If you love mountain climbing, you may be familiar with this rute, even for those who just like sightseeing, this area presents you with nice mountain view.
Passing through a front gate, stated as a teritory of mount Merbabu National Park, you will encounter, on the left side, a lush pine forest, commonly found and grow well in mountain regions in Indonesia which its benefit for land conservation.
In recent years, the popularity of visiting a pine forest has been ascending, not only for the health benefits with its fresh, cool air and invigorating effects, but also for selfie purpose, especially on sunny day you can gaze the splendor of mount Merbabu, Telomoyo, Andong, Sumbing, even the famed lake Rawa Pening from some available observation spots there.
The majority of villagers in Cuntel are farmers. They grow some type of vegetables, suitable in a cool climate, such as chili, cabbage, lettuce, radish and more.
Some of them also breed cows for getting the milk, and the cattle manure, a mixture of its feces and bedding straw, is a good compost to fertilize their vegetable gardens.
Lastly, you reach at Merbabu (Manggala) Base Camp Cuntel, where a climber registers and pays for a restribution fee at IDR 16k (included insurance, trekking, entering the area and village ticket fee), and take photos in front of the base camp before climbing up the mountain.
Merbabu (Manggala) Base Camp Cuntel
Location
Dusun Cuntel, Kopeng Village, Getasan Sub-district, Semarang Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia.
Getting there
From Salatiga, head toward Kopeng, and before it you will see a road sign to Umbul Songo waterfall (at a T-junction on the left side), then turn left on Umbul Songo Street and go ahead follow the street.