Pugima Traditional Village in Wamena City, Papua Province

The richness in culture makes Indonesia becomes one of the best vacation destinations in the World. Located in the easternmost province (Papua Province), Wamena City is a good choice to witness traditional cultures and visit some interesting villages. For instance, there is Pugima Village at Walaleagama Sub-District, Jayawijaya Regency. The serenity and traditional living way of the locals are two major attractions there. That means tourists can get closer to villagers and learn some traditions while enjoying the beautiful panorama. The refreshing atmosphere helps them to eradicate stresses, too, somehow.

The Nuance
Pugima Traditional Village is located on a highland and secluded site. No wonder, the nuance is both peaceful and soothing. Villagers live in a traditional house called Honai, which is made of woods and straw. The houses are surrounded by sago trees and numerous types of plants! Plus, no vehicles and modern facilities are seen on the site. In the background, beautiful scenery of mountains looks majestic, too. What about the villagers? Well, they are friendly to visitors. The only matter is related to the language. For outsiders, in this case, it is recommended to hire a local guide when it comes to communication and gathering information from those people.

Exploring Pugima Traditional Village
Some tourists may wonder what they can do in Pugima Traditional Village. Actually, it can be as simple as interacting with villagers. For outsiders or those who don’t live in Papua Province, though, they need to hire a guide who can speak the local language fluently. This way, tourists are able to gather more information regarding the tribe and their traditions. It is even possible to eat together with them!

The next recommended thing to do when visiting Pugima Traditional Village is photography. Tourists can take photos with villagers or explore the village for taking pictures of nature and traditional buildings. During the harvest season, in fact, the locals work on the sago fields. At the time, tourists should take advantage of the moment to collect more photos. Do not forget to ask for the permission first before taking photos, though. The next perfect object to capture is none other than the traditional houses called Honai. The modest architecture and unique shape are indeed quite suitable for photography.

What is more? Those who visit Pugima Traditional Village should not forget to join the villages to cultivate and collect honey. It is because those people are known for their honey bee garden. Later, before going home, tourists can buy some honey as a souvenir. The price is affordable and the quality is superb! Thus, do not forget to get some later.

Nearby Attractions

• Pasir Putih Aikima
• Susu Mountain
• Mummy of Jiwika

How to Get There
From Sentani Airport at Jayapura Regency, tourists may spend around 30 minutes to reach Wamena Airport by airplane. If they come from Soekarno – Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, the flight takes more than 10 hours though. Later, after arriving at Wamena, they can simply take Pikhe Street and head to Pugima Village right away. The distance is 19.7 km, so the trip takes approximately 44 minutes.

Where to Stay

• The Baliem Valley Resort