Ijen Crater (Kawah Ijen)
Ijen Crater Complete Travel Guide
Ijen crater is a complex of strato volcanoes in proximity to Banyuwangi in East Java, Ijen and the landscape around it is dominated by the volcanic cones of Ijen, Merapi, on the northeastern edge of the Plateau and Raung on the southwest corner.
Kawah Ijen (Ijen Crater) is the center of attraction, being an acid crater lake about 1 km wide, turquoise in color that lies at 2148 meters above sea level.
The craters vent is a source of sulfur and collectors work here, making the daily trek up to the crater collecting pure sulfur from the quarry on the lake’s edge and carrying them in large shoulder baskets that may weigh up to 80 kg.
Attractions at Ijen Crater Tour
Ijen Blue Fire
The volcanic cone of Ijen dominates the landscape at the eastern end of Java. Crater of Ijen is filled by a spectacular turquoise blue lake, its surface streaked in wind-blown patterns of yellow sulfur.
Kawah Ijen is the world’s largest highly acidic lake and is the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation in which sulfur-laden baskets are hand-carried from the crater floor. Many other post-caldera cones and craters are located within the caldera or long its rim.
The largest concentration of post-caldera cones forms an E-W-treding zone across the southern site of the draw to its waterfalls, hot springs, and dramatic volcanic scenery.
Ijen Blue Fire is phenomenon here and it is the largest blue flame area in the world. If you want to see the Blue Fire you need to visit during midnight hiking. Takes 2 hours to reach the rim of the crater.
Ijen Crater Lake
Another thing to see in Ijen Crater Tours is the lake. Here is the largest and most acidic crater lake in the world, Ijen Crater Lake. The water in the lake have a very distinctive color, turquoise-green, which contains sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid. The pH is less than 0.3. It is capable to dissolve metal!
Miners at Ijen Crater
Kawah Ijen or Ijen Crater has tough and brave miners. Almost every day they come here to extract sulphur from the crater to be sold. This is their occupation and also the symbol of their struggle. You might not interested in their life, but if you are, say hello to them and talk with them to get to know their story through your tour guide. Imagine that the miners, they have to hike to the crater and carry around 70 to 90 kilograms sulphur on their backs when they get down from the crater! Such an interesting story to hear, right?
Other Attraction Nearby
People usually combine the trip to Ijen Crater with other destination nearby such as Bromo Tour and Sukamade Tour. Mount Bromo is one of the most popular attraction in Indonesia where tourist can see sunrise and the vast caldera of the mountain. The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is very wide that it also include Mount Semeru lies near the Bromo. Sukamade is a beach to turtle release. It is a conservation and include to Merubetiri National Park. If you would like to also take complete tour to go to Ijen, Mount Bromo, and Sukamade Turtle Beach tour, then do not hesitate contacting us.
Ijen Crater Blue Fire Location
It is located at Licin sub district, 45 km from the city of Banyuwangi.
Best Time of Ijen Crater Tour
April to October every year.
It is not advisable to go here in Indonesia rainy season since the track can be muddy and slippery, and it usually closed if the weather is not okay.
To see the Blue Fire you have to come here before sunrise. It takes 90 to 120 minutes to hike to the viewpoint. So make sure you get there earlier before. Minimum 2 hours before the sunrise in Ijen.
If you don’t want to see the Blue Fire you can go later on. The advantage is the area will be not so crowded. But you can’t come here too late or in the sunset because the place closes at 12 pm daily.
How Do You Go to Ijen Crater
By Air
To be able to reach Banyuwangi by plane, you can take an airplane route to Belimbing Sari Airport, Banyuwangi. The airport is the closest access to Ijen Banyuwangi Crater. Apart from Ijen Crater, the closest tourist destination is also the Baluran National Park which has African savanna fields.
By Land
Ijen plateau is usually accessed from the town of Bondowoso, from either the northern or the southern coast and Banyuwangi, Pos Paltuding, the starting point for the 8 km hike to Kawah Ijen, is 64 km from Bondowoso. The starting point can also be reached from Banyuwangi with a 4WD vehicle.
Tips to Go to Ijen Crater Blue Fire
Because the path offers you a little bit of adventure, there are some preparations to note. Such as:
- Wear comfortable shoes that has good grip. The path can be slippery.
- Bring your own gas mask and goggles to protect your face if you feel that is saver thing to do.
- You may need water, so bring lots of them with you. The track can be pretty tough at some point, plus it takes time to get into the view point. Stay hydrated is the best choice if you don’t want to get knocked down by the track.
- Take a Ijen Crater tour package that will not disappoint you with the facilities, itinerary, and more. Pamitran Tours is the best option for your trip here.
- Get into the blue fire early. Really really early.
- No need to wear jewelry made of silver. It will turn black once it exposed by the sulphur from the crater.
Mount Ijen Indonesia
Now Mount Ijen Nature Park and Alas Purwo National Park, Banyuwangi, East Java have been designated as World Biosphere Reserves by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The two biological sites are incorporated in the Blambangan Biosphere Reserve along with Meru Betiri National Park and Baluran National Park which are located in tandem with Banyuwangi.
Blambangan Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 678,947.36 hectares divided into three zones, namely the core area covering 127,855.62 hectares covering three national parks (Alas Purwo National Park, Baluran National Park, and Meru Betiri National Park) and one Nature Reserve, Ijen Crater ; buffer zone covering 230,277.4 hectares; and the transition area of 320,814.34 hectares.
What makes one of the other attractions in Ijen Crater is the activity of the miners who carry tens of kilograms of sulfur. Their efforts are so much highlighted by the media at home and abroad. With dangerous conditions they still earn a living even though they have to bet their lives inhaling poisonous air from Ijen Crater.
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