Pangandaran beach
It's located in southern part of West Java on the picturesque peninsula, connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. It is part of the Pananjung national nature reserve and is considered to be the pride of Indonesians and one of the best resorts on the island. Next to the beach is the small town of Pangandaran, which used to be an ordinary fishing village. Now this is a nice resort with modern hotels, shops and restaurants, which didn't lose their authenticity. Pangandaran became extremely famous thanks to stunning in its scale and spectacle Kite Festival, which attracts participants from all over the world every year in July.
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Beach description
Pangandaran is a public beach and entrance here is free. It's consisted of two parts, western and eastern, which are located on both sides of the village. The shore is covered with coarse brown volcanic sand, in the Western part it is a little lighter and finer.
From the South, both beaches rest on a huge wooded hill, which is the territory of the reserve. The sea here is the calmest, a lot of greenery, however there are no facilities and sometimes there is a possibility to meet wild animals. Usually this area is chosen by eco-tourists who prefer a secluded holiday in the lap of nature.
Western part is considered to be the most comfortable for swimming and holiday with children. It's wider, better organized and surrounded by trees in the shade of which lurked numerous cafes. In the afternoon it's good to play with children in the sand, not worrying about motorcyclists who ride right on the beach, and serenely swim in the clear warm sea, the azure surface of which is not disturbed by fishermen and sportsmen. In the evening it is nice to take a leisurely stroll along the beach, sit in a restaurant and admire the amazing sunsets, the best in Java.
The Eastern part is more noisy and lively, there are traditionally a lot of fishermen who go early in the morning to put their nets, and in the evening return home with the catch. Also this area is interesting for surfers, who are attracted not only with smooth and rhythmic waves, but also with cheapness of equipment rental (5$ per day for board and surfing suit rental).
Lovers of sea walks, snorkeling and diving can rent a boat and go to the wild rocky shores of the peninsula, where you can see the fabulous underwater caves and flooded grottoes. Those wishing to swim with exotic fish and enjoy bizarre corals will love gigantic reef in several hundreds meters from the shore. The magnificent fish market in the southern part of the beach deserves a special attention, there people can buy a variety of seafood and immediately cook them on the grill or barbecue.
The city has a bus station, where buses arrive from Jakarta, Bandung and other parts of Java. This trip is very tiring and takes several hours. The fastest way to get to Pangandaran is to use the services of Susi Air, which operates regular domestic flights from Jakarta.
When is it better to go?
The air temperature throughout the year differs little and keeps within + 28-30 degrees. In the evening and at night, it is slightly cooler, but the thermometer rarely falls below +23 degrees. The water temperature is also stable. In order to avoid the rainy season (months from December to March), it is better to visit the country from May to August.
Video: Beach Pangandaran
Infrastructure
Along the whole beach there is a wide motorway, which separates the shore from the city line, where are numerous hotels, shops, restaurants and tourist centers. There are also rental offices for motorcycles, bicycles, tandems and other exotic vehicles. They are very popular here because most beautiful places are difficult to get by car.
Suring a high season, especially at the weekends, it's better to book an accomodation in advance, because the village fills with Indonesians who want to take a break from everyday work and ride the waves. Previously, budget guesthouses were offered for rent, but recently the beach has become built up with modern hotels. One of them is Bulak Laut Hotel & Resort, located a few dozen meters from the Western beach. There are modern comfortable rooms with sea views, open pool and picturesque shady garden with a cozy terrace. Also there is a shared lounge area, a children's playground and a games room. Free parking, wireless Internet. Smorgasbord system, quests can use sunbeds, umbrellas and beach towels free of charge.
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Pangandaran peninsula is famous not only for its beautiful beaches, but also an amazing nature reserve, a real gem of West Java. There tourists can see fabulously beautiful of caves and grottoes, swim in waterfalls and watch wild animals in their natural habitat. It's better to take an organized tour or go with a guide, otherwise it's easy to get lost or get into an unpleasant situation.
Another place which has to be visited is a Green Canyon, which can be reached by boat with an excursion. It's a beautiful gorge, safely hidden from prying eyes by dense jungle and surrounded by bizarre shaped giant rocks. During the excursion it's allowed to explore several secret grottoes and caves, swim in the cool river and admire the breathtaking scenery.