Some people like traveling to places of historical significance. Some people like to spread themselves out under the sun on a private beach. Some like to go anywhere where a hard bargain can be driven and a Tshirt can be gotten for $5. I like to go to places that I read about as an eager geography student in secondary school.

Until 2 years ago, I never knew it was possible to visit Krakatoa. All I learned as a teenager was that Krakatoa was a super volcano that erupted in 1883, killing loads (36,000 according to Wikipedia) and causing the most extensive worldwide climatic change event in modern times. Then I came across an article online (the original article can no longer be found but this is a good alternative) chronicling a 2D1N camping trip on the island. Getting there wasn’t easy. It’s 3 hours drive from central Jakarta to Carita Beach and from there another 3 hour harrowing boat ride on a fast boat to the island. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me! After much cajoling from me, 4 friends agreed to indulge my insanity.

And was it worth it? Damn, it was. Turns out we were going to Anak Krakatoa, literally the “child of Krakatoa” which rose like a phoenix from the depths of the Earth when the original Krakatoa blasted itself apart violently (that’s an understatement), leaving only 3 land masses behind as a reminder of its existence. Here’s Anak Krakatoa:

We went snorkelling right where this picture was taken and were marvelling at tiny bubbles in the water. Turned out they were sulphuric acid bubbles that left painful red gashes on the skin. Yikes!

We were the only campers on the island so it was exactly like having our very own private island (at a bargain I must say!)

Dinner was a sumptuous meal characteristic of Indonesian hospitality. Grilled fish, stir fried veggies, steamed rice, tempeh, cut fruits! I am always amazed at what you can whip up in the wild with some determination.

We hiked up the volcano to catch the sunrise the next morning. The furthest we could go was about 2/3 way up because Anak Krakatoa was at Alert Level 2 which means mama’s not happy and you don’t want to get near the fumes at the top. The view from high was stunning and here you can see 2 pieces of the old Krakatoa:

Later that morning, we packed up and went back the same way we came. The short 2D1N trip felt more like a very compressed week with so much action and sights to take in.

And of course, a very good geography lesson.

How to go: 

Fly to Jakarta and stay overnight. Be up at 4am and drive/be driven 3 hours to Carita beach. Hop on a fast boat and it’s another 3 hours to Anak Krakatoa. There are many tour providers who pick up from Jakarta. We went with these guys who are reasonably priced and know their stuff. But bring your own snorkelling mask.