Discover Banyuwangi: Kawah Ijen, Alas Purwo and culture

At night, blue fire appears at Kawah Ijen as a result of sulfur gas sublimation. The Ijen Geopark spans the regencies of Banyuwangi and Bondowoso. In the Ijen Mountains, the focus is on geological features, biological diversity and cultural richness; development of the geotourism area is geared toward nature conservation, education and empowering local communities. For a trip to Banyuwangi, this offers different perspectives on nature, culture and regional traditions.

Nature and wildlife in Banyuwangi

Kawah Ijen is located in Tamansari, Licin, Banyuwangi Regency. Its landscape includes crater cliffs, sulfur miners and hikers. In Alas Purwo National Park, visitors can explore wild plants and free-ranging animals. The park is also home to Sadengan Savanna: this approximately 84-hectare artificial grazing area is used for wildlife management, particularly of banteng. The savanna is about 15 minutes from Rowobendo; local access conditions may change, so check them before your visit.

In the south of the national park, Segoro Anakan is an expansive mangrove lagoon suited to water recreation, picnics and adventure. Activities in the national park also include cycling, picnics, spiritual visits, and landscape and wildlife photography. Surfing is seasonal. Four sea turtle species come ashore at Sukamade Beach: green turtles, hawksbill turtles, olive ridley turtles and leatherback turtles. Bangsring Underwater, meanwhile, is a visitor attraction based on coral reef conservation. The floating house there serves as a fish clinic and a shark nursery.

Temples, traditions and events

Pura Luhur Giri Salaka is a Hindu-Javanese cultural temple and visitor attraction in Alas Purwo National Park; the temple is still used by Hindus. In Desa Kemiren, the annual Mepe Kasur ritual of village cleansing takes place along the streets. The Banyuwangi Batik Festival showcases batik patterns from Banyuwangi and is held annually. The tenth edition included batik design competitions, fashion shows on the pedestrian promenade, the selection of batik ambassadors, Jazz Batik, a batik market and Meras Batik. The program may vary from one edition to another.

Every evening, Banyuwangi Culture Everyday presents cultural performances at Taman Blambangan, in the southeast of Banyuwangi Regency. As the program may change, it is advisable to check the latest performance times before your visit. Kemiren is also known for the annual Ngopi Sepuluh Ewu Festival, which has made the village a popular destination for visitors to enjoy coffee.

Regional cuisine and travel planning

Specialties from Banyuwangi include Nasi Tempong: steamed white rice with cooked vegetables and raw, spicy sambal. Nasi Cawuk is a typical breakfast of rice, grated coconut, grilled corn, a lemongrass sauce and steamed clover. Tumpeng Sewu in Kemiren serves Pecel Pithik, grilled chicken with grated coconut. These dishes offer different insights into regional cuisine—from breakfast to a dish associated with a cultural tradition.

Banyuwangi can be reached by air from Surabaya or Bali via Banyuwangi Airport, also known as Blimbingsari Airport. Flight connections may change; check current routes before planning your trip. From Bali, you can also travel by ferry between Gilimanuk and Ketapang. As ferry operations may vary, it is advisable to check the schedule in advance.

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Discover more destinations: Pesanggaran, Cluring, Probolinggo City, Sidoarjo, Jember, Sampang, Nganjuk, Kota Batu.

For the broader travel overview: East Java.