Indonesia and operated by the Ministry of Transport, Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport has been recently upgraded with a new terminal that was inaugurated on 2016 that is aimed to boost passenger services in comparison to the old terminal. At an elevation of 10 meters above the sea level, the airport currently has a runway that is 2,200 meters long and is made of asphalt. It mainly caters to many airlines such as NAM Air, Susi Air, TransNusa and Wings Air for destinations to and from Bali-Denpasar, Kupang, Ruteng and Savu among others. One may be able to come over to Waingapu from Manila by heading to Jakarta or Bali-Denpasar first before taking the flight to this airport.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Waingapu?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Waingapu.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 Waingapu.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Waingapu?

The off-peak season to visit Waingapu is typically in September, which can be great news as one can expect travel costs to be much lesser if you are travelling around this month because of the drop in flight and accommodation prices. The peak time to visit Waingapu is usually around March, April and June, 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.

Waingapu, in a similar fashion to other towns on the island of Sumba, has a tropical wet and dry climate according to Köppen climate classification which implies hot and humid weather throughout the year with little to no variation in temperature. The average high temperature in Waingapu around 29 and 35 degree Celsius while the average low is around 22.5 and 24.8 degree Celsius. There is the wet season which occurs from November to April while the dry season occurs from May to October.

As you spend your time in Waingapu, you can look forward to participate in a variety of events just like a local would. To begin with, Waingapu is predominantly inhabited by residents practicing the animist religion as well as the Christianity faith. As such, in addition to observing the national holidays such as the Independence Day, a considerable portion of the residents will celebrate Christmas Day as their major celebration and public holiday, in addition to other Christianity-related celebrations like Easter Day. On the other hand, there is a small population of Sunni Muslims that look forward to celebrations such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri which is typically celebrated merrily nationwide.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Waingapu?

The city of Waingapu does have its own fair share of attractions. Therefore, tourists coming over to the town and nearby areas should check the locations below when they are in town.

Prailiu – Prailiu is a cultural village that contains mesmerizing megalithic tombstones that are a sight to behold on its own. That aside, the village also allows tourist to have a closer look at the locals' way of life, especially their unique way of the traditional Ikat weaving process. One may also have the chance to purchase them as merchandise to bring back home.

Sandalwood Park – Located within the city bounds, the park is considered an iconic park that in the city that is popular even among the locals. A lot of people typically gather here during their free time to meet, take a walk or even eat snacks sold by the local stalls operating around the area.

Tanggedu Waterfall – A natural waterfall that is the main natural attraction around the area, it can be found about 60 kilometers away from the town, pretty further into the forest. The waterfall has water falling from low cliffs and complemented by more rocky cliffs, providing a beautiful sight on its own. No wonder it is known as the East Sumba Grand Canyon.