Travelogue: Batu Karas

It was August 2012. Two days after moslem big celebration "Idul Fitri".

Arranged a short trip for my cousin who came from France for vacation. Originally, I was going to Pangandaran but my aunt says it's going to be very full. I try to find a destination which consist beach, water and sunshine. My aunt decided to go to Batu Karas, 34 km or 1.30 hours away from Pangandaran.

To get to Batu Karas, by car it takes 9 - 10 hours. Considered I went there in national holiday to anticipate traffic me and my family depart from Jakarta on Tuesday at 10 PM and arrived in Banjar at 06:00 in the morning. Taking a little rest in family house we continued our trip at 8 AM to Pangandaran and Batu Karas, we arrived in Batu Karas at 11:30 AM. It was a national holiday, though no matter I think Batu Karas will less crowded than Pangandaran it just didn't work out. The road to Batu Karas is narrow and not yet paved makes the way there even more crowded.

My suggestion: Never come here on national holidays. An info from local, on non-national holiday we rarely see people play in the beach. 

Seeing the crowded and messy beach made me lost my appetite to play in the beach. So I decided to take a rest for a while after I talk to people in the hotel for alternative beach. There are only few hotel in Batu Karas that head-to-head with the beach. The hotel I am staying is JavaCove, a hotel owned by Australian couple and voted by 'National Geographic Traveler' as one of their favorite hotels in Indonesia . The hotel price is a bit expensive for domestic tourist but still for me it's worthed. They have the cheapest one is Surfers Pad, I want to try this one but since I went there with family I used bigger room. I love this hotel, they have a new swimming pool so if you don't want to go to the beach you can spend some relaxation time here. 

This room is for max 3 persons or 3 adults + 1 children under 12

The restaurant

Batu Karas is a perfect place if you want to learn to surf. If you expect to have a big wave for surf, maybe this is not the place but don't worry there's plenty beachbreaks nearby. I found myself in an awe as I try to search secret beach the local told me to. There's a deserted beach near Batu Karas, you need to walk 10 - 15 minutes uphill and then downhill, voila! A beautiful dark sand beach. 

 

There's a lot of place to eat especially seafood so don't worry. West side restaurant from JavaCove taste better but if you want something even better you need 10 min ride outside Batu Karas and near Green Canyon there's a seafood restaurant that even better. 

I hope to sunbathing but apparently it didn't work out since national holiday there's too many people. So we decided to visit Green Canyon or Cukang Taneuh on day 2 and a long ride body rafting. Tell you in the next post.

Hmm, I think I don't have the picture of Batu Karas itself. Wait... This is the best I can have since I didn't take picture of the crowded beach :D

Cheers.

::Credit pictures: my uncle and me. So don't try to copy it without permission::