Since everyone who wants to trek in Baliem Valley has to go through the Sentani region (where Jayapura airport is located), many people come to see the beautiful Sentani lake and it’s surrounding. This region is a dramatic “welcome” to Papua and gives numerous opportunities to short hikes and easy exploration of the region. Motorized canoes can be hired to explore the lake and adjacent areas. With transport like this, we can visit some of the the small fishing villages with houses built on stilts over the lake. But there are more interesting places to visit in Sentani region. We can visit the Papuan anthropological museum with interresting exhibits about the Papuan history and culture. Or we can visit the Mc Arthur Monument. 
Here we can also see, the metroxylon palms, the main food of the Yali and the people around the lake is produced and prepared from Sago palms. More or less 22 islands positioned in the middle of Sentani Lake, segregated into 24 villages. What is more fascinating is that all villages seem to have the same distinctive cultures, but they are in effect different from one another. Sentani Lake is in itself a plethora of cultures. Isolo is one of them. It is a customary ceremony performed when members of a village deliver wares to another villages. Those looking to escape the modern living for a long weekend in Sentani have now some excellent opportunities to choose from June or July is an ideal time to visit, as it is when the Sentani Lake Festival is presented. Not only are there some amazing deals out there but you can have the lake or the surrounding hills to yourself. What is more fascinating is that all villages seem to have the same distinctive cultures, but they are in effect different from one another lake in papua. Lake Sentani is a famous for handicraft. Bark paintings, sago bowls and small-carved items are amongst the local products found here.
So why not start or finish your Papua adventure with a day on the lake around Ayapo, Asey, Yoka and around with local people. Call me: +6281247628708, e-mail: trekpapua@gmail.com
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