Cimaja Surf Spots

Cimaja is a fast-breaking, fun right-hander that bowls out for long rippable rides.

Occasionally you’ll find a barrel on hand at low tide, but Cimaja is better known for its long right shoulders in between two river mouths. Surrounded by lush jungle foliage and just a short ride from Jakarta, Cimaja should definitely make the list of breaks you’re looking to score in West Java. Read on to discover what Cimaja has to offer.

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WAVE INFO

Just southwest of one of Java’s larger resort towns, Pelabuhan Ratu, Cimaja is most commonly known for its right-hand point that breaks under all a variety of conditions and is one of many secret surf spots found within Pelabuhan Ratu Bay. When the conditions are right there are plenty of uncrowded waves to go around if you go searching some of the many rarely breaking reefs and points in the Pelabuhan Ratu Bay area.

What kind of wave is Cimaja Point?

Super fun point break where winds are typically on-shore in the dry season so if you’re hoping to make a short barrel section morning sessions are ideal. However even when on-shore winds are howling, you can expect an open shoulder ripe for maneuvers and ariels breaking for upwards of 50 metres. The Cimaja surf spot handles up to 6 foot in size before the point starts maxing out. While not exactly exemplary of the Volkswagen size barrels that have come to be emblematic of Indonesia, Cimaja is a fun and rippable wave for intermediate surfers upwards.

What kind of wave is Indicators?

Indicators is a fast hollow right-hand point that is more exposed to the open ocean than Cimaja Point and is usually bigger in size than its neighbouring point Cimaja. Indicators is a sketchy and dangerous wave when it’s small so it only starts working when its well overhead. You can count on knee-deep barnacles, urchins and a patchy shallow reef. Indicators works when its solid so if you can handle it, you can charge plenty of hollow right-hand pits double overhead and above.

What kind of wave is Karang Cibang Haji?

Karang Cibang Haji most commonly known as Karang Haji for short this surf break is located in front of the Ocean Queen Hotel near the boat harbour. Here the sand regularly shifts and moves about depending on the conditions over the previous month or so. Karang Haji can form nicely shaped sandbanks around the nearby the sea wall to produce some super fun and bowly waves depending on the conditions. Easy access and rarely surfed if it hasn’t been working for a while. Needs a bit of swell as it is in a more protected area of Pelabuhan Ratu Bay.

What kind of wave is Cikembang Point?

Cikembang is a very fickle but fun right-hand point break when it is working. Cikembang surf spot needs a good groundswell from the south to start working as it is in a very sheltered section of Pelabuhan Ratu Bay. When it’s on there are a lot of options to go round so you can be lucky enough to score uncrowded waves. The set up is a mix of reef, cobblestone shingles and sand on the inside.

What kind of wave is Sunset Beach?

Sunset Beach also known as Karang Hawu is a fun beach break that works best when the swell is small. Sets of waves break right and left however the lefts are usually better than the rights. Karang Hawu is a great surf spot for beginner surfers with a surf school conveniently located on the beach. Another tip for beginner surfers is…further east where the two-point breaks in Cimaja become beach is Samudra surf spot which is fun on smaller days as the beachie here is quite exposed and closes out when it gets too big. Best on a longboard early morning or during the evening glass off as it is rarely offshore.

What kind of wave is Loji Point?

Loji Point is a fickle surf spot that needs a huge swell to start working. When Cimaja Point is maxed out and out of control you could be in luck. A handful of times a year when all of the conditions align fortunate surfers can go left at Loji point as the wave peels for hundreds of metres. Loji Point is situated approximately seven kilometres south of the port at Pelabuhan Ratu.

Wave type:

Cimaja Point: Point Break
Indicators: Point Break
Karang Cibang Haji: Point Break
Cikembang Point: Point Break
Sunset Beach: Beach Break
Loji Point: Point Break

Wave difficulty:

Cimaja Point: Intermediate
Indicators: Experienced
Karang Cibang Haji: Beginner
Cikembang Point: Beginner
Sunset Beach: Beginner
Loji Point: Intermediate

Wave direction:

Cimaja Point: Right
Indicators: Right
Karang Cibang Haji: Right
Cikembang Point: Right
Sunset Beach: Left,Right
Loji Point: Left

Wave bottom:

Cimaja Point: Cobblestone
Indicators: Reef
Karang Cibang Haji: Sand
Cikembang Point: Sand
Sunset Beach: Sand
Loji Point: Reef

Booties:

Cimaja: Personal preference
Indicators: Yes
Loji: Can be handy

Surfboard type:

Cimaja: Standard shortboard
Indicators: Step up
Loji: Surfboard that paddles well

Crowd factor:

Cimaja Point: Crowded
Indicators: Low Crowds
Karang Cibang Haji: Medium Crowds
Cikembang Point: Low Crowds
Sunset Beach: Low Crowds
Loji Point: Low Crowds

Hazards:

Cimaja: See below
Indicators: See below
Loji: See below

Best swell direction:

Cimaja: SW
Indicators: SW
Loji: SW

Best wind direction:

Cimaja: N
Indicators: N
Loji: ENE

What tide is best:

Cimaja: Long fun walls on high, hollow on low
Indicators: Higher tide
Loji: Lower tide

Best tide movement:

Cimaja: Dead low tide
Indicators: Rising high
Loji: Incoming

Wave consistency:

Cimaja: Consistent
Indicators: Inconsistent
Loji: Extremely fickle (breaks 2-3 times/year)

Best time of year:

Cimaja: March-October
Indicators: May-August
Loji: May-August

Lineup vibe:

Cimaja: Sometimes a bit of a vibe
Indicators: Friendly local chargers
Loji: Surfers with a lot of luck!

Other names for spot:

Cimaja: Cimaja Point
Indicators: Indicators Point
Loji: Loji Point

Most Common hazards

Cimaja: Water quality after heavy rains, sharp shallow rocks and the occasional shark. Crowds can be heavy so use good etiquette and avoid any hassles.

Indicators: Knee deep barnacles, urchins and a patchy shallow reef.

Loji: Pollution from nearby river mouth feed by a large river. Sharks, urchins rips and deflated surf checks.

How do you get in and out of the surf?

Take the channel near the river mouth and work your way towards the peak. You can also take the long trek towards the peak along the boulders and try paddling in from the backside but expect shallow rocks so watch your fins. If your making the walk along the boulders on the beach bring some booties for a bit of extra grip (especially if you are not a rock hopping pro).

What is the beach like?

Considering it’s close proximity to Jakarta, Cimaja tends to attract local crowds, especially on weekends. That being said, the beach is a mix of cobbles and boulders that eventually leads into sand down the end of the point. There are a number of bamboo and palm tree thatched shade structures built up along the point by the local community for people to kick back in and enjoy the view and surfing.

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Where should I stay?

Cheapest Price Range – Chill House Cimaja

Chill House Cimaja is budget surf accommodation just a ten-minute walk to the surf at Cimaja Point. The house and cottage provide three bedrooms, a shared kitchen, large backyard, hammocks, gazebo, and a pizza oven. If you are looking for something more expensive and beachfront in the area with immediate access to waves check out our other recommendations.

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Affordable Price Range – Cimaja Square Hotel & Restaurant

A 3-minute walk from the beach, Cimaja Square is located on the outskirts of the sleepy town of Cimaja. Expect private bungalows constructed of natural materials surrounded by rice paddies and coconut palms. Rooms are simple, clean, and quiet, great for an evening of relaxation after a full day of surfing. Expect peace, quiet, and easy access to surf. Oh, and they have great pizza too!

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Mid Price Range – Cimaja Beach Club

Cimaja Beach Club is a family-run, beachfront resort in between the surf spots Indicators and Cimaja Point just 15 minutes from Pelabuhan Ratu. CBC is a fully licensed hotel and restaurant with over ten local staff which service six stylish bungalows catering for surfers and non-surfers for short or long stays. Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this little beachside resort surrounded by rice paddies and the ocean.

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Faq

Is there food nearby?

There are an abundance of restaurants in the area for a quiet surfing and farming village. Expect fresh seafood just about anywhere you go. About a 7 minute walk from the beach is Bakso Klangenan, known for incredible dumplings with a wide variety of fillings. There’s plenty of places to choose from if you’re sick of chilling in your accommodation so get out and explore!

What else is there to do in the area other than surfing?

Cipanas Hot Spring is a short trip away which is worth a soak if the surf is flat. There’s plenty of flat water for tubing and you’ll find the occasional white-water rafting company. Waterfalls are ample in the area so ask around your accommodation for the best treks or hikes to local vistas or swimming holes.

What else
do I need
to Know?

The vibe tends to stick out in Java’s relatively relaxed and mellow surf culture. When the surf is good, expect crowds of expats travelling from Jakarta.

Location

Where is Cimaja?

Cimaja is a small village in the West Javan regency of Sukabumi. About 8 km, or a 15 minute drive, west of Pelabuhan Ratu.

How to get to Cimaja from Jakarta?

The easiest way to get to Cimaja from Jakarta is to organise transport through your accommodation in Cimaja. It’s the most stress free and convenient approach to get you to Cimaja hassle free.

By Car

The best way to get to Cimaja from just about anywhere in Java is to travel via Pelabuhan Ratu.

Step 1

Depending on where you are travelling from in Jakarta, Cimaja is usually less than a 4 hour drive from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in the greater area of Jakarta. Start by heading south towards Bogor.

Step 2

After Bogor continue south and follow signs for Cimbogong.

Step 3

From Cimbogong you will continue south and take a hard right onto Jalan Pamuruyan which eventually becomes Jalan Leuweung Datar.

Step 4

Follow Signs for Pelabuhan Ratu.

Step 5

At Pelabuhan Ratu head west along the coast for about 15 minutes to reach Cimaja Beach.