Papua New Guinea is a raw, untamed country with a tourist industry still in its infancy. On these islands sit one of the last great expanses of rainforest. Papua New Guinea is made up of a number of islands, most of them home to at least one rainforest. Unfortunately, to boost the economy of the country, companies are beginning to log the rainforest for timber.

General Travel Information for Papua New Guinea

Travelers to Papua New Guinea need a visa to enter the country. Although a visa can be acquired at the Papua New Guinea airport, it is recommended that travelers get their visa before entering the country.

Visitors will want to try to schedule their vacation around Papua New Guinea’s rainy season. However, the rainy season varies around the country. In most areas, the rainy season runs from December to March. The variation to this is in Lae and Alotau where the wet season is from May to October. April and November produce unpredictable weather in all parts of the country.

Papua New Guinea is an interesting terrain. Three-quarters of the islands are covered with rainforests, but its mountain peaks reach as high as 15,000 feet. Papua New Guinea is one of the few places in the world with equatorial glaciers.

Visiting the Rainforests

Approximately 75% of the original rainforest of Papua New Guinea is still standing. Almost 9000 species of plants are found in the rainforests, and 700 species of birds and 250 species of mammals make the rainforests their home.

Tourism has slowly begun to make its way into the Papua New Guinea islands. A growing number of tours are available to the rainforests on the different islands. Tour guides are an excellent source for advising tourists on the country’s unique weather conditions (despite being so near the equator, the temperatures can drop very low in the higher elevations).

One such tour takes visitors to the mountain rainforests that overlook the Tari Valley. The tour includes an adventure trek across vine bridges to view secluded waterfalls or hikes to view the beautiful orchids and other flowers. There is also a stay in a lodge that was once part of a coconut plantation, as well as opportunities to snorkel in the coral reefs near the rainforests and more hiking among the tropical paradise in the rainforests.