Sumba's beaches, lagoons and waterfalls: nine places worth the drive

Sumba is large and quiet. Many of its best places have no crowds at all. These are nine of them, from west to east.

West and Southwest

• Weekuri Lagoon. A saltwater lagoon with very clear water, good for a swim. Watch for sharp coral. There are basic toilets and a shower.
• Mandorak Beach. A small beach between two cliffs. In June and July the sun sets right between them.
• Pero and Marosi. Wide beaches on the south-west coast, often completely empty.
• Lapopu Waterfall. A tall waterfall that drops in tiers, a short walk from the car park. Best in the dry season. After rain the water runs brown and strong.

East

• Wairinding Hill. The most famous hill on the island, rolling savanna in every direction. Go for sunset.
• Walakiri Beach. Small mangrove trees on the sand that look like dancers against the sunset. Check the tide: at high tide they are under water.
• Tanggedu Waterfall. Called the Grand Canyon of Sumba, with pools carved into the rock. The last stretch is a walk of 15 to 20 minutes, or a short motorbike ride.
• Waimarang Waterfall. A turquoise pool in the forest, about a 20-minute trek each way.

When to go

The dry season, roughly May to September, brings golden landscapes and easier roads. In the rainy season, roughly November to March, some tracks and waterfalls are hard to reach.

Please take your rubbish with you. Most of these places have no bins, and they stay beautiful because people care for them.