Sawarna surf

Sawarna

Intermediate
Reef break · Moderate · Best: May–October · All tides
Working best in Java now G-Land Epic · 2.5m @ 12s View →
Conditions right now
Epic
Wave
2.6m
Swell
2.2m
13s · SSW
Period
13s
Wind
12 km/h
SSE · gust 23
Onshore
Water
26°C
Air
25°C

Surf report

Tide falling · Low 11:00 AM -0.0m
Time Surf Swell Wind Tide
6 AM 2.6 m
2.2m 13s SSW
13 km/h on
0.5m
9 AM 2.5 m
2.2m 12s SSW
12 km/h cross
0.2m
12 PM 2.6 m
2.1m 12s SSW
30 km/h on
-0.0m
3 PM 2.7 m
2.2m 12s SSW
29 km/h on
0.5m
6 PM 2.7 m
2.3m 12s SSW
20 km/h on
0.8m
Best session today
7 AM–9 AM
Cross-shore 2.2m swell @ 12s

Next 24 hours

Wave Swell
0.0 1.8 3.5 5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PM11 PM2 AM

Wind

Speed Gusts (km/h)
0 35 70 5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PM11 PM2 AM

Tide

Low 11:00 AM · -0.0m High 6:00 PM · 0.8m Low 12:00 AM · -0.2m High 6:00 AM · 0.5m
L 11 AM H 6 PM L 12 AM H 6 AM L 12 PM H 6 PM L 1 AM 5 AM11 AM5 PM11 PM5 AM11 AM5 PM11 PM

7-day outlook

Best days
Sat, Oct 24 Best
2.5–2.7m
Sun, Oct 25
2.2–2.5m
Mon, Oct 26
2.0–2.2m
Tue, Oct 27
1.8–2.0m
Wed, Oct 28
1.5–1.7m
Thu, Oct 29
1.2–1.5m
Fri, Oct 30
1.1–1.3m

Hourly detail

Show next 24h
Time Wave Swell Period Wind Tide
5 AM 2.6m 2.2m SSW 13s 12 SSE on 0.5m
6 AM 2.6m 2.2m SSW 13s 13 SSE on 0.5m
7 AM 2.5m 2.2m SSW 12s 12 SE cross 0.4m
8 AM 2.5m 2.2m SSW 12s 12 ESE cross 0.3m
9 AM 2.5m 2.2m SSW 12s 12 SE cross 0.2m
10 AM 2.5m 2.2m SSW 12s 16 S on 0.0m
11 AM 2.6m 2.1m SSW 12s 24 S on -0.0m
12 PM 2.6m 2.1m SSW 12s 30 S on -0.0m
1 PM 2.7m 2.1m SSW 12s 33 S on 0.1m
2 PM 2.7m 2.1m SSW 12s 32 S on 0.3m
3 PM 2.7m 2.2m SSW 12s 29 S on 0.5m
4 PM 2.7m 2.2m SSW 12s 28 S on 0.7m
5 PM 2.7m 2.2m SSW 12s 25 SSE on 0.8m
6 PM 2.7m 2.3m SSW 12s 20 SSE on 0.8m
7 PM 2.6m 2.3m SSW 12s 15 SE on 0.7m
8 PM 2.6m 2.3m SSW 12s 12 SE cross 0.5m
9 PM 2.6m 2.3m SSW 12s 9 SE cross 0.3m
10 PM 2.6m 2.3m SSW 12s 9 SE cross 0.1m
11 PM 2.5m 2.3m SSW 12s 9 SSE on -0.1m
12 AM 2.5m 2.4m SSW 11s 9 SSE on -0.2m
1 AM 2.5m 2.4m SSW 11s 8 SSE on -0.2m
2 AM 2.5m 2.3m SSW 11s 6 SSE on -0.1m
3 AM 2.5m 2.3m SSW 12s 7 SSE on 0.1m
4 AM 2.5m 2.2m SSW 12s 8 SSE on 0.3m

About Sawarna

Sawarna is a scenic reef break on West Java's remote south coast, offering fun, well-shaped waves for intermediate surfers willing to make the journey. The relative isolation keeps the lineup uncrowded, and the surrounding beaches and jungle add to the adventure of the trip. Waves range from playful to punchy depending on swell size, with both lefts and rights on offer across the break. It's a rewarding destination that combines quality surf with an off-the-beaten-path feel.

Local knowledge

Hazards

The reef is shallow and sharp at low tide — a wipeout in the wrong section can mean a nasty coral scrape, so booties are worth considering. Sea urchins lurk in the reef cracks around the entry and exit zone, and the south coast shore break can be deceptively powerful; rip currents form along the reef's edges during bigger swells and need to be read carefully before paddling out.

Getting there

Sawarna sits roughly 60 km south of Rangkasbitung in Banten province — the final stretch is a winding, sometimes rough road through jungle villages, so a motorbike or 4WD is strongly recommended. Park near the Sawarna village bridge (Jembatan Gantung), cross the rope suspension bridge on foot, then follow the coastal trail past Tanjung Layar rock formations to reach the break. Paddle out from the sandy channel on the reef's north side to avoid the sharper coral sections on entry.

Board

A versatile shortboard or mid-length (6'4"–7'0") covers most conditions here — something with a bit of volume handles the punchy, sometimes unpredictable take-offs well. Step up to a performance shortboard with a thruster setup when solid south swells push the waves overhead and hollower; on smaller, softer days a fish or hybrid will unlock the most fun out of the playful sections.

Localism

mellow — relaxed vibe.

Where to go now

Sawarna vs. nearby, live
Spot Surf Swell Wind Now
Sawarna
this spot
2.6m
2.2m 13s
12 on
Epic
Cisolok Best now
17 km away
1.9m
1.8m 13s
3 cross
Epic
19 km away
1.9m
1.8m 13s
3 cross
Epic
19 km away
1.9m
1.8m 13s
3 cross
Epic

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Karang Aji Surf Lesson & Guide

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Surfing in Java

Full Java surf guide →

Java is Indonesia's most populous and culturally dense island, yet for surfers it remains one of the archipelago's great escapes. Overshadowed by Bali to the east and the Mentawai boats to the west, Java's long, exposed south coast quietly serves up world-class waves with a fraction of the crowds.

✈️Getting there

Most international surfers fly into Bali (Denpasar/DPS) or Jakarta (CGK). For G-Land, the classic route is from Bali: drive west to Gilimanuk, take the short ferry across to Ketapang/Banyuwangi in East Java, then continue overland and by boat into Alas Purwo National Park. Many surfers simply book a transfer or surf-camp package from Bali, which can run as a long road-and-ferry day or a faster speedboat charter across the strait.

🛵Getting around

Java is huge and its south-coast surf zones are spread far apart, so there's no single hub. Scooters are cheap and easy to rent in beach towns like Batu Karas and Pangandaran and are perfect for short hops to local breaks — but Javanese traffic and long-haul roads can be intense for the inexperienced.

🌤️Climate & season

Java has a tropical climate with two clear seasons. The dry season runs roughly May to September and is prime surf time — consistent Indian Ocean groundswell, lighter and more favourable winds, and the cleaner conditions that make G-Land fire. This is when the south coast is at its best.