Papuma Beach

Tanjung Papuma on the south Jember coast is white sand between headlands with a set of rock stacks standing in the shallows off the eastern end, given names from the wayang - Kodok, Narada, Kresna and others - and a viewpoint on the Siti Hinggil headland looking down the length of the bay. The name is an acronym, Pasir Putih Malikan: white sand and malikan, the rounded stones on part of the shore that the waves turn over with an audible clatter as they draw back, which is the detail the beach is named for and which most visitors miss because they go to the sand rather than the stones. Behind is a forest reserve with monkeys. It faces the open Indian Ocean and the currents are dangerous, so swimming is restricted.

What you actually see

• Rock stacks named from wayang - the formations standing off the eastern end.
• Malikan stones - the rounded rocks the waves turn over with a clatter.
• The Siti Hinggil viewpoint - the headland looking along the bay.
• A forest reserve behind - the wooded ground with macaques above the sand.

When to go

May to September. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Currents are dangerous and swimming is restricted - obey the signs. The road in is rough in the last stretch. Weekends are crowded. Macaques take food from bags.

Nearby

Jember is north; the Meru Betiri park is east along the coast.