Waterfall Valley In West Java
The Ciletuh Geopark is a scenic valley in West Java that’s loaded with large waterfalls and different good issues to see.
This space is a UNESCO-designated international geopark, and it has a number of the finest waterfalls in Indonesia, however most worldwide vacationers have by no means heard of it.
We spent a number of days right here and we had been glad we went! The situation is fairly distant, but it surely’s definitely worth the journey in the event you like waterfalls and hidden gems.
This journey information will clarify the right way to go to Ciletuh, the place to remain, and what to see there!
How To Get To Ciletuh Geopark
The Ciletuh Geopark is situated within the far southwest nook of West Java province.
It’s not close to any main cities, so that you’ll should do a little bit of a highway journey for this one. It’s a 2.5 hour drive from Sukabumi, 4 hours from Jakarta, or 6 hours from Bandung.
We traveled right here from Bandung, after which went to Jakarta afterwards. Both means, the roads are principally in good situation all the best way to the geopark.
We employed a non-public driver from Bandung to take us to the geopark in his van, however you would additionally go simply fantastic with a motorcycle, and it will be cheaper.
Finest Issues To See At Ciletuh Geopark
• Curug Puncak Manik Waterfall
That is the primary waterfall we visited within the Ciletuh space, and also you’ll most definitely go it in your drive into the geopark.
It’s a forty five to 60 minute hike every means, with a steep descent, however they’re engaged on bettering the trail so it’s extra manageable. Whenever you attain the stream, you’ll should cross and go left. It was ankle to knee deep after we had been there.
This can be a twin waterfall and it’s 100 meters tall. Alongside the best way, we noticed a uncommon hawk, an enormous centipede, and different attention-grabbing issues. An area man confirmed us the best way and helped us take pics, so we tipped him 50k Rupiah.
• Curug Awang Waterfall
That is one other waterfall close to Puncak Manik. This one is shorter, but it surely runs over a large cliff. It’s a 5 minute stroll to the viewing platform, or 10 minutes to the highest, and one other 5 or 10 minutes in the event you go to the underside.
This waterfall was already drying up after we visited, which was a bummer, however there have been rice terraces surrounding it.
• Curug Tengah Waterfall
That is an uncommon wanting waterfall which you could attain from the identical parking as Curug Awang. The waterfall was good and massive even in April.
It’s a ten minute stroll to see the falls, however there’s no simple path to the underside and it will in all probability take one other half-hour to go down.
We determined to remain on the high and do a drone pic as an alternative.
• Curug Cikaso Waterfall
This can be a good turquoise coloured waterfall that requires a 1.5 hour drive outdoors of the primary Ciletuh space. It’s definitely worth the journey.
To succeed in the falls, there’s a brief and straightforward 10 minute hike on a cobblestone path via scenic rice terraces. You can too go by boat alongside the stream, though we didn’t see a lot level since they had been desirous to cost us extra for that.
The very best time to {photograph} this one is firstly of the dry season. In the event you come in the course of the wet season, it’ll in all probability be heavy brown water and also you gained’t get to see the great turquoise colour.
The lighting is finest early within the morning or possibly within the late night. You may swim right here, and we noticed some small fish and crabs close to the waterfall. Cool!
• Curug Cigangsa Waterfall
This can be a large waterfall surrounded by rice terraces. It’s a 1 hour drive from the primary Ciletuh space, in the identical path because the Cikaso waterfall, so you possibly can go to each of those locations collectively.
When you get there, it’s solely a 2 minute stroll to the waterfall, however then one other 5 or 10 minutes to succeed in the underside if you wish to see it up shut.
This waterfall most definitely dries up from Could onwards, so it’s not going to be as spectacular after that. It was nearly dry after we went in April.
• Most important Seaside
The principle seaside at Ciletuh isn’t actually spectacular, but it surely’s value seeing. It’s listed as a ‘white sand seaside’ on Google Maps, but it surely truly has brown or black sand, with good views and sunsets.
You may even see the Cimarinjung waterfall within the distance whilst you’re sitting on the seaside.
The locals come right here for filth biking and paragliding, which seemed enjoyable. Sadly, there was quite a lot of trash on the seaside after we had been there.
• Curug Cimarinjung Waterfall
This can be a stunning and distinctive wanting waterfall that’s centrally situated in Ciletuh, and you’ll attain it in lower than 5 minutes of mountaineering on a principally paved path. It had a powerful circulation even in late April.
You may get pretty near it, however the rocks close to the falls are slippery, so watch out. This was certainly one of my favourite waterfalls within the space.
• Curug Cikanteh Waterfall
Cikanteh is without doubt one of the largest waterfalls in Indonesia. It’s really an enormous, and in my view, that is probably the most spectacular waterfall at Ciletuh.
The locals will inform you a information is required for the hike, regardless that it’s by no means. It solely takes 10 or quarter-hour. The trail is obvious and straightforward, and completely unremarkable aside from crossing a bamboo bridge.
Nevertheless, a information could be helpful in the event you go to as much as the second degree of the waterfall, which is a brief hike, however steep and never clearly marked. Most individuals solely view the waterfall from the underside, but it surely’s value going above to see it up shut. It’s very spectacular.
The locals may also ask for a donation, which serves as the doorway price. We gave a 10k donation, and paid 50k to a information for taking a number of pics and exhibiting us to the highest.
Images at Cikanteh are finest when it’s shaded within the early morning, or afternoon when it’s within the solar. We caught a giant rainbow right here within the late afternoon!
• Curug Sodong Waterfall
This one is situated proper within the car parking zone for Cikanteh, so you possibly can see it with out mountaineering. It’s a twin waterfall that’s larger than it appears to be like in images, though it shrinks fairly a bit within the dry season.
• Puncak Darma Viewpoint
This can be a viewpoint on the high of the Ciletuh cliffs, and you’ll attain it in 5 or 10 minutes of driving from the valley flooring.
It’s an ideal spot to see the sundown! There’s a bamboo ‘boat’ the place you possibly can pose for images, with wonderful views of the Ciletuh valley, the cliffs, and the entire bay.
• Curug Dogdog Waterfall
This can be a bonus waterfall you possibly can cease and see whilst you drive as much as Puncak Darma. It’s a pleasant 3 layer waterfall, and there’s solely a 5 minute stroll to succeed in it.
• Gunung Tumpeng Hill
That is an uncommon pointed peak within the Ciletuh hills, hiding in a distant location in a rubber plantation. To succeed in it, it’s important to drive on some bumpy rock roads.
I used to be tempted to climb out to the sting of the height, however since I used to be sporting sandals and there are steep cliffs on either side, I made a decision to not danger it.
There’s slippery gravel on the trail, and the drops look deceptively secure as a result of they’re overgrown with bushes, however a fall right here might be deadly. Watch out in the event you determine to climb it.
• Curug Panganten Waterfall
That is one other large waterfall within the hills above the Ciletuh valley. We missed this one on our journey as a result of it’s a bit distant, and we weren’t positive what the highway could be like.
The photographs I’ve seen of the waterfall look nice, and there’s one other one close to it referred to as Curug Cibelener.
Map Of Issues To See In Ciletuh Geopark
Right here’s a map of the most effective issues to see within the geopark and the encircling space.
Bear in mind the areas are approximate, and a number of the waterfalls on this map might require a little bit of mountaineering or driving on damaged roads to succeed in.
The place To Keep At Ciletuh Geopark
Listed below are a couple of resort choices within the Ciletuh Geopark. All of those are situated straight within the valley, close to the waterfalls and different sights of the park:
- RedDoorz @ Geopark Ciletuh Sukabumi – Fundamental however comfy air-conditioned rooms. That is the place we stayed after we visited the park.
- Dua Bidadari Villa – Midrange resort situated proper by the Cikanteh waterfall. You may see and listen to the waterfall from the resort. It additionally has household measurement rooms and free breakfast.
- Ciletuh Hills Lodge & Cafe – Luxurious rooms with wonderful balcony views of the waterfalls.
- RedDoorz close to Ciletuh Sukabumi – Another choice from RedDoorz that’s extra funds pleasant. We don’t have expertise with this one, however you possibly can’t beat the worth.
Different Suggestions For Ciletuh Geopark
- ATM: There are a number of ATMs within the valley, though we didn’t strive them to see how nicely they work.
- Electrical energy: Although it is a distant space of Java, it has 24/7 electrical energy, so that you don’t want to fret about outages.
- Entrance Charges: Most of the waterfalls within the Ciletuh Geopark have a small entrance price or parking price once you go to. Normally it’s like 5k or 10k Rupiah per particular person at every waterfall. The park itself doesn’t have a price.
- Mosquitoes: We noticed some mosquitoes after we had been consuming on the eating places, however managed to keep away from any bites. In response to this Lancet examine from 2018, there could also be some Malaria presence on this space, so that you’ll wish to placed on mosquito spray always. We didn’t use prophylactics.
- Cell Service: We had respectable 3G and 4G information with Telkomsel all through the valley.
- Eating places: We ate most of our meals at Geopark Ciletuh Cafe & Resto. The meals was good and costs had been cheap.
- WiFi: Our funds resort didn’t have WiFi, however the increased finish resorts ought to have it.
How Lengthy To Keep
We stayed at Ciletuh for 3 days, and that was sufficient time to see all of the highlights of the park.
In the event you keep longer, it’s possible you’ll discover much more attention-grabbing issues within the space. It’s nonetheless a really uncharted place, and most worldwide vacationers go to East Java as an alternative.
Finest Time To Go to
Because the primary motive to go to Ciletuh is to see the waterfalls, ideally you need to attempt to go after they’ll look their finest.
We went in late April, which is getting close to the dry season, and the waterfalls had been fairly good, however they had been already beginning to dry up a bit. Then again, December or January may be too wet.
Based mostly on our expertise, the right time to go must be February, March, or early April. The waterfalls must be actually large in these months, with out wanting too brown or muddy from flooding.
Extra Indonesia Journey Guides
Thanks for wanting! I hope you loved this journey information for the Ciletuh Geopark in West Java.
Don’t overlook to take a look at my different Indonesia journey guides, and my record of the most effective waterfalls in Indonesia!