Ratenggaro Village is Southwest Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province

When travelers hear about Ratenggaro, they may recall a beautiful beach located in Kodi Bangedo Sub-District, Southwest Sumba Regency. However, there is also a village located near to the beach which also becomes tourists’ vacation destination. Thus, everyone should not miss the chance to visit the village when spending a vacation in such beach! The site offers a unique local settlement with its culture and historical objects for tourists to explore, after all. Somehow, the village is worth photography as well! Not to mention it has become one of the best allures of East Nusa Tenggara Province.

The Nuance
Once arriving at Ratenggaro Village, tourists may feel the megalithic atmosphere right away. Perhaps, it is because of the presence of ancient tombstones and traditional houses of Sumba Tribe. According to the locals, there are about 300 old graves and 3 of them have a distinct shape. Some of them even reside near to the sea! It is amazing that these objects can withstand the harsh environment and age. As for the nuance, the village offers both peaceful and soothing ambiance. Thanks to the presence of shady trees and neat environment. Tourists would feel comfortable when exploring the site.

Exploring Ratenggaro Village
The first thing that tourists should do when arriving at Ratenggaro Village is indeed to learn the history. Before that, let’s talk about the name. Ratenggaro derives from the words “Rate” (graves) and “Garo” (people of Garo). Why the locals named it that way, though? It is said the clan war caused many casualties and the corpses were buried on site. No wonder, tourists may find lots of old tombstones once they get to the village.

Aside from the history, the next allure of Ratenggaro Village is none other than its traditional houses. Not only these structures are unique, but they also offer an interesting design with 4 levels. The first level is meant for pet or animals while the second level is for the residents. The third level is meant for crops storage and the fourth one is used as a place for cooking or a kitchen. Also, on the fourth level, the owners of the house use it to store sacred objects including buffalo horn as the symbol of prosperity.

It is true tourists are allowed to get in the houses, as long as they get the consent of the owners. It is important to take care of the environment and avoid littering or causing havoc during exploration. Another tip is related to the best time to visit the village. According to some passionate travelers, they usually come to the site in the afternoon before the sunset. It is because the sky looks the best with its orange color!

Nearby Attractions

• Karoso Beach
• Mbawana Beach
• Ratenggaro Beach
• Pero Beach
• Paranobaroro Village
• Wainyapu Beach

How to Get There
A trip to Ratenggaro Village starts from Kupang City. Tourists only need to get an airplane at El Tari International Airport and head to Tambolaka Airport right away. This flight may take around 55 minutes, actually. Once arriving at Tambolaka, they can simply ride any local transportation service and reach Ratenggaro Village right away. The distance is 49.1 km, so this trip may take at least 1 hour and 13 minutes. For a faster trip, it is recommended to take Lukas Dairo Bili Street, though.

Where to Stay

• Tino Purba