The Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Sumba: Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting

July 29, 2025 by jordangassner

From jungle canyons to turquoise pools hidden behind rice fields, Sumba’s waterfalls are among the most rewarding adventures on the Indonesian island! They’re wild, raw, and sometimes hard-won. Reaching them means bumping along rocky roads, hiking through dense jungle, and earning every view with sweat and mud. But that’s also what makes each one unforgettable. Below are the most beautiful waterfalls in Sumba that I visited (and one I’m saving for next time), plus what you need to know before setting out:

Matayangu Waterfall

Deep in central Sumba, Matayangu is both breathtaking and brutal. This sometimes-double waterfall plunges roughly 250 feet (75 meters) from a limestone cliff into a pale turquoise pool surrounded by ancient trees and dense jungle. During the dry season, when just the smaller fall is active (like when I visited!), the water can be calm enough for a swim, but most of the year the current is too powerful and better admired from the shoreline than tested up close.

And the “brutal” part of Matayangu isn’t just the waterfall itself, but the trek to reach it. The trail begins with 507 stairs straight uphill, then continues across a narrow water pipe, over a river crossed by way of a fallen tree, and through 1.5 miles (2.5 km) of slippery, muddy terrain deep in the Sumbanese jungle! And that’s not even the full roundtrip experience! Once I reached the top of the long staircase just after the start of the hike, my guide cut a large tree branch, trimming the sides and sharpening one end into a makeshift walking stick… something I quickly realized was essential for the climb ahead.

Most visitors complete the trek in around 1–1.5 hours, but it took me longer. Between the steep climbs, slick rocks, and sore knees, there was a point where I wanted to give up entirely. Two small groups passed me easily along the trail, which only made the frustration worse, but I kept going. The jungle felt endless, with thick, humid air, echoing birdsong, and the occasional flash of movement in the trees (which I later learned were monkeys!).

When I finally reached the clearing, the two groups I’d seen earlier were already leaving. One hiker smiled and told me I looked like Jane from Tarzan. It made me laugh, thinking what I probably looked like if I too could see myself in that moment, honestly, it made up for my mini breakdown on the trail. I sat down on a handmade bamboo bench near the edge of the forest and just listened. The falls roared, mist drifted through the air, and for a moment it felt like the entire jungle had gone still.

On the way back, I nearly stepped on a bright yellow snake sunning itself on the path…an adrenaline jolt I didn’t need, but one I’ll definitely never forget from visiting this jungle waterfall!

Lapopu Waterfall

Even though Lapopu is considered one of Sumba’s better-known waterfalls among those who visit the island, it still feels wonderfully secluded. Imagine a 300 ft cascade tumbling down mossy rock terraces into a blue-green pool surrounded by thick forest. Amazing, right? Well, you can also swim here, wade across shallow rocks, or just sit back and watch the mist drift through the trees.

Lapopu is only a short walk from the same parking lot as Matayangu as well, so you can easily visit both in one day. I stopped at a small parking lot stall here before completing the short walk along the trail and over the bamboo bridge toward the cascade, drinking coconut water straight from the shell (a well-earned reward after the jungle climb to Matayangu!).

What makes it magic: The water is refreshingly cool here and the canyon feel is both intimate and wild, and there’s a sense of arriving deep into nature rather than simply visiting a “tourist stop.” It’s lush, quiet, and set for photo-op moments!

Waikelo Sawah Waterfall

Waikelo Sawah is proof that not every great waterfall requires a full day trek. Located right off the roadside in West Sumba, it flows from an underground spring into a small waterfall surrounded by rice terraces!

I made a quick pit stop here on my roadtrip east across the island, and wish I had scheduled more time in West Sumba to visit this place properly! The rice paddies are quite warm and relatively unshaded save for one tree near the top of the short fall, so swimming here would have been perfect! Due to the landscape, the water cascades into a series of small turquoise pools surrounded by rice fields in all directions.

Tanggedu Waterfall

Tucked inside a sandstone gorge in East Sumba, Tanggedu might be the island’s most photogenic and idyllic waterfall. Rather than dropping in a single plunge, the water here slips over smooth terraces of rock, echoing softly through the cool canyon air and collecting in turquoise pools that glimmer between towering walls of stone.

I swam in the uppermost pool: a clear, shallow stretch of water framed by sun-warmed stone and surrounded by canyon cliffs. The current was calm during my visit, though conditions can vary depending on the season and rainfall. The lower pools, with their jagged rocks and fast-moving water, are better admired from above.

Just to the right of the upper pool, is a small bamboo stand with a vendor selling snacks and cold drinks. I’ve heard this is only available during the dry season though, so if you visit outside of May – September, you may want to bring your own snacks. You might also see a few families relaxing under the trees along the stream. I’d arrived early, and for a while, I had the pool completely to myself. I swam and enjoyed the calm atmosphere for a bit before eventually drying off on a towel in the sun on top of one of the larger rocks alongside the waterfall. It was a quiet, sunlit moment that captured the spirit of Sumba better than any photograph ever could and one of my favorite swimming memories from Sumba.

The journey to get to Tanggedu is also just as memorable as the waterfall itself. Along the drive, wild horses graze freely across the savannah plains before the road curves toward the canyon. From the parking area, a short bridge crossing leads to a mostly flat trail. You’ll follow that for about 15-20 minutes before descending just over 200 rocky stairs into the gorge. A concrete railing lines parts of the path, making the climb manageable even after an invigorating swim!

Waimarang Waterfall

I didn’t make it to Waimarang during my visit to Sumba. After a week of steep trails, my knees needed a break! But the waterfall still deserves a spot on this list. Hidden in East Sumba’s forest, the trail is short but steep and slippery, leading down to a few bright turquoise pools enclosed by high rock walls.

Friends who’ve been say it’s less crowded than Tanggedu and ideal for a quick swim at one of the few pools here at either early on or later in the day. If you have time and steady footing, this is the one to add to your itinerary for that “lost world” feeling without an all-day trek.

*At time of writing.