Central Papua

Central Papua (Papua Tengah) was established in 2022 as one of the four new provinces split from the original Papua region. With about 1.35 million people, it is the second-most populous of the new Papuan provinces. The province contains the Grasberg Mine — one of the world's largest gold and copper mines — and Nabire, gateway to the Cenderawasih Bay National Park where whale shark interactions have become a major attraction.

Geography

The province covers about 61,000 square kilometres of central Papua, including coastal lowlands on the Cenderawasih Bay and dramatic mountain highlands rising to over 4,800m at Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) — the highest peak in Indonesia and one of the famous Seven Summits. The geography includes the unusual permanent tropical glaciers on Puncak Jaya, which are rapidly retreating with climate change.

Grasberg Mine

The Grasberg mine, operated by PT Freeport Indonesia (majority-owned by the Indonesian state since 2018), is one of the world's largest gold and copper mining operations and one of Indonesia's most economically significant industrial complexes. Located in the Mimika regency at high altitude, the mine has produced billions of dollars of revenue for both the company and the Indonesian government.

Controversies around the mine have been substantial: environmental damage (the Aikwa tailings system), labour disputes, indigenous Amungme and Kamoro land rights, and the political dimension of operating in the contested Papua region.

The town of Tembagapura, built by Freeport, is a self-contained mining city accessible only by air and a single road.

Nabire and Cenderawasih Bay

Nabire (population about 70,000), the new provincial capital, sits on the southern shore of Cenderawasih Bay. The town is the gateway to one of Indonesia's most distinctive marine attractions: whale shark interactions in Cenderawasih Bay National Park.

The whale sharks gather year-round around the bagan — traditional fishing platforms — where they feed on small fish caught in the nets. The whale sharks have become semi-habituated to humans, allowing snorkellers and divers to swim alongside them. Unlike most whale-shark hotspots worldwide, the bay's sharks are present year-round rather than seasonally.

Standard visits:

• Fly to Nabire from Jayapura or Manado
• Transfer to Kwatisore village (the main whale shark area)
• Stay 2-4 nights at a basic local guesthouse or resort
• Snorkel or dive with whale sharks daily

The Cenderawasih Bay diving more broadly is also excellent — pristine reefs, WWII wreck sites, abundant marine life.

Other destinations

• Puncak Jaya / Carstensz Pyramid: serious mountaineering expedition; permit and guide required; rapidly retreating glaciers
• Lorentz National Park: large UNESCO World Heritage site covering significant biodiversity from coastal lowlands to alpine zones (the park spans Central Papua and Highland Papua)
• Asmat coast: traditional Asmat woodcarving culture (most of Asmat is in South Papua but parts extend here)
• Paniai Lakes: highland lakes

Cultural and political notes

The province is predominantly indigenous Papuan, with substantial migrant populations in the cities. The political situation around the Free Papua Movement (OPM) insurgency has been particularly active in this region historically. Visitors should check current conditions and may need special permits (surat jalan) for some areas.

Religion is predominantly Christian (the legacy of missionary activity), with traditional indigenous beliefs persisting in many communities.

Practical

• Airports: Nabire Airport, Mozes Kilangin Airport (Timika, near the Grasberg mine), several smaller airfields
• Best time: dry season May-October for the bay; year-round for whale sharks
• Climate: hot and humid coastal; cool to cold in the highlands
• Permits: surat jalan required for some interior areas
• Cost level: significantly higher than mainland Indonesia
• Tourist infrastructure: focused on Nabire/Cenderawasih; very limited elsewhere

Central Papua is visited primarily for the whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay; for serious mountaineers, for Puncak Jaya; otherwise rarely. The economic significance to Indonesia (Grasberg) far exceeds its tourist significance.