Batukaras: 15 Years in the Making

Batukaras: 15 Years in the Making

Nick finally made it to Batukaras - a fishing village in south-west Java he'd been hearing about for 15 years. Perfect point waves, minimal crowds and a vibe that somehow survived the Instagram era. He showed up at the tail end of the dry season but despite that…got rained on daily, watched fishing boats take over the main road during king tide and left his board on the lawn every night without a second thought. No locks, no stress, no bullshit. Nick's verdict? "I loved my short few days there at BK  … I will look forward to going back asap."

 

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By Nick van de Merwe
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I first heard about Batukaras 15 years ago from some Bali-based Aussie surfers who'd just gotten back. They told stories of this little fishing town in south-west Java - middle of nowhere, perfect point wave, hardly anyone there, friendly locals. Sounded pretty good.

So 15 years later in September 2025 I finally got around to it.

And yeah……. it was everything they said it was. Maybe a little more!

What's there (and what isn't)

Batukaras - or BK, as people call it - is still small enough that you recognise everyone's face within a couple of days. Half a dozen restaurants, a couple of proper coffee spots, surfboard hire shops, a few legit massage places. Accommodation ranges from fancy to very not fancy.

Everyone gathers around the beach at sunset. You have a drink, watch the surf, chat with whoever's there, then head out for dinner. By 8pm, you're done. That's the rhythm.

Motorbike hire? Just mention you need one. Someone shows up with keys. 60,000 rupiah a day.

Getting there (it's not easy)

I flew Bali to Yogyakarta - 2 hours - then drove 7 hours from Yogya to BK. There are other options depending where you're coming from, but none of them are quick. Some guys I met fly Australia to Jakarta, then take a SUSI Air flight to nearby BK. Probably the fastest route.

The hard access keeps the crowds down. For now, at least….

When to go

Dry season (May–October) is best for longboarders. Wet season (November–April) lights up the reefs for the more experienced crew. Try to avoid weekends - busloads of families from Jakarta show up, which is fair enough, but it changes the vibe.

What Google can't tell you

I had terrible weather. Rained every day. Didn't care.

I loved that the fishing boats covered the whole road when a king tide forced them to relocate. No problems - these boats matter more than the road.

I left my surfboard on the lawn outside the hotel every night. No one touched it and I love that.

There are probably mixed feelings among locals about how popular they want BK to become. Right now though it's got this great mix of old Javanese fishing village charm and Western creature comforts. And an excellent point longboarding wave.

The fact that it's hard to access will keep it that way for a while.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

Nick