Travel Guide Pangandaran

Java's most famous seaside resort (also a charming fishing village), located on a very narrow peninsula, the tip of which is now a national park. On either side of the peninsula lie several beaches of volcanic sand. The noisy eastern beach is the most typical, with its fish market and prahu (traditional boats). Fishing nets hang from bamboo platforms. Most restaurants and hotels are located on the west beach. The northern end of this beach is extremely dangerous. Be very careful, as drownings are frequent. At weekends, the resort is overcrowded with Bandung residents. The main attraction on full-moon evenings is to watch the setting sun and moon simultaneously over the ocean, while the prahus scroll by in shadow. The people are friendly, the fish grilled and the summer visitors tanned.Pangandaran stretches some 3 km from the bus terminal to the national park. The bus terminal is about 1 km from the first hotels, which border the beach. Becaks are waiting for you at the bus station (negotiate their fares firmly, and beware: they always ask your hotel for a commission to take you there). The main thoroughfare is Jalan Kidang Pananjung. It costs Rp 20,000 per person to enter the village of Pangandaran.