Pelabuhan Ratu

Pelabuhan Ratu is another way to relax around Jakarta. It is a little farer than Anyer & Carita but much closer than Pulau Umang or Ciputi. You can get there in three to four hours if you are driving yourself.

As it is situated in the south of West Java, Pelabuhan Ratu face the Indian Ocean and with that all the advantage for surfer. The waves are much bigger than North Java or extreme East (between Java and Sumatra) and many spot are famous along surfer.

However, you still can find some beaches more appropriated for swimming without danger. But you should check it before with the local as some area can be hazardous.

The wheatear here also seems to not following any strict rule. In theory, the raining season would follow the rest of the island. But last time we have been there was during the big flooding in Jakarta 2007. And Pelabuahan Ratu was shinning all the time.


Getting There

Again, to get out of Jakarta you will have to use the Highway to Ciawi (just after Bogor) with high risk of traffic during the week-end. Especially after working hours. But if you decide to travel during the night, you should be able to reach Pelabuhan Ratu in 3 hours. And count thirty minutes more for the Ocean Queen Resort (more about that later).

From Ciawi, you will have to follow Sukabumi. Around an hour from Ciawi you have two possibilities. First, you can take the smaller road (truck not allowed J) in your right around five hundreds meters before Cibadak. Not advisable during the night, heard scary story in this area. Car being stopped and robbed. Or you can just continues straight to Cibadak and there take right to Pelabuhan Ratu. Don’t follow Sukabumi to the left. You should reach your destination in one or two hours maximum.

If you own a car, you will definitely get there by yourself. If not, you can rent it from Jakarta. I advise you to rent a car with driver include. It is not so expensive and much safer if you use a good travel agency. Don’t drive by yourself if it’s your first time in Indonesia.

The cheapest way, is to use the train or public bus. If you decide to travel by train, you will have to use the bus anyway from Ciawi or Sukabumi (longer). I don’t recommend this option. You will loose a lot of time.

By bus from Rambutan Terminal in Jakarta. And change in Ciawi. You can check in the Terminal for direct transport to Pelabuhan Ratu. But it could take a while to wait until the bus is full. So check the condition first and decide in the last minute. As far as I know, bus timetable doesn’t exist for this trip. And even if it existed, I don’t think it would help a lot.

Once you got to Pelalabuhan Ratu Terminal, you will still have to find another way to get to your hotel. There is plenty of public transportation or motorcycle available.

The Ocean Queen Resort can also arrange transport from the airport at 60 USD (1 way). Good solution if you travel in group (max. 6 people) and not planning to visit too much others places.

Accommodation

There are a lot of bungalows, hotels and resorts along the coast from Pelabuhan Ratu to Cisolok. Most at a very affordable price. The one I prefer is the Ocean Queen Resort. Around 30 minutes from the terminal. Just after Cisolok village. You can check the map on their website : www.oceanqueenresort.com/location.html

Ocean Queen is the favorite’s destination for most expatriate living in Jakarta. It offers variety of choices. From single rooms without AC to big bungalows includes 3 or 4 bed rooms, AirCon, kitchen and living room. Rent a bungalow is the cheaper solution if you come by groups of five or more people.

They have a big swimming pool (22 meters) just near the restaurant. Wonderful concept. And the private beach is just fifty meters behind the resort. It’s clean and calm. However it’s not the best spot for swimming. The surfer will also have to walk a bit or use local motorcycle to get to better waves. Ask the reception, they know exactly where the best surfing place is.

Activities

Surfing of course, swimming, relaxing and plenty of others water sports activity around. Scuba diving and snorkeling are not as good as in the North of West-Java. You can find diving center in Pelabuhan Ratu.

Due North is the Nature Reserve Gunung Halimun, Misty Mountain, the largest Park in West Java. The 40,000 hectares include some of Indonesia’s largest remaining lowland and mountain forest ranging from 500 to 1900 meters. So, plenty of trekking available around. From few hours to few days. Check with the reception in your hotel.

In Cisolok, just after the Alfamart (or Indomarket…??) when you come from Pelabuhan Ratu. You can turn right and drive around two or three kilometers to reach the natural hot spring water. From there, it is also possible to visit few waterfalls. Around one hours walk from the hot spring pool to get to the first one. Motorcycle can also drive you half way if you are lazy or really in the hurry. But when you have to get down to the waterfall, you won’t have much choice to use your feet and a little bit of courage to path some acrobatic road. You can continues walk deeper in the virgin jungle if you like to see the others bigger waterfalls.

They also promote White-Water Rafting in the Citarik River, deep sea fishing and plenty of others activities such as water polo or beach volley.

Ocean Queen Resort offers also a very good and professional traditional massage service. It is just perfect after a long trekking in the jungle.

Wild Life

You can find Giant marine turtles laying eggs at Ujung Genteng. At the southern-most tip of the bay lays the nature reserve Ujung Genteng where most nights of the year giant marine turtles, can often weight over 100 kgs.

The south of Gunung Halimun National Park is the most preserved and is accessed from near Ocean Queen Resort. More than 200 species of birds are recorded including the rare Javan Hawk Eagle, Hornbills, brilliant black and scarlet Sunda Minivets, Racket-tailed Drongos and the rare Javan Laughing Thrush. Primates include the endangered Javan gibbon, the Javan Leaf-monkey and the Black leaf monkey. Muncak and wild pig are also present.

Food

In the Ocean Queen Resort, you will find selection of International, Indonesian and Chinese food. Even few German specialties are available. For Italian food lover, the Spaghetti Bolognese is delicious. Or you can eat more local food like Gado-Gado or Nasi Goreng which are excellent too.

But the best is definitely to have your own barbecue for the dinner. Each Bungalows have is own grill in the front and you can order imported meat and sausages or selection of fresh sea food. If you prefer to buy it yourself is fine.