Pangandaran

West Java's most popular south-coast beach town, with monkeys and hornbills in the peninsula nature reserve, river trips up Green Canyon and beginner surfing at Batu Karas.

Pangandaran lies on the south coast of Indonesia's West Java Province and is the center of the regency of the same name. The town sits on a narrow isthmus linking the mainland to a forested peninsula: West Beach for sunsets, East Beach for sunrises, and the peninsula itself is the Pangandaran Nature Reserve. It's West Java's most popular seaside resort, packed on weekends and holidays with domestic visitors from Bandung and Jakarta.

Areas: in town are West Beach, the East Beach seafood market, and the reserve's rainforest, caves and white-sand beaches; the western route runs along the coast past Batu Hiu, river tubing at Citumang and Santirah, Green Canyon and the surf village of Batu Karas, with Madasari Beach further west; to the east are rocky beaches such as Karapyak and Karang Nini.

Best time: the May–Sep dry season has stable weather and Green Canyon's water at its most vivid; the Nov–Mar rainy season is wet, and river attractions may close when currents run strong.

Getting there: about 6–7 hours from Bandung by bus or private car, or take the train to Banjar and transfer for about 1.5 hours; the small Nusawiru airport has irregular flights. In town you can rent a motorbike or bicycle; a chartered car is best for the western sights. Plan to stay 3–4 days, and avoid Indonesian long weekends and the post-Ramadan holidays.

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