Visit Banyuwangi Regency, East Java.

Crater of Mount Ijen in Banyuwangi.

Banyuwangi has long been associated with Kawah Ijen, or Crater of Mount Ijen but since the International Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen (ITdBI) launched in 2012, the tourism branding of  Banyuwangi could be different. Banyuwangi has successfully hosted International Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen (ITdBI) 2016 from 11 to 16 May, 2016 with participants coming from 20 foreign teams from 29 countries, including France, the Netherlands, the USA, and of course Indonesia. The annual event of sport tourism is conducted as an effort to promote tourism in Banyuwangi regency and support the program of Wonderful Indonesia and Pesona Indonesia by the Ministry of Tourism.

As the name implies, Ijen is a mountain of Ijen  with well-known crater kown as Kawah Ijen.International Tour de Ijen consists of four stages with a route of approximately 600 kilometers long. The route taken  goes by the surrounding area of Banyuwangi regency and across various tourist destinations, be it beaches, plantations, and city tour. Along the route, participants will also be served with a variety of art and culture of Banyuwangi. The cycling event will finish at the foot of Mount Ijen where participants can enjoy a wonderful fire phenomena (blue fire) at night.

Truelly, Banyuwangi regency has a myriad of cool and beautiful places to visit. For an adventurer, National Park Alas Purwo (NPAP) could be the first choice to visit. Alas Purwo National Park is a national park located in the district and sub-district Tegaldlimo, Purwoharjo, Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia (wikipedia). 

Wild bull in National Park Alas Purwo.

The national park covers an area of 434.20 sq km and has many interesting places to discover; as a national park, NPAP presents the charm of the wild life which is very challenging. Exploring the national park will be an unforgettable experience. In this national park you can find interesting places of ecotourism as follows :

1. Savana Sadengan
Savana Sadengan is a flagship of tourist attraction in the National Park Alas Purwo. Here we can see wild animals in their natural habitat. In Sadengan, there is a three-story viewing tower to allows us to observe the behavior of wild animals from above. There is also an inn located in the vicinity of the observation posts for those who want to do research on wild animals. In the Savana of Sadengan, visitors may come across wild animals including elks, bulls to the wild pigs, as well as various types of birds. If one wants to get maximum surrounding and scenery, it is advisable to come to this place in the morning hours between 6 to 9 or afternoons between half past four to five hours. In these hours the animal will usually get together and play around.

 
2. Pantai Plengkung
There is a beach in Banyuwangi that are favored by surfers because high waves and lined three-layer. The beach called beach Plengkung or also known as G-Land. This beach is the best place to surf in Banyuwangi. Pantai Plengkung not only famous among local surfers but also abroad. This beach even had several times to be a place for the event of surfing competition at world level. Not only accessible from Banyuwangi, the beach is also accessible from Bali by speedboat.

 
3. Pantai Trianggulasi
Trianggulasi beach is beautiful and white sandy beach around the National Park Alas Purwo. The beach location which is not easily accessible making it less visited by tourists. The quiet atmosphere actually make the beach special and not mainstream. With dazzling white sand and crystal clear ocean water plus a very quiet atmosphere, it seemed being on the beach like in an unfamiliar place but giving pleasures. Occasionally, some wild animals also appeared at this beach. It is so natural there.

 
4. Pantai Pancur  
Pancur beach is another white sandy beach in the National Park Alas Purwo. The name of this beach is taken based on the existence of a river where the water flows into the beach which forms a shower.The atmosphere at the beach is not much different from the other beaches in the National Park Alas Purwo. The atmosphere is natural with white sand and clear blue sea water. In the vicinity of the beach, there is a camping ground area used for camping. About 2 km from the coast there are quite sacred cave namely Goa Istana and Sendang Srengenge.
 

5. Pantai Ngagelan 
Ngagelan beach in Banyuwangi is known as the place to watch turtle nesting activity.  On this beach we also watch the turtles lay their eggs at night.There are four types of turtles that are often pulled over at this beach to lay eggs namely ridley turtles, hawksbill, leather back and green turtles. Besides watching the turtles lay eggs we can also see the release of young turtles in this Beach. The best time to watch the turtles lay their eggs on the beach Ngagelan is between May to September.

6. Pantai Cungur 
Pantai Cungur we can see the various types of wild birds because this beach is the habitat of several birds. Not only local birds, at certain times we can also see various types of migratory birds that happened to be in Cungur beach.The existence of the birds on the beach often invite  researchers and photographers to watch closely the various species of birds and taking some photos. There are about 39 species of birds that live in Pantai Cungur.

7. Mangrove Forest Area Bedul 
Mangrove Forest Area Bedul in NPAP as ecotourism area of ​​mangroves are already pretty well known. The mangrove forest is the largest on the island of Java, so visiting this area will have the sensation of its own.There visitor can tour around the mangrove forest area by renting a fishing boat. The development of tourist areas in the region itself is a collaboration between the National Park Alas Purwo with local residents in Sumber Asri

Source:http://www.yukpiknik.com/destinasi/wisata-alas-purwo/