Rantepao is the main town in the Tana Toraja region of South Sulawesi.
Get in
[edit]
- See also Tana Toraja.
By plane
[edit]- 1 Pongtiku Airport (TTR IATA) (is about 20 km from Rantepao). Several local airlines operate a few weekly flights from Makassar. The flight could be cancelled at the last minute due to aircraft maintenance or insufficient passengers.
By bus
[edit]The bus terminal for local transportation is not in Rantepao, but in Bolu, 2 km further northeast. A bemo ride between central Rantepao to Bolu costs Rp 5,000 (as of 2016). There are daily buses to/from Makassar (10 hours, Rp 200,000) and Palu via Tentena. The bus from Tentena takes about 13 hours (Rp 250,000). The road between Rantepao and Palopo is prone to landslides. Road can be blocked for hours or even days.
- 1 Bolu Bus Terminal.
Famous companies that provide more comfort include:
- 2 Departure point of most buses (main crossing in Rantepao).
- 3 Bintang Prima. 185,000 Rp (as of 2016), departure daily at 21:30 from Makassar, and 21:30 from Rantepao, arrival 06:00-07:00 in both directions. The most expensive buses (Scania) are not very clean but offer almost a bed (including blanket and pillow, though probably not washed often). No Wi-Fi, no electricity, no toilet. The bus stops often near Makassar and near Rantepao, but none in between, so make sure you have water and food (and no need to use any toilet).
- 4 Kharisma. Advertises free Wi-Fi.
- 5 Litha & co. 200,000 Rp (as of 2016), departure daily 20:30 from Rantepao (arrival 05:00 in Makassar). Very modern (and fairly comfortable) buses. However note that the air-con temperature is incredibly low; boarding the bus in Rantepao (with an outside temperature of 18-19°) will make you feel like entering a fridge. Be sure to bring tons of warm clothes. No Wi-Fi, no electricity, no toilet.
- Putra Jaya, Veteran Utara No. 198 street, Makassar, ☏ +62 411 3624867, +62 851 45988883 (Makassar), +62 471 326552, +62 851 45988882 (Palopo). Their recent units have 3 classes. VIP Class with electric and massage seats, executive class with reclining seats and leg rests, and sleeping cabin with bed facilities and amenities, plus tap card to gain access to the cabin for added convenience and security.
Get around
[edit]Rantepao is small enough to be walkable. Otherwise, riding an ojek or becak or bemo is easy.
Scooters are easily arranged for in homestays. There are also several rental places but they will usually require the motorbike be returned by 17:00 if you rent per day. Price is around Rp 100,000 per day (Sep 2018).
Do not expect to relax in the middle of nature. Rantepao is a bustling small town. The main road (crossing the city from south to north) is packed with vehicles. Some locals wear masks or scarfs to protect from the dust and pollution.
See
[edit]Rantepao is not particularly pleasant, but most touristic facilities (hotels, restaurants, transportation) are located there.
- 1 Bolu Buffalo Market (Pasar Bolu) (north of Rantepao; can be accessed by bemo for 5,000 Rp from central Rantepao (as of July 2016)). Every Tuesday and Saturday (morning). Free.
- 2 Deri (north of Rantepao itcan be accessed by bemo for 15,000 Rp from the Bolu bus terminal (that can be reached itself by bemo for 5,000 Rp from Rantepao); you may have to wait quite some time before the bemo becomes full though). Several tombs in full nature (in particular a particularly impressive forest of giant bamboos). The site is much less interesting than other equivalent ones in Tana Toraja, but the road reaching Deri is very scenic, with many villages as beautiful as Kete Kesu but without any tourist (nor entrance fee) here. Free.
- 3 Ke'te Kesu' (6 km south of Rantepao (almost walking distance)). Among the nominated sites, Ke'te' Kesu' is the most complete settlement. The site consists of a compound of houses and granaries, burial place, ceremonial ground, ricefields and water-buffalo pasture. 20,000 Rp.
- 4 Lemo (south of Rantepao, near the main road). Lemo is also a cliff burial site with galleries of ancestor statues. One of the most interesting (and visited) sites. 20,000 Rp.
- 5 Londa (south of Rantepao; best is to take a bemo, and then walk for around 2 km from the main road). Londa is a grave site where two methods of burial are customary. One of the most interesting (and visited) sites. 20,000 Rp.
- Bori Parinding (north of Rantepao). The site of Bori Parinding is a combination of ceremonial grounds and burials. The ceremonial ground is an open space used for traditional ceremonies, including rituals for the dead and thanksgiving.
- Pallawa (North of Rantepao. Public transportation reach there for less than 15,000 Rp.). Pallawa site is also a compound of houses and granaries. There are 11 houses and 15 granaries.
Do
[edit]Use Rantepao as a base to visit the region of Tana Toraja.
Buy
[edit]The market in the center of Rantepao sells many clothes and some souvenirs.
There are plenty of ATMs in town.
Rantepao has many Indomaret and Alfamart shops, mainly located along the main road, and that act as mini supermarkets. In addition, many street shops sell food and... gasoline virtually everywhere in (and outside) Rantepao.
- 1 Rantepao central market.
- Todi Shop, Jln. Andi Mappanyukki No 25, ☏ +62-423-25445. M-Sa 09:30-19:00. A big museum-cum-shop, with demonstration looms and fabrics on display from all over Sulawesi.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Café Aras (almost opposite Rantepao market), ☏ +62 821-9036-2021. A café serving local food in a nice atmosphere. Decent prices. However, as in many places, the owners will try to have you hiring a "guide" at a too-expensive price.
- Celebes, Palopo st..
- Christo, Landorundun st..
- 2 Mambo restaurant, 34 Ratulangi St., ☏ +62 423 21134.
- Pong Buri', Monginsidi st..
- 3 Warung Gian. Opened in early 2018, this place offers clean food, local dishes, and Wi-Fi. Rp 20,000/dish.
- 4 Poppies Toraja (about 2 km south from central Rantepao, very near Hotel Pison), ☏ +62 423 - 21121, +62 81342026768, [email protected]. Located inside the hotel of the same name, this restaurant serves excellent local food, always cooked on demand. Hence every dish must be ordered in advance (at least 45 min, up to 2 hr for the most famous specialties). Rp 30,000 to 90,000 per person.
- 5 Queen Café & Resto (north of the Rantepao stadium).
- Rahmat, Ahmad yani st..
- Riman, A.Mappanyukki st..
- Rimiko, A. Mappanyukki st..
- Saruran, Ahmad yani st..
- 6 Waroenk Gentong. A restaurant mixing the street food style restaurant and more elaborate hipsters-like restaurants (with wooden tables, and pictures of food and various music instruments on the wall).
Drink
[edit]- 1 Café Kofe.
- 2 Jak Koffie (a few hundreds meters south from the Rantepao stadium).
- 3 Kaana Toraya Coffee (inside hotel Pison). from Rp 10,000.
- 4 Lemon 84 Coffee (immediately South from the Rantepao stadium). M-F 09:00-23:00, Sa 09:00-00:00, closed on Sunday. Nice café where the young inhabitants of Toraja come to have a drink. Electricity. Free Wi-Fi. Many mosquitos though.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Indra Toraja.
- 2 Hotel Pison (about 2 km south from central Rantepao, very near Pia Poppie's Hotel).
- 3 Hotel Victoria.
- 4 Luta Resort Toraja.
- 5 Panorama Homestay (in front of the stadium).
- 6 Pia Poppie's Hotel (about 2 km south from central Rantepao. Very near Hotel Pison), ☏ +62 423 - 21121, +62 81342026768, [email protected]. Nice place with a very beautiful environment in the nature (the hotel surroundings is full of flowers and beautiful plants). Staff is nice but of little help, and may put some pressure on you to hire their (overpriced) fake guides (as, unfortunately, in many other places in Rantepao). Rp 154,000 single, Rp 198,000 double excluding breakfast.
- Tongkonan Layuk Lion.
- 7 Toraja Heritage Hotel.
- 8 Toraja Misiliana Hotel.
- Toraja Prince Hotel.
- Toraja Sahid Hotel.
- 9 Riana Homestay. The homestay has large and clean rooms. It is within walking distance of the center. The staff is very friendly. The owner speaks English and French and you can contact him for any information. The price includes a simple breakfast Rp 250,000.
Connect
[edit]All the city is served by Edge network. Some parts of Rantepao also benefit from 3G or 3G+.
Go next
[edit]- Makassar
- Tentena (Ketty Bus and Batutumonga Bus are the main bus operator to Tentena / Palu. Avoid Rappan Marannu Bus).
- Palu
- Palopo
- Wotu
- Poso
- Soroako