Surfing West Java

Right Point · Best Apr-Oct · 3-8 ft · Crowd 3/5

SW swell, E-SE wind

Cimaja is a right point over round boulders near Pelabuhan Ratu, and the main surf town in West Java. It's walling, sometimes hollow and very consistent: if there's swell in the Indian Ocean, it's usually breaking.

You take off by the boulders, ride a long wall and finish on a faster inside section when the tide drops. It's usually 3-6ft with morning offshores, and bigger swells bring more power and a current you have to paddle against. Mid tide is easiest on fins and feet.

Losmen are cheap and the local crew has surfed here for generations. Jakarta is 4-5 hours away, so weekends get busy. Everyday shortboard. It's also a good base for trips to Ombak Tujuh or Panaitan, which can be arranged locally.

Beach Break · Best Apr-Oct · 3-8 ft · Crowd 2/5

SW swell, morning glass

Sawarna, at Ciantir beach, is a big bay that takes a lot of swell. It has two kilometres of powerful beach break and a right off the reef at the western end when the swell lines up, with palm trees and cliffs around it.

The peaks change with the sandbanks, and you can get wedges, fast walls and proper barrels. It's usually bigger than Bali, and 5ft here is serious, with rips. Surf it in the morning, because the afternoon sea breeze ruins it.

Homestays are very cheap and close to the beach. Phone signal is patchy and there's no nightlife. Bring a shortboard and a step-up if a real swell is coming. Cimaja is about 90 minutes away.

Left Reef · Best May-Sep · 4-12 ft · Crowd 1/5

S-SW swell, E wind

Ombak Tujuh means 'seven waves', after the lines of swell that stack up on a long-period SW swell. It's a heavy left off the rocks near Ujung Genteng, and one of the best waves in Java, but few people surf it because it's hard to reach.

From Ujung Genteng it's 40 minutes or more by motorbike through plantations and along the beach, with river crossings. The wave jacks up off a boulder reef and runs for a hundred metres or more, with barrel sections. It works at 4-10ft on east winds, and it's for experts only.

There is nothing there: no warung, no shade and no help if something goes wrong. Bring water and a repair kit, and ideally a guide from the village who knows where to paddle out.

Left Reef · Best May-Sep · 4-10 ft · Crowd 2/5

SW swell, SE trades

One Palm Point is a left on the southwest corner of Panaitan Island, inside Ujung Kulon National Park. It's a long, very fast barrel over coral with very little water, one of the shallowest serious waves anywhere.

You can only get there by charter boat, on trips of 2-4 days from Sumur or arranged through Cimaja. The park is proper wilderness, home to Javan rhinos, crocodiles in the estuaries and monkeys around camp. Wear booties, bring a spare board, and consider a helmet.

It's best with a clean 5-8ft SW swell, SE trades and the right tide. For very good barrel riders only. When it isn't working, the trip is still jungle, empty reefs and nights at anchor.

Right Reef · Best May-Sep · 4-10 ft · Crowd 1/5

SW swell, SE trades

Apocalypses is a right on Panaitan Island, on the opposite side to One Palm Point. It runs down its own coral shelf with very fast walls and sudden square barrels over shallow reef.

It needs the same conditions: solid SW swell, SE trades and a boat. Because of its angle it sometimes works when One Palm isn't quite right, so charters often anchor between the two and decide in the morning. The rides are shorter than One Palm but hit harder on the drop.

It's inside a national park with no facilities and no rescue apart from your own boat. Experts only, with booties.

Left Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 3-8 ft · Crowd 1/5

S-SW swell, E wind

Turtles is a left over reef off Ujung Genteng, near Pangumbahan beach, where green turtles come ashore to nest. There's rarely anyone else out.

It's much easier to reach and to surf than Ombak Tujuh further along the coast. It needs a decent south or south-west swell and a morning offshore, and works from shoulder high to overhead. Intermediates with some reef experience will enjoy it.

Ujung Genteng is a small fishing and farming town with simple losmen and seafood. At night you can watch the turtles at the sanctuary. Bring cash, and expect slow roads.

Beach Break · Best Apr-Oct · 3-8 ft · Crowd 1/5

SW swell, morning glass

Loji is the long dark-sand beach south of the port at Pelabuhan Ratu. It has shifting beach-break peaks with fast walls and sometimes long lefts off the better banks, and it's more powerful than most people expect.

If you're staying in Cimaja, Loji is the backup when the point is small, crowded or on the wrong tide. Look from the coast road, park by a warung and paddle out at the peak nobody is on. In the dry season go in the morning, because the sea breeze comes in on time every day.

Watch for rips along the banks, a heavy shore break at high tide and dirty water after rain. Everyday shortboard. There's nothing here but fishermen and a couple of warungs.