There are various surf spots at Batu Karas and a few lesser known breaks a little further west frequented by travelling and local surfers alike. The 3 most well-known surfing spots are:
The Point: Batu Karas Point Break is very often referred to as the best place to learn to surf in Indonesia. The Point at Batu Karas is the perfect spot for beginners to learn to surf due to long, soft right-hand waves in a protected bay and a forgiving black sand bottom. Waves break over a few hundred metres enabling learner surfers the chance to get to their feet and ride across the wave spending plenty of time on their feet surfing the wave. The main beach of Batu Karas is called Legok Pari which is situated on the inside of The Point where the right-hander turns into a beachie. Here Legok Pari is the most popular spot among children learning to surf with even softer, slow, rolling waves breaking left and right. As your surfing improves you can move further up the point where the wave gets more powerful.
The Reef: Known as Karang by the locals, is a long right-hand point break that on good days, and higher tides, sends a faster and more workable wall for up to 150 metres. Perfect for intermediate and more experienced surfers.
Wave type:
The Point: Pointbreak
The Reef: Reef break
Bulak Bendak: Reef break
Wave difficulty:
The Point: Beginner-intermediate
The Reef: Intermediate upwards
Bulak Bendak: Intermediate upwards
What way do the waves break at Batu Karas:
The Point: Right
The Reef: Right
Bulak Bendak: Right
Sea bottom:
The Point: Sand
The Reef: Reef
Bulak Bendak: Reef
Booties:
The Point: Not needed
The Reef: Personal preference
Bulak Bendak: Not needed
Surfboard type:
The Point: Longboard or fish
The Reef: Shortboard or longboard
Bulak Bendak: Shortboard
Crowd factor:
The Point: Crowded
The Reef: Crowded
Bulak Bendak: Uncrowded
Hazards:
The Point: Rouge boards
The Reef: Shallow reef
Bulak Bendak: Shallow reef at times
Best swell direction:
The Point: SSW
The Reef: S
Bulak Bendak: SW
Best wind direction:
The Reef: WNW
Bulak Bendak: W
What tide does it work best on:
The Point: Low tide
The Reef: High tide
Bulak Bendak: All tides
Best tide movement for surfing at Batu Karas:
The Point: Low – mid tide
Bulak Bendak: Rising
How consistent is the surf:
The Point: Consistent
The Reef: Consistent
Bulak Bendak: Consistent
Best time of year for waves:
The Point: January – May
The Reef: January – May
Bulak Bendak: January – May
What is the vibe like in the lineup:
The Point: Mellow
The Reef: Friendly locals
Bulak Bendak: Ultra chill
What other names do the waves at Batu Karas go by?
The Point / BK Point / Legok Pari
The Reef / BK Reef / Karang
Bulak Bendak / Bulak Benda
Bulak Bendak: Often referred to as Bulak Benda due to the ‘k’ at the end of the word functioning as a glottal stop in the Indonesian language. Bulak Bendak surf spot is a hollow, right-hand reef break a short boat ride away from Batu Karas. It is a perfect spot to check out when the swell is smaller as it is much more exposed than the waves that have to wrap into The Point. With a bit of size in the swell, it is really only a wave for the experienced surfer.
Redazione
Notable for its long stretch of black sand, lush tropical foliage, and amenable waves for both beginners, intermediates, experienced surfers and longboarders alike, Batu Karas and its beautiful surroundings often cause people to call it a small piece of Bali. The small fishing village of Batu Karas near Pangandaran just West of Central Java is a great surfing destination for those looking to steer clear of massive barrels. While Batu Karas is predominantly as a heaven for beginners and longboarders due to its soft, clean, and long workable shoulders, this doesn’t mean that Batu Karas goes off any less than other world class waves in this part of Java. Read on to discover all the tips and tricks you need to know about when, where and how to surf the waves at Batu Karas.