Making the most of Kupang Timor
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships visiting Kupang go alongside or stay at anchor in Tenau Kupang, the port of Kupang distance is about 10 km from Kupang downtown.
Kupang, located near the southwestern tip of Timor Island, is the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province. The Portuguese occupied the city in the 1530s but were expelled by the Dutch in 1613. Ruins and remnant signs of this colonial presence can be seen throughout the downtown area. Kupang was the final destination of Captain William Bligh, who was set adrift in an open boat following the historic mutiny on the Bounty in 1789. Highlights of Kupang include the colorful Oeba Market and the Provincial Museum.
At the Kupang Museum there is a remarkable collection of fossils, anthropological relics, local ‘Ikat’, woven artefacts, and displays which trace the historic interaction linking Timor's different ethnic groups. Also worth visiting are the old cemetery, Oesapa fishing village, Fort Concordia and the interesting historical Old Port. You can swim in the Crystal Cave or feed the monkeys at the Monkey Cave, and don't forget to taste the local cuisine at the pleasant restaurants.
Getting around
You may be able to visit the Mud Wells on Semau Island or visit Kera Island, a small paradise just 8 km offshore from the hustle and bustle of Kupang. Here you can visit the Macassan fishing village, explore the beaches or swim and snorkel over Kera's fringing reef.
Food and shopping
The Obea Market, the traditional Indonesian market of Kupang.
Money
ATMs are common in any major cities in Indonesia.
Be careful when using credit cards, as cloning and fraud are a major problem in Indonesia. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but American Express can be problematic. At smaller operations, surcharges of 2-5% over cash are common.
Staying connected
The sole official language is Indonesian, known as Bahasa Indonesia.
Internet: Prices vary considerably, and as usual you tend to get what you pay for, but you'll usually be looking at around Rp 5,000 per hour. In large cities, there are free hotspots in certain shopping malls, McDonald restaurants and Starbucks cafes. Some hotels provide free hotspots in the lobby.
mobile phones emergency number: 112