Batu Karas
Discover Batu Karas
Batu Karas is a small fishing village in the East Parahyangan region on the south coast of Java, about an hour's drive from the popular seaside resort of Pangandaran. Western tourism is booming in Batu Karas mostly due to the beginner surf break, noted as the best place to learn to surf in Indonesia by Lonely Planet. The break is, unfortunately, quite crowded and lacks the power that more experienced surfers will desire from Indonesian surf.
What to Experience in Batu Karas
Famous Beaches
Taste of Batu Karas...
There are several options along the main beach strip, most of them serving a similar menu. BK Homestay serves the good oatmeal for breakfast, thought you might want to just head up to the counter to place your order as the service is really awful. Shelter has real coffee with real milk at Rp10,000 per cup. Popeye's is a good option, serving both local and western dishes. It is located in the parking area for the main beach, across from Teratai Bungalows. On weekends, head to Bayview over the hill for excellent (but a bit pricey) seafood. And if you're on a budget, walk all the way to the end of the beach, directly across the surf break, for a row of small family owned warungs serving mie goreng, soto ayam or baso for under Rp15,000 per plate. Wooden House has a fantastic buffet style lunch where you can load up your plate for Rp15,000 (with 1 piece of chicken or fish) or 20,000 (with 2 pieces of chicken or fish). Nights out in Batu Karas usually end by 22:00 and are essentially limited to bonfires on the beach accompanied by Bintangs from the local warungs. Most places sell cold Bintang beer bottles for Rp25,000 (small) or Rp40,000 (large). There is an ever-growing list of options for accommodation in Batu Karas and the friendly locals assure that there is always a place to sleep, even if it is on a local's floor. Wi-Fi is limited in Batu Karas though more and more locations offer it.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsOjeks in Pangandaran charge around 100,000 rupiah for the 1-hour drive to Batu Karas. Alternatively, you can rent a motorbike in Pangandaran for 50,000 per day, offsetting the transportation cost and having freedom to access the local beaches and attractions on your own. Be very careful for potholes, especially on the first half of the road after leaving Pangandaran. By car, the trip from Pangandaran to Batu Karas usually takes about 1 hour, via Cijulang. Parts of the road are quite bumpy, as trucks and heavy rain have their effects on the road conditions. As there are also frequent road construction and improvement works, the road conditions change frequently. Batu Karas is approximately 1.5 hours from Pangandaran by using local public transport. From Pangandaran, you will first need to take a blue-coloured angkot (public minivan) to Cijulang (1 hour, about Rp10,000). From there, you can hire an ojek (motorcycle taxi) to Batu Karas....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Ojek (motorcycle taxis) are the only public transport option in Batu Karas. You can also hire a motorbike by yourself for about Rp40,000-60,000 per day. The village itself is small and you can easily go around by foot, so there is no pressing need for a scooter unless you want to explore the surrounding surf breaks or the countryside. The main things to see in Batu Karas are the beaches, the surf break, and local village life. The beaches in Batu Karas are surprisingly clean by Indonesian standards. If you go out of the village, in eastern/southeastern direction from the main beach, you can find some nice secluded black sand beaches. Be mindful of jellyfish in calmer waters. At night, you can check for glowing blue phosphorescence on the beach. Tours to nearby sights, such as the Green Canyon, can be arranged at the local warungs. Learning to surf is the main attraction in Batu Karas. The beach has a -7.74891108.
Where to Stay
There is an ever-growing list of options for accommodation in Batu Karas and the friendly locals assure that there is always a place to sleep, even if it is on a local's floor. Wi-Fi is limited in Batu Karas though more and more locations offer it. For those who require reliable internet, the best option is to go into Cijulang where wireline ADSL access more or less guarantees fast throughput and the other choice is to purchase a SIM card; LTE service is relatively strong throughout town, at least for SIMPati/Telkomsel. BK Homestay, Java Cove are among many spots in the main beach area of Legok Pari that offer Wi-Fi, but service is unreliable in some of these locations and there are frequent password changes to prevent abuse. A popular option for tourists, who go overland across Java from west to east, is to continue to Yogyakarta.
Money & Budget
There is a 24-hour ATM (BNI) in Batu Karas, at the intersection where Jl. Batu Karas intersects with the beach road. The ubiquitous Alfamart and Indomaret convenience stores have not descended upon Batu Karas yet. This means you will need to bargain with the local warungs for basic supplies. A large bottle of mineral water should be no more than Rp5,000, a bottle of cola should cost no more than Rp5,000, and a Bintang beer should be no more than Rp30,000. Cigarettes can be purchased at the local warungs at the end of the beach, directly across the street from the surf break. You'll also find some clothing shops in this parking lot area. There is also a pharmacy with limited supplies in the area, ask for directions from a local.