Nusakambangan is widely known as a dreadful prison island and an execution site where inmates are put to death. However, during holiday this island becomes the most popular tourist destination to visit in Cilacap Regency.
Nusakambangan island, located in the southwestern of Central Java, has a total area of 121 km2 which is separated from java island by the narrow Segara Anakan strait.
Nusakambangan is considerably under-developed, so this island is less inhabited except inmates, the prison officers and the locals.
Visiting Nusakambangan island wasn't included in my plan at that time, although i had been waiting for the opportunity to visit that island. Actually, i just planned to explore "Benteng Pendem" (Buried Fort) in mainland, Cilacap (the other one is in Nusakambangan island) and when i was already in the parking area of "Benteng Pendem", someone approached me and persuaded me to cross to Nusakambangan island by his brother boat. Knowing i was alone, he charged me with higher fee for IDR 60k (USD 4.50). Of course i refused, what i wanted was charged as much as someone who joined in a group, IDR 25k (USD 1.90)/ person. And i told him that i was a blogger who would write about Nusakambangan and my story would automatically promote Nusakambangan as an interesting tourist attraction, so it would give benefit for both him and this tourist area to gain more visitors. Then he finally agreed and asked me to follow him to a beach which was just across from Benteng Pendem's parking area" (about 1.5 minutes walked).
Thereafter he told his friend if i could joint his boat with a group of people who had been preparing to go.
I suggest, if you want to cross to Nusakambangan alone, directly head to the beach (opposite "Benteng Pendem") and choose any boat which is still enough seat for you.
Life jackets are a vital piece of safety equipment on a boat, so every passenger has to wear it. They are available on the boat.
Nusakambangan is considerably under-developed, so this island is less inhabited except inmates, the prison officers and the locals.
Visiting Nusakambangan island wasn't included in my plan at that time, although i had been waiting for the opportunity to visit that island. Actually, i just planned to explore "Benteng Pendem" (Buried Fort) in mainland, Cilacap (the other one is in Nusakambangan island) and when i was already in the parking area of "Benteng Pendem", someone approached me and persuaded me to cross to Nusakambangan island by his brother boat. Knowing i was alone, he charged me with higher fee for IDR 60k (USD 4.50). Of course i refused, what i wanted was charged as much as someone who joined in a group, IDR 25k (USD 1.90)/ person. And i told him that i was a blogger who would write about Nusakambangan and my story would automatically promote Nusakambangan as an interesting tourist attraction, so it would give benefit for both him and this tourist area to gain more visitors. Then he finally agreed and asked me to follow him to a beach which was just across from Benteng Pendem's parking area" (about 1.5 minutes walked).
Thereafter he told his friend if i could joint his boat with a group of people who had been preparing to go.
I suggest, if you want to cross to Nusakambangan alone, directly head to the beach (opposite "Benteng Pendem") and choose any boat which is still enough seat for you.
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| The other group was ready to go |
Life jackets are a vital piece of safety equipment on a boat, so every passenger has to wear it. They are available on the boat.
The distance to Nusakambangan island is actually very close but at that moment the sea breeze was quite strong that make our boat swung slightly across the face of the waves.
It took us about 12 minutes to cross Segara Anakan strait to arrive in Tebeng beach, Nusakambangan. There was no entrance fee. It's free. In the beach, there were some boats waiting their passengers to return back. So, when you take a boat to that island, make sure you memorize the boat's name and ask for the contact number, because you can only take the same boat to go back to Teluk Penyu beach.
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| Tebeng beach |
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| Tebeng beach |
In the beach area, i saw the locals sold some foods and drinks and souvenirs, so if you are there, you don't need to worry if you feel thirsty or hungry. And along with other visitors, i headed to Karang Pandan beach through stony and dry walkways (during dry season) and crossed a bamboo bridge.
On the way to Karang Pandan beach, i stopped at "Benteng Pendem" (Indonesian for "Burial Fort") with its thick wall, built by Dutch troops during a colonial era in Indonesia.
Although the building's hundreds years old, and it's already grown by trees whose roots grabbed its wall. But the wall still looked sturdy. I was just thinking, during the war in the past, Dutch trooos used this fort as well as a burial fort in Cilacap as defensice places.
I also found another hidden fort. However, since the place was dark and narrow, i decided not to enter into it, just took photos.
Next, i continued walking to Karang Pandan beach. There were many people on the beach, perhaps it was a long weekend, three days holiday: friday was a public holiday, saturday (the day a was there) and sunday. If i hadn't stopped at "Benteng Pendem" (buried fort), it would have taken me, approximately 15 minutes walked from the boat landed to the beach. Not to far, but it made me get sweat. Hahaha.
In my opinion, Karang Pandan beach is an ordinary beach, nevertheless, what make this trip may special for most people is the combination among crossing Segara Anakan Strait by a boat, trekking through a forest, exploring "Benteng Pendem", and lastly viewing Indian ocean through the beach.
Karang Pandan beach
Since i still wanted to write the other "Benteng Pendem" for my blog and it would close at 5 pm, so i decided to go back to my boat. I walked through a different walkway. When i discovered a ruined old cannon, and actually from this place i saw another hidden tunnel of "Benteng Pendem" which i read it in someone blog that would enter into a big room under the ground. At that moment, i thought it wasn't a good idea for me to explore unknown and scary dark place alone and i didn't have much time as well.
a ruined old cannon
About 15 minutes later i arrived in Tebeng beach while our boat waiting for me and other passengers to take us back to Teluk Penyu beach.