Ijen Crater or Kawah Ijen, which has the world’s most acidic lake and turquoise colored water, is a must visited natural site in Indonesia. Being one of the favorite places for tourists from around the world, knowing how to get to this place is extremely important.
In this article, we’ll be providing you informations and tips regarding:
If you need these informations mentioned above, make sure to follow along!
Where is Ijen Crater
Before getting to this amazing view, first we should know where Ijen Crater is located. As you may have known, this Crater is located in East Java, between Banyuwangi and Bondowoso regency. The closest and the entrance to Ijen Crater is Banyuwangi, and the closest village is called Licin.
Getting to Banyuwangi
To reach Banyuwangi, there are several transport options, from public to private ones depending on where you start. If you start from Bali, you can take:
- Ferry + Land Transport: Take a ferry from Gilimanuk Port (Bali) to Ketapang Port (Java). The ferry runs 24/7 and takes about 1 hour. From Ketapang, it’s a short drive to Banyuwangi city center (about 15–30 minutes).
- By Tour Package: you can check our package here.
If you’re already in Java, let’s say from Surabaya, you can take:
- By Train: Trains from Surabaya Gubeng Station (SGU) to Banyuwangi Baru Station (KTG) take around 6–7 hours.
- By Flight: A direct flight to Banyuwangi Airport (BWX) takes around 1 hour.
Once you arrive at Banyuwangi, it’s best to stay a night at a local hotel, guest house, homestay or alike. Then on the best times to hike Ijen Crater, you should start heading to the starting point called Paltuding.
Getting to Paltuding
The closest village near Ijen Crater entrance as mentioned above was Licin. From Licin to Paltuding you would need to ride a transport such as jeep, shuttle car, private car, or trail motorcycle. We suggest you take a 4WD jeep as it is the safest to traverse the steep and slippery road to reach Paltuding.
There’s also an option to camp in Paltuding if you prefer to stay near the entrance of Ijen Crater.
Hiking Track
To reach the crater, you will hike for around 3 kilometers starting from Paltuding. The elevation of the summit is 2.386 meters above sea level meanwhile the starting point is 1.850 meters above sea level. The height difference is about 500 meters of elevation.
The track consist of volcanic dirt and gravel which could be slippery when the rain comes. Overall it has a bit of steep and flat surfaces that can be categorized as beginner-friendly but also need proper preparations.
The entrance opened from 2 AM to 12 PM, before and beyond the allowed time it is dangerous to hike there.
Conclusion
If you’re interested in discovering the magical view of turquoise lake in Ijen Crater, you should make a proper preparations and planning beforehand. Note the route to Banyuwangi and Paltuding, bring proper equipments, and also don’t forget to connect with the locals, if you need great advice and full package service to Ijen Crater, you could click here.
So, what are you waiting for, get ready and go on a unique journey with us!