Depok Beach

Rating :

3.4 ( 7 Voter(s) )

A. Overview

Beach is one of tourist’s favorite destinations in Yogyakarta. Indeed, Yogyakarta has choices of beaches that have long been tourism icons of the province. Parangtritis and Parangkusumo are just two of them. And there is another beach worth visiting, Depok Beach. Depok has beautiful scenery. It also offers a wide range of tasty seafood that people often call it a seafood paradise.

Depok is situated close to Parangtritis. The beach is relatively untouched compared to others. On the shore, there spans a long building for fish auction market (Tempat Pelelangan Ikan/TPI). There is also a vast area along the coast where mangroves grow. Today, the mangrove area is also used for parking lot.

From the parking lot to the TPI, the edge of the beach is not yet seen although the sound of waves is already heard. To get to the beach, tourists must walk for some meters until they feel their feet heavier to walk on than before. That is because Depok Beach is covered with a unique mixture of sand and soil. If you are there and already feel the particles of the sand-soil on your feet, the refreshing scenery of Depok Beach must be in front of you already.

The sand-soil extends upon the background of Indian Sea, from which waves are pounding onto the shore and bringing about calming noise. After passing the TPI Depok area, it is probably better for tourists not to go to the water right away. Taking some time observing the fishermen’s hubbub at the fish market is a good experience as well. And if you come in weekend, the market is busier.

B. Features

The hecticness in the Fish Auction Market is the first thing you will come across in the beach. There, visitors can see the fruits of the fishermen’s works after fishing at sea all night long. Not only men, some women work there too, selling various sea products such as pomfrets, mackerels, shrimps, crabs, and so on. They sell their wares upon the benches that line up along the market passages.

Visitors and merchants are two inseparable complements of TPI Depok. The fishes are indeed interesting to the visitors as they are fresh having just been brought in from the boats. Moreover, the prices are lower than in other markets because here you buy right from the hands of the fishermen. The fishes are also sold wholesale.

The advantage of having seafood in Depok is the quick service. The food stalls do not need a long time to cook their food because they have everything ready and fresh.

There are some vendors selling their wares in stalls. Usually these vendors sell cooked fishes and often ready food such as shrimp fritters, jingking (tiny black fish) fritters, and fried pomfrets or mackerels.

After enjoying the busy life of the market, tourists can continue walking to the beach, which is only few steps away. There, another attraction of the beach will have been waiting.

Unlike in Parangtritis, there is no horse cart in Depok. But in fact, this is what makes the beach different from its neighbor. Walking slowly along the shoreline and listening to the sound of the waves pounding, tourists can take pleasure of every inch of the 2 kilometers long beach.

You must not miss the sand. Children like it there as they can build sandcastles or other sand games. Moreover, Depok is also a good place to fly kites. The wind in the beach is quite strong to make flying kites a real fun. Visitors do not have to bring their own kites. People sell them here. Not only children, adults also find it fun to fly kites in the beach.

C. Location

Depok Beach is situated in Kretek District, Bantul Regency, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

D. Access

Visitors can get to Depok Beach through the same route to Parangtritis. From downtown Yogyakarta, tourists shall find Parangtritis Street and go southwards. At the side of the road in Kretek District, there is a signpost showing ways to either Depok or Parangtritis.

The route can be taken by private car or public transportation vehicles. If going in group, it would be better for visitors to rent a car in Yogyakarta.

E. Ticket

The parking tariff for visitors is Rp 500,- for a car (May 2008). As for the entrance ticket, visitors will be charged Rp 1.500,- per person (children under 1 year old are free of charge).

F. Accommodations and Facilities

Depok Beach provides many facilities for tourists. There are food stalls and restaurants near the Fish Auction Market and along the shore for visitors to experience the tasty seafood they offer. The prices vary yet very affordable, that is around Rp 15.000,- per portion. There are various kinds of food in the menu. Visitors can have fishes, shrimps, crabs, squids, or even shark’s fins.

Life guards and police officers are ready to provide safety. Their presence gives relief for visitors. Those who want to stay over, motels and inns are available but in neighboring beaches either Parangtritis or Parangkusumo.

Text: Adi Tri Pramono
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Reza Daffi
(Primary data and various sources)

Read : 7473 time(s).

If you are from outside Yogyakarta and want to visit this place by travel agency services,
please contact:

Maharatu Tour and Travel

Jl. Sisingamangaraja No. 27 Yogyakarta.
Telp. +62 274 8373005. Fax. +62 274 379250
Email : maharatu@maharatu.com -maharatu257@yahoo.com
Website : www.maharatu.com

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