Ujung Genteng

Ujung Genteng sits at the south-western corner of Java facing the Indian Ocean, a long way down a slow road from Sukabumi, and it has stayed a fishing coast with modest guesthouses rather than becoming a resort. Pangumbahan, a few kilometres along, is a green turtle nesting beach with a conservation station: females come ashore at night through much of the year to lay, and hatchlings are released in the late afternoon, which visitors can watch and, under supervision, take part in. There are also tidal flats where fishermen work, Ombak Tujuh further west for surf, and the Cikaso waterfall inland, a broad three-strand fall reached by boat up a short river. The ocean here is powerful and swimming is dangerous on most of the coast.

What you actually see

• Green turtles nesting - females coming ashore at night at Pangumbahan.
• Hatchling releases - late afternoon, supervised, at the conservation station.
• A working fishing coast - boats, tidal flats and modest guesthouses.
• Curug Cikaso - the broad three-strand waterfall inland, reached by boat.

When to go

May to September; nesting runs much of the year. Two days.

Honest expectations

The road in is long and slow. Indian Ocean currents here are lethal - do not swim outside sheltered spots. Turtle viewing is at night and nothing is guaranteed. Facilities are simple.

Nearby

Cikaso waterfall is inland; Ciletuh Geopark is west along the coast.