Waingapu Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

The terminal for buses going east is in the southern part of town, close to the market. The new West Sumba terminal is about 5km west of town. Buses to Waikabubak (28, 000Rp, four hours) depart at around 7am, 8am, noon and 3pm from the latter. The road is sealed but windy, and bridges are occasionally washed away in the wet season.

Buses head southeast to Melolo, Rende and Baing. Several travel through the morning and afternoon to Melolo, with a few continuing on to Rende, Ngalu and Baing. Most return to Waingapu on the same day.

There are also daily buses northwest to Prailiang and southwest to Tarimbang.

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Boat

Waingapu is quite well serviced by ASDP ferries, all departing from the old pier in the centre of town. One ferry departs from Ende for Waingapu on Thursday at midnight, returning to Ende (30, 800Rp, seven hours) and on to Kupang at 7pm on Friday. There’s also a connection to Aimere in Flores (Monday at around midnight) and a regular service to Pulau Sabu. Schedules are subject to change – check them at the ASDP office (61533; Jl Wanggameti 3).

Pelni (61665; Jl Hasanuddin) ships leave from the newer Darmaga dock to the west of town. Don’t try and walk, as it is further than it looks; bemos charge 2500Rp per person. The Pangrano calls in every two weeks at 8pm on Friday on its way to Ende and Kupang. The Awu sails for Ende and on to Larantuka and Alor, and on the return trip to Benoa in Bali.

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Air

Merpati (61323; Jl Soekarno 4) has three flights a week to/from Kupang. There are more services to Denpasar from Tambulaka in West Sumba.

Transnusa (61489; Jl Ahmad Yani) has four flights a week to Kupang, two to Denpasar and one to Tambaluka.

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