Travel to Papua New Guineawith travel insurnce from Essential Travel

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Information on Papua New Guinea with single trip travel insurance from Essential Travel

Much of Papua New Guinea is covered by an exquisite natural environment of dense rainforest, tangled tropical flowers and creepers, which is home to abundant animal and bird life. This fabulously unspoilt scenery, together with a spectacular marine environment and a kaleidoscope of different cultures and languages, make Papua New Guinea a wonderfully exotic and enticing holiday destination.

Over 800 languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea, and the differences between the various groups of people carry over to their arts, crafts and traditions. A wealth of creative expression and cultural individualism is encapsulated in the pottery, paintings, etchings, carvings, basketwork and musical instruments that are crafted all over the country. Artefacts and handicrafts can be purchased directly from the artists themselves, or through shops, and make excellent gifts and souvenirs to take home.

Port Moresby is the country’s capital city and has a number of worthwhile cultural and recreational attractions. The National Museum and Art Gallery has a fascinating collection of exhibits on the country’s geography, history, culture and environment, while the vibrant markets of Boroko and Gordons have a stupendously large variety of goods on offer, and are a great place to pick up souvenirs. Close to town are a number of attractive coastal areas with pristine beaches and superb underwater reefs.

Variarata National Park, on Sogeri Plateau near Port Moresby, and McAdam National Park near Bulolo are the country’s two major reserves, and are certainly worth visiting. Madang province, to the southeast, is a diver’s dream, with incredible opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling off the coast and around the islands of Kranket and Long.

The city of Rabaul, on the northern coast, was laid waste by the eruption of the Tuvurvur volcano in 1994, but still attracts visitors with its WWII wreck dive sites and labyrinthine tunnels. The Sepik region is a natural wonderland of mist-drenched lakes, craggy mountains, beautiful beaches and the Sepik River, and also allows visitors a glimpse of the traditional stilt houses and lifestyles of the rural people.

Papua New Guinea offers a plethora of exciting leisure opportunities, including snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming in the tropical waters, trekking and rock climbing in the mountainous regions, and white-water rafting on the Watut and Waghi rivers.

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