Alas Purvo National Park Travel Guide

One of Indonesia's most remote and captivating national parks, Alas Purvo is located on the Blambangan peninsula, in the southeastern corner of East Java. Covering 43,000 hectares, it consists of savannah, mangrove forests, lowland tropical forests and coral-fringed beaches.

What is It?
One of Indonesia's most secluded national parks.
When to Go
During the dry season from April to September.
Nearest Town
Trianggulasi, about seven miles away from Plengkun.
Trivia
Javanese mystics believe that spirits have the ability to turn into wild animals, which is one reason why Alas Purvo's rich fauna makes it a highly revered location.

Alas Purvo means 'first forest', the name deriving from a Javanese legend according to which the earth first evolved from the ocean here. Thus, the park is considered a sacred space and attracts mystics from all around Java who aspire to experience its spiritual power. The relatively flat parkland comprises rolling hills that conceal numerous caves used for meditation. Each March during the Javanese New Year, pilgrims of all religious beliefs flock to the park to make offerings to the goddess of the South Sea.

A paradise for nature lovers, Alas Purvo is home to various rare and endangered animals, including the Javanese bull, Asiatic wild dog (dhole), silvered leaf monkey, and green peafowl, as well as diverse species of sea turtles that lay their eggs on the park's secluded beaches, while thousands of migrating birds visit its pristine forests each year.

Furthermore, the coastline of Alas Purvo boasts one of the world's greatest and steadiest reef breaks which peels along the park's edge at Plengkun on Grajagan Bay. From April to September, thousands of surfers from throughout the globe visit this internationally recognized spot known as G-Land, which is around a half-day trip from Bali.

Travel to Alas Purvo National Park - Getting There

The park is quite difficult to access, with a couple of walking tracks and a single bitumen road which was built for the three surf camps near Plengkung, and has restricted admission. The road is patrolled by government rangers who only permit vehicle approach to a select few, particularly the managers of the camps. Most tourists reach the camps on pre-arranged package deals by boat trip from Bali, which takes about half a day.