Mount Ijen is one of the unique mountains in Indonesia, which is located in the city of Banyuwangi, East Java province.The uniqueness of this volcano is that it has sulfur that keeps coming out of the bottom of the crater. When it comes out of the crater and is still burning by the lava, there will be a blue fire. And natural blue fire in to releasing blue fire in the morning between 1 am and 4 am, the mountain is the largest source of sulfur, and is used by local residents as a traditional mine.Another uniqueness of this place is the bottom of the crater filled with water which becomes a large lake.Because at the bottom of the crater there is a source of sulfur that comes out every day, the water in the crater lake is turquoise green, and it will be a very interesting sight when we are at the top of the mountain. And that’s why many foreign tourists visit there. With turquoise green, and will look like a very interesting lake if we are at the top of this mountain in the morning at sunrise.
How to go Mt Ijen
The location of Mt Ijen is in the city of Banyuwangi, if you are in the port of this city and see the East, then the island of Bali will look very clear, even though it is just the west side. If you start from the island of Bali then you have to go to the ferry port at Gilimanuk and then go to Banyuwangi. the location of Mount Ijen with a distance of approximately 1.5 hours from the port of Ketapang (Banyuwangi Harbor). To go to Mount Ijen from the port there is usually a transportation service using a private car and a 2-way usage system. Because there is no public transportation to the Ijen crater.
The thing to know is that the program that will be carried out to Mount Ijen is to see the blue fire phenomenon or just see the sulfur lake in the crater of this mountain.If you want to see the sulfur lake, you can start the climbing time at 5 am, and reaching the top will take 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on the hiking trip you are doing. and if you want to see the blue fire then your climb should start at 2 am. because this blue fire will be seen when the atmosphere is still dark and will disappear before sunrise.Although there is a prohibition for tourist visitors to see the blue fire at the bottom of the crater, but there are still many who go to the bottom of the crater for it, and the road to the bottom of the crater is actually not easy, even though using stairs made of stone and small roads does not make tourists really enjoyed the program.
Mt Ijen from Surabaya.
If you want to go to Ijen Crater tour starting from Surabaya, you can use public transportation, bus or train, to the city of Banyuwangi and it will take approximately 6 hours.and the arrival time in this city should be before 3 to 4 pm, why? because you get time to rest at homestays around Ijen crater or Banyuwangi city which are widely available at very low prices.This climb to the crater will be done at 2 am to see the blue fire at the bottom of the crater and preferably during the day before you have enough time to rest.if from Surabaya you can go through the city of Bondowoso or Banyuwangi and each city has a place to stop in the form of a homestay or hotel at a very affordable cost, before continuing the journey to the climbing place . Bondowoso city becomes closer distance from Surabaya or Probolinggo and earlier to rest before continuing the journey again at midnight to Ijen Crater. From this city the journey will go to Garduatak, Sempol and the place to start the climb, namely Paltuding. From this city (Bondowoso) it takes 2 hours and will go through coffee plantations and forests, so you have to use very decent means of transportation.
Mt Ijen by Bondowoso city.
To get to the Ijen crater if you are from a city that is west of this location, for example, you live in Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, you can use the route from the city of Bondowoso. Here it will also be advisable to book a ride to the climb and rest areas from noon to midnight. if you use public transportation.
Mt Ijen hiking.
Hiking Mount Ijen has 2 goals, namely seeing the blue fire phenomenon and the second seeing the sulfur lake crater from the top or bottom of the crater.All programs must use the services of a guide because there are many things that must be considered when climbing this mountain, namely knowledge of the route, resting place, and the time it will take so as not to be late to see the blue fire (the blue fire will disappear at sunrise) Another thing to pay attention to is the sulfur smoke that sometimes comes out very large and the wind blows to the location of the hiking trail, so the required facility is a mouth mask