Popular among the locals, who usually flock in this stunning Parangtritis beach (pantai Parangtritis), particularly during holidays and weekends, makes this Yogyakarta coast with black sand and its myth of the Queen of the South Sea always becomes one of the most interesting tourist attractions to be visited, and no trip to Yogyakarta Special Region complete, without visiting this dazzling beach.
Parangtritis is considered as the most popular tourist attraction in Bantul Regency and as the most famous beach in this province. It lies merely 30 km south of Yogyakarta city and its location is near other interesting tourist sites: Parangkusumo Beach, Gumuk Pasir Barchan, Cemara Sewu Beach and Depok Beach.
The locals believe that there is an imaginary spiritual line among Parangtritis Beach, Kraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Palace) and mount Merapi. The beach itself represents water and the mount represents fire while Kraton Yogyakarta as a balancer. Beside it's a famed beach trusted as a main gate of South Sea Kingdom ruled by Nyai Loro Kidul (Goddess of The South Sea). Thereby it's no surprised if sometimes visitors see offerings (commonly white and red roses) on the beach.
According to a local folklore, visitors who come to Parangtritis beach wearing green clothes will be enticed into the blue ocean to drown due to green as the Queen of the South Sea's favorite color. Therefore, i've never seen anyone wear a green cloth in this beach.
It is forbidden to swim at Parangtritis beach since it has Rip Current type which can be hazardous for people swimming in the water.
The rip current is said as a mysterious killer which its sudden emergence. And it's also unpredictable for it's predisposed by the dynamism of the sea, weather, shore line and the surface of the beach, and the bottom of water can be changed at anytime, so the emergence of this current is really erratic.
Finally my steps stopped at a cool shady place below a rocky hill with many big rocks where i could gaze the beauty of Parangtritis beach from a hidden place.
In this swimming pool you can experience nice natural warm water while gazing the stunning Parangtritis beach is only for IDR 10k (USD 0.75).
Parangtritis Beach
Location
Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia
Entrance Fee
Adult/Child IDR 5k (USD 0.40)
Getting there
From Yogyakarta City (30 km), head to Jalan Brigjen Katamso, then to Jalan Parangtritis, just follow it until you arrive at the ticket gate, from there the beach is only 3 km.