Lapopu Waterfall in Central Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province

It is not wrong to say that East Nusa Tenggara Province is known for its exotic beaches. However, tourists also look for other interesting attractions when exploring the region including pristine waterfalls like Lapopu. This one belongs to Central Sumba Regency and resides in South Katikutana Sub-District actually. To be exact, the location is in Lapopu Village. As people may expect, the waterfall got the name from the location where it resides. The good thing is that it is located within Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park, so the nuance is quite comfortable and peaceful (which is suitable for lessening).

The Nuance
Surrounded by big trees and lush environment, Lapopu Beach offers a soothing ambiance to visitors. The waterfall consists of several levels and it has the height of approximately 90 meters! No wonder, this natural attraction is worth photography or simply sightseeing. The next impressive feature is the presence of peaceful and refreshing natural pond located right below it. Visitors are even allowed to get and take a bath in it! Not to mention several stones are also seen where tourists can use for sitting and resting during the exploration.

Exploring Lapopu Waterfall
The first impressive fact is that the waterfall is located near to Waikabubak City, so tourists are able to visit the location without hassles. During the trip, tourists can also see numerous natural attractions including lush trees and pristine environment. Perhaps the only disappointment is that tourists won’t find any street signs, so it takes some time to figure out the direction. Have no worries. This won’t be an issue if they hire a local guide when heading to the location. If they are lucky enough, some villagers may accompany them to get to the waterfall freely!

As mentioned before, Lapopu Waterfall is part of Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park. That means tourists need to pay the entrance fee before exploring the site. Well, the price is quite cheap so it is affordable for everyone. In the entrance, there is the guard post where tourists can find facilities like toilets and a place to change clothes. From this site, it takes a short trekking for about 500 meters to get to the waterfall. It even involves passing a wooden bridge before arriving at the location.

Tourists get the real fun once they arrive at the site. The beauty of Lapopu Waterfall is indeed astonishing. Aside from sightseeing and photography, tourists are able to do other fun activities like swimming and playing water on its natural pond as well! Well, make sure to carry extra clothes when visiting the waterfall though. Also, everyone should avoid littering at all cost!

Nearby Attractions

• Matayangu Waterfall
• Lahi Kaninu Dam
• Praigoli Village
• Lailiang Beach

How to Get There
From Kupang City, it takes a flight from El Tari International Airport to Tambolaka Airport which takes about 55 minutes. Once arriving at Tambolaka, tourists need to spend about 1 hour and 39 minutes of a trip to get to Lapopu Waterfall as the distance is 63.4 km. The first destination is Katikunata Sub-District and tourists only need to get to Lapopu Village afterward where the waterfall resides. As for the faster trip, they should take only Raja Yohanes Ngongo Bani Street though.

Where to Stay

• Karanu Hotel
• Ronita Inn
• Artha Hotel
• Manandang Hotel