A typical first trip here runs about $700 to $925 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. Get your own number from the Budget Calculator.
- Mumu, whole pig, sweet potato, taro, and greens slow-cooked underground on hot stones; the centerpiece of every feast
- Saksak, sago palm starch pancakes; a staple carbohydrate in coastal and lowland communities
- Pork and vegetable soup, everyday fare cooked with fresh garden produce and sweet potato
- Buai (betel nut), chewed widely as a social stimulant; red-stained mouths are a common sight throughout the country
- Fresh tropical fruit, papaya, pineapple, and banana grow abundantly and appear in markets everywhere
- Goroka Show (September), one of the most spectacular cultural festivals on Earth; hundreds of Highland tribes in full ceremonial dress
- Mount Hagen Cultural Show (August), another massive sing-sing gathering in the Western Highlands
- Independence Day (September 16), colorful celebrations nationwide marking 1975 independence from Australia
- Sing-sing ceremonies, village-level festivals with elaborate body paint, feathered headdresses, and ancestral dances
- Bilum weaving, intricately crafted string bags are a cultural symbol of identity and passed between generations
Papua New Guinea has over 800 living languages, more than any other country. Tok Pisin (Creole English) and Hiri Motu are the two national languages; English is official.
Tok Pisin is the practical lingua franca. Learning a few Tok Pisin phrases like "gutpela de" (good day) and "tenkyu" (thank you) is warmly appreciated.
- Always ask permission before photographing people, especially at ceremonies, it is considered deeply disrespectful to photograph without consent
- Village visits require going through a community leader or guide; arrive with a small gift (tobacco, betel nut) as a sign of respect
- Wantok system, obligations to extended clan networks are paramount; understand that family ties define social behavior
- Dress modestly in rural and Highland communities; women should keep shoulders and knees covered outside tourist areas
Latest for Papua New Guinea
Updates for Papua New Guinea will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.