OUR STORY
We are a registered agency based in Jayapura, Indonesia. Locally owned, we manage a birdwatching lodge in Jayapura. Our guides are part of our team, ensuring the quality of every experience we offer.
Our mission is rooted in the destinations we call home, supported by 20 years of experience in Indonesia’s tourism industry and 10 years of expertise in Papua. We are here to help you experience something truly different while feeling comfortable, even in remote areas.
Waru Travel was founded by Alex Waisimon, whose vision is to make tourism more responsible and meaningful. With 30 years of experience as a travel agent and guide across Indonesia, Alex has spent the past 11 years dedicated to connecting travelers with Papua’s people, culture, wildlife, and natural heritage, while promoting ecotourism and birdwatching.
Alongside him, Carolin, our Director and Travel Designer, brings more than 15 years of experience in the tourism industry, combining creativity, professionalism, and a passion for exceptional service.
Together, they have built Waru Travel into a trusted partner for travelers and tour operators seeking authentic, responsible, and meaningful experiences while respecting local communities, traditions, and environments.
Travel That Creates Value
We believe responsible tourism begins with respect.
- Respect for the land.
- Respect for local cultures.
- Respect for communities.
- Respect for wildlife.
By working with local guides, communities, and conservation initiatives, we aim to create journeys where tourism becomes a positive force for the destinations we visit. For us, a successful journey is not only one that creates unforgettable memories for travelers, but one that also leaves meaningful value behind.
About Us
Waru Travel is a locally rooted travel company headquartered in Jayapura, Papua, dedicated to creating meaningful and authentic journeys across Papua and beyond.
We believe travel is more than simply visiting a destination. It is about connecting with people, discovering living traditions, experiencing wild places, and seeing Indonesia from a different perspective.
From remote villages and ancient forests to vibrant cultures and extraordinary wildlife, we take travelers beyond the usual routes and into places where experiences remain authentic and deeply connected to local communities.
With a strong understanding of the destination, we design journeys that allow travelers to experience the region in a more personal and meaningful way. Whether discovering unique wildlife, searching for endemic species, experiencing local cultures, exploring remote landscapes, or simply venturing somewhere few travelers have ever seen, every journey is thoughtfully designed around the traveler.
We work closely with local guides, communities, and conservation initiatives to ensure that tourism creates meaningful value for the places and people we visit.
Travel deeper. Connect locally. Discover the places few get to see.
Travel Beyond the Ordinary
Indonesia is not simply a destination to be checked off a list. It is a place to be experienced.
At Waru Travel, we believe the most memorable journeys happen when travelers go beyond the familiar—when they meet local people, listen to their stories, walk through landscapes that have remained untouched, and experience traditions that are still part of everyday life.
Our role is to create the connection between the traveler and the destination.
Authentic experiences. Local knowledge. Meaningful connections.
A Complete Travel Solution
Waru Travel provides a comprehensive range of travel services designed to make your trip seamless, safe, and well-organized.
- Guided Tours: Professionally arranged guided journeys led by experienced local guides with intimate knowledge in each destination.
- Full Holiday Packages: Complete travel arrangements combining accommodation, transportation, activities, guides, and logistics.
- Birdwatching & Wildlife Tours: Specialized journeys for birders, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and nature lovers seeking remarkable biodiversity.
- Special Interest Trips: Tailor-made experiences focused on culture, nature, adventure, photography, wildlife, and other specific interests.
- Hotel & Accommodation Booking: Accommodation arrangements selected according to each traveler’s itinerary, preferences, and budget.
- Ground Handling Services: End-to-end local logistics, including airport transfers, transportation, permits, local coordination, and on-the-ground support.
How do we work
Every journey involves two important elements: the local people and the environment around them, including our presence as visitors.
By keeping these aspects in mind, we aim to create travel experiences that bring positive benefits not only for you as a traveler, but also for the local communities who welcome us.
Impact
We believe tourism should create direct and meaningful benefits for local communities. That is why building strong and long-term relationships with local people, small businesses, and community groups is one of our main priorities. Every experience we offer is designed to support the local economy in a sustainable and respectful way.
Local Cuisine
Thanks to our close connection with the community, a group of women from Namblong welcomes us to visit their village and enjoy a variety of traditional local dishes prepared especially for our guests. We usually organize this experience on the arrival day, allowing travelers to immediately immerse themselves in the local culture in a warm and authentic way.
Local Crafted
We engage with the local culture in a respectful and meaningful way, far beyond the external and paternalistic perspective often associated with Western tourism. A group of women in Namblong hosts a traditional Noken workshop, where we not only learn their artistic techniques but also create a space for equal cultural exchange. Through this initiative, these women gain access to additional income opportunities that were previously difficult to achieve.
Local Farmer
Namblong is one of the most agriculturally diverse areas in Jayapura, thanks to its unique geographical location. We are fortunate to collaborate with local farmers who introduce us to a variety of regional crops and farming practices, helping us better understand the local economy in a tangible way. During the visit, guests also have the opportunity to taste some of the local produce. Activities like these allow farmers to increase their income while continuing their primary agricultural work.
Conservation
The Guardian Forest of Namblong
Conservation efforts in Nimbokrang, Jayapura Regency, Papua, are centered around community-based ecotourism led by indigenous leader Alex Waisimon. By protecting 19,000 hectares of customary forest, local communities help preserve the natural habitat of endemic wildlife of Papua.
The Bird-of-Paradise
To reduce the hunting of Bird-of-Paradise species and the use of real feathers for souvenirs and accessories, local communities have developed conservation-friendly solutions that also create economic opportunities. Through birdwatching ecotourism and handmade imitation crafts inspired by the Bird-of-Paradise, communities can protect their natural heritage while supporting sustainable creative livelihoods.