Public Transportation to Tangkuban Perahu, West Java

This is the shortest response to questions on public transportation to Tangkuban Perahu. Apparently Google hasn't able to provide comprehensive answer on this inquiry (esp. on the second part) so I attempt to do so. Remember, Tangkuban Perahu crater is open from 8am - 6pm, but it will be empty already around 4pm. The crater is called 'Kawah Ratu' so don't mistake it from the Mt. Salak's Kawah Ratu!

This is how the gate (and the Elf) look like!

From Bandung to Tangkuban Perahu: Yes, you can use public transportation!

Option 1. Go to Ledeng terminal by any angkot and take the Elf car heading to Subang (IDR 15k, about 45 min - 1 hour, departs anytime it's filled with people). Stop by the Tangkuban Perahu gate, it's on your left side just before you find many stalls selling sate (just ask the driver if you're not sure). Voila, you're there!

Option 2. The other option would be Bandung - Lembang - Cikole - Subang, means in the end you have to take the Elf that I mentioned in the first option. Go for option 1 instead (total cost around IDR 18k)

Done? NOPE.

The real shit is from the Gate to the crater. Yes, the gate is not your final destination. You still have 4km hiking uphill and you can actually walk for about 30 - 45 min. Other travelers in internet will tell you how expensive the angkot cost from the gate - if you show up like you're not knowing the price, they will charge you 50k/person (minimum!) or if you're having a bad luck it can reach 120k/person. All types of angkot will open their price that way. Anyway, do not take the yellow angkot, take the Elfs instead.

By Elf: Here's how to do it - Go to the Elf with confidence and sit nicely. Pretend that you know the price and pretend that you're only waiting for the Elf to depart. The normal price is 15k - 20k / person. Insist that you paid this price before. If they insist too, just walk away or say you'll wait for other people to show up. There's no way they don't lower the price.

When you reach the crater, you can ask the Elf to wait you until you're done. They usually wait for 2hrs or so. If you need more time, just refuse their offer and walk down, it's quite easy. The total cost for roundtrip (including the waiting) is IDR 30k - 40k and by giving them additional IDR 10k you can actually ride until Lembang.

Note: All decision is made before you depart to Kawah Ratu. The driver will give the money to the other person so be careful with the deal. Anyway, tell them that you'll pay the ticket directly to the ticket counter. The ticket counter is about 100m from the gate and the entrance fee is IDR 17k.

By Ojek: It will cost about IDR 20-25k, let them know you'll pay your ticket separately, too. Sometimes they plays trick by including the ticket price in the total cost.

Anyway, stalls owner inside the gate won't help. They will resist to say the real price of the Elf, so you don't have to waste you're time on asking them.

Have fun!

Sawarna Village, Banten

DISCLAIMER: Align with your ability to understand this English article, I assume you also understand how to travel wisely, and I expect that you're not that kind of traveler who come along to Sawarna only to give bad influences to local with your over-tacky mushroom party and marijuana drunkenness. Drunk wisely.

Karang Taraje Beureum, one of the best along Sawarna coasts

Early January, 2014
Jakarta - Bayah - Jakarta
Photo credits: Maria Susanti and Arief W. Brago

How to reach Sawarna from Jakarta?

There are two routes from Jakarta to reach Sawarna and we tried both ways - each was extremely tiring (but fun!) and took approximately 12 hours with all the intervals of waiting the public transport to really depart (most of the transport will wait to be filled - it means extremely filled - with people to depart):

Jakarta - Sawarna (total 94.5k) via Serang:

• Kalideres - Serang (Pakupatan bus terminal): Arimbi 21k (2.5hrs, depart every hours, the latest is at 9pm)
• Serang - Bayah: Damri (40k, depart at 5am), tell the driver that you're going to Sawarna and they will tell you where to stop (usually they put you in the crossroad, about 8 km from Sawarna)
• Bayah - Sawarna: Option 1) Take ojek for 30k - at first they will try to charge you with 50k or something, just say that you're already known the people right there and mention 'Warung Bimbim' or 'Aura Homestay' or whatever and make them take your to Pasir Putih Beach; Option 2) Wait for the Angkot (Elf L300) going to Sawarna, depart about 1pm only once per day.

Sawarna - Jakarta (total 74k) via Pelabuhan Ratu:

• Elf to Pelabuhan Ratu (25k/person, depart 6am, you can wait in front of Indomaret or anywhere nearby)
• Pelabuhan Ratu - Bogor (depart every hour, 35k/person)
• Bogor - Jakarta (3k angkot to stasiun, 5k by train to Sudirman)

What to do?

There are variety of activities you can do in Sawarna, but most of them require you to be sober. To give you tangible description, aside from the socio-perspective of the urban, traveler-style influence being brought to this unadorned village, the nature of Sawarna consisted of hectares of rice fields side by side with the huge waves of Southern Java Sea. There you go - village sightseeing, caving, surfing, going around the beach, everything that makes you closer to the nature.

You better be sober on the beach (so you can carefully examine the shit of this beasts)

Even the 'party' require your ability to enjoy the different, natural kind of village party which can be more spectacular than urban clubs or cafes. There are many warung (small snack stalls) right there and you can take the proper dose of your 'spiritual magic mushroom' or if you're lucky, you can get some marijuana (please note - how you can get it very depends on your ability to be trusted by your surrounding). The giting effect combined with amazing sunset and the sound of wave made a great ingredients of that other kind of party in your own head. Just make sure you don't be party pooper for others!

The spiritual party in your head with 3D, IMAX effect (sound and picture)

Pasir Putih sunset. No, this is neon heaven!

Some other nice destinations including Karang Tarajeh beach (a must visit! - too bad we didn't go there but my sister went there on her solo trip), Pasir Putih Beach, Tanjung Layar, Legon Pari, and Goa Lalay. Google them for image and specific 'how to get there'!

Tj. Layar Beach

On our way to reach Tj. Layar and Legon Pari through the beach

Actually Pandji captured more rice fields pics, but not uploaded yet

Don't miss the seafood, we ate grilled squid (average price for all seafood is 25k/portion) and kapasan fish (it taste like kerapu, really!). Just eat at the local stalls, like Warung Yanto, and avoid big restaurants.

Foodgasm!

(and don't forget to play with the local kiddos!)

Most of the attractions are free. Basic retribution to enter Sawarna is 5k/person. Some of it, like caving (Goa Lalay, i.e) will charge you official retribution (5k/person), require you to use headlamp (absolutely you must, you can borrow it by 5k/small headlamp or 20k/large caving lamp - make sure it lights well), and/or require you with guide. For the ones like Goa Lalay, it's important to wisely analyze your caving experiences in order to decide whether you need to be guided or not. The cave offers some tracks, and the short track can be passed easily by those who are not panicked with darkness and/or ever experienced caving. To first timer, better pay for the guide (50k/person, upon arrival at the official gate). Make sure you inquire properly to the officer on the branches and safe limits of your tracks if you want to enter the cave by yourself.

How to get around?

Upon your arrival, you will find a map of sightseeing spots plus the rate of ojek. Words of wisdom: use your feet instead of ojek for getting around, it might be tiring, but the view are worth it. If you're short of time and/or solo traveling and want to use your day efficiently, hiring a guide could be a good option. My sister hired a guide for 100k/day for taking her everywhere (CP: Kang Hendi, +6281808486202, motorbike included) and she said he was very reliable.

Map of Sawarna Village

Some locals will try to offer you 'guide service' on your way finding your destinations, but be confident enough to refuse and tell them you're okay with yourself. Trust me, it's more worthwhile to explore by yourself, get lost a bit and open more conversations to very very nice locals to ask for direction rather than being guided by incompetent guide. Unless if you get a well-referred, knowledgeable  guide, those whom you meet incidentally on your way won't be able to explain anything historical, cultural, or even natural.

Accommodation

Don't worry about where to sleep. You can actually find some spots on the beaches, but you must bring your own tent. Due to lack of interest in camping in Sawarna, there is no single places for camping equipment rent.

If you want to stay on hostels or guesthouse, you can book in advance or going there directly. Even in the weekend it's not difficult to find cheap hostels, but please note that they don't really offer cheap individual rooms. Instead, the more people you have, the cheaper the room. It's around 150k/room/nigt but you can fill it with approximately 4-6 people. Mine, Aditya was very simple, consisted of three mattresses and bathroom. One of the source on the list of accommodations.

That's all and, enjoy Sawarna!