TIMES JATIM, BANYUWANGI – Banyuwangi is the haven of beautiful landscapes and interesting sights for travelers to explore. Tucked in the eastern region of Java Island, this regency, which is also known as Bumi Blambangan, becomes one of the most popular tourist attractions.

Previously, Banyuwangi Culture and Tourism Office (Disbudpar) released data on tourist visits during the last Eid al-Fitr public holiday, which shows that tourist attractions in Banyuwangi had brought around 220,000 travelers in total. Based on the data, there are the 10 most popular tourist attractions that should be on your bucket lists when you are visiting Banyuwangi. 

1. Boom Marina Beach

The first top-rated natural attraction in Banyuwangi is Boom Marina Beach. This tourist attraction offers the most stunning orange sunset at its lagoon. This picturesque panorama is complete with the background of a vast beach and the blue Bali Strait. No wonder why this beach managed to bring more than 43,464 visitors during the last public holiday. 

In addition to that, visitors may find some Instagram-worthy spots on the site, such as a spiral-shaped bridge or causeway, some old heritage buildings, such as the former Djakarta Lloyd warehouse that can add some vintage touch to your aesthetic photographs. 

2. Banyuwangi Park

Banyuwangi Park comes in the second list. This tourist attraction includes both educational and adrenaline tourism. Banyuwangi Park was officially opened on 19 March 2023, which is relatively new. However, it attracted around 26,659 visitors during the last Eid al-Fitr holiday. Banyuwangi Park, which is part of Jawa Timur Park Group (JTP Group), provides 28 fun rides in total for the visitors to try. 

The entrance fee costs IDR 70,000 / person, cheaper than the entrance fee in Jatim Park. With this relatively affordable price, the visitors may enjoy any fun rides, such as Water Park, Science Center, Geopark Museum, Rumah Santet, and the list goes on. 

3. Pulau Merah Beach

Pulau Merah Beach is an exotic beach that comes as the third recommendation. With the iconic island in the middle of the ocean with the most breathtaking sunset scenery, this natural attraction attracted up to 21,553 visitors to explore its beauty. This tourist attraction has soft, vast white sand and the lush green beach that is eye-pleasing. 

Visitors can spend hours enjoying the pounding surf, refreshing breeze and munching on some delightful bites, such as fried tofu. Some young coconut drinks may also quench your thirst. In addition to that, Pulau Merah Beach is a perfect place for surfing. If you are a beginner surfer, some professional surfing coaches are ready to help you. 

4. Grand Watu Dodol Beach

Grand Watu Dodol Beach (GWD) is the next destination that you can visit during a vacation to Banyuwangi. This natural attraction is famous for its exotic underwater scenery. Based on the tourist visit data, this tourist attraction became the fourth most famous destination that brought around 14,613 visitors during the last Eid public holiday. 

Along 1,000 meters from the coastline, there is a coral reef conservation that hides the exotic marine biota that can be enjoyed by diving and snorkeling. Besides, visitors may see the underwater beauty by riding the Speed Boat with Glass Bottom while heading off to Tabuhan Island or Menjangan Island. 

5. Gumuk Kantong Beach

The next destination is Gumuk Kantong Beach, a tourist attraction that becomes the perfect spot to see the beauty of Bali Island and Tanjung Sembulungan from afar. Nestled in Sumbersewu Village, Muncar sub-district, this beach offers a nice spot to enjoy the revitalizing breeze from the ocean while enjoying the grilled fish along the coast, under the shade of Hibiscus trees, palm trees and Ketapang trees. 

6. Jopuro Bathing Spot

Located in Kampung Anyar Village, Glagah sub-district, this natural bathing spot is the perfect place to relieve some stress and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

This bathing spot combines both natural and manmade landscapes by using river damming from the Mount Ijen spring to make pools that can be used as the bathing spots with the Osing ethnic concept. 

Not only for tourism, but this spring called Air Kajar also has some traditional values. The locals use this spot to hold ‘Ithuk-Ithukan’, a tradition to maintain the environment around the water spring on 12 Dhu al-Hijja (the twelft and the final month in the Islamic calendar). 

7. Cacalan Beach

Cacalan Beach is a natural attraction with an exotic scenery with Bali Island on the background. At this exotic beach, visitors may enjoy the thrill of paddling a canoe in a swamp forest covering an area of 1 hectare. 

Only spending around IDR 10,000, visitors may paddle the canoe while enjoying the blissful, shady swamp forest with the crystal-clear water, accompanied by the chirping birds and colorful fishes in the water. 

8. Tamansuruh Bathing Spot

Tamansuruh is a bathing spot tucked in the slope of Mount Ijen, in Tamansuruh Village, Glagah sub-district, which is perfect for stress relieving. This bathing spot has a calm and revitalizing vibes, and crystal-clear water from the mountain spring. 

9. De Djawatan Forest

De Djawatan Forest is also known as The Lord of the Ring. This tourist attraction is famous for its best photo spots. With hundreds of gigantic trees, this forest resembles the witch forest in an enchanting fantasy movie. Besides, this natural attraction also offers a mystical yet romantic feeling, which makes it more worth-visiting. 

10. Tamansari Tourist Village

Last but not least, the recommended tourist attraction in Banyuwangi is Tamansari Tourist Village that used to be one of the award-winning tourist villages in 2021. 

The tourist village in Licin sub-district presents a mountainous atmosphere with nice homestays and villas to stay in. Having the natural potential of the well-known Ijen crater and its blue fire, this village also has a clear and cool natural bathing spot, Sendang Seruni, which is famous as the former bathing spots of the angels. 

Those are the top 10 most popular tourist attractions in Banyuwangi recommended by Banyuwangi Culture and Tourism Office. Are you interested in visiting one of them, or maybe all of them at once?. (*)