Tanjung Karang Beach: Idyllic Paradise in Indonesia
On a recent trip to Indonesia with Indonesia Tourism, I discovered some of the most beautiful and unknown little pockets of heaven I have ever seen.
One of these was the idyllic paradise of Tanjung Karang Beach, which is on the tip of Palu Bay.
Tanjung Karang Beach
The beautiful Tanjung Karang can be found along the coast at the northern tip of Palu Bay.
Located on the island of Sulawesi, Palu Bay is about 1 hour from Palu city. Palu is actually the capital of Sulawesi with only 335,000 people living there.
I say that with surprise as Palu Indonesia doesn’t really feel like a city compared to most Asian capitals I have been to.
Nevertheless, there were still many fun things to do in Palu. But none as amazing as visiting the idyllic beach destination of Tanjung Karang.
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Tanjung Karang, Indonesia is totally worth driving for an hour to see. In fact, if you are in Palu, a Tanjung Karang day trip is an absolute must!
This place is a little slice of heaven.
Away from the mass tourism that you see in Bali or bin Tang Island, the waters of Tanjung Karang Beach are clean, the locals are friendly and most importantly it’s quiet!
You can access this beautiful Palu beach through the Prince John Dive Resort where you can also stay if you want to spend some time here.
Plus you can also hire dive gear from this Tanjung Karang resort to explore underwater life.
Did I mention having a Bintang whilst sunbathing on one of their sun loungers looking out onto a white sand beach? Did I just convince you?
The dive resort is the only dive centre located within the area of 300km. But all the Karang divers I met said it was some of the best diving in Indonesia!
They have 15 bungalows that will suit every type of person that comes to stay (deluxe, comfort and relax) and the prices range from €70 – €220 (family suite).
So as you can see, it’s reasonably priced for a magical island getaway. The equator is only a few km from this place so do expect it to be stinking hot.
You will definitely need a swimming costume though! All the best things to do in Tanjung Karang Indonesia involve the water!
However, if you’re wondering what to do in Tanjung Karang out of the water, there are a few options.
Make sure you take a wander through the little village beside the resort too. The buildings are colourfully painted and have some real character to them.
Even the toilet blocks are beautiful! This place has a real island feel to it.
If you follow the Tanjung Karang Beach right to the tip you will find an older man hiring out dive gear BUT he also sells the best knickknacks I have seen in years.
Coconut heads! He carves the coconuts into a face shape and draws eyes and a mouth, and uses glasses and earrings to make them look more realistic.
How to get to Tanjung Karang Beach
There are 2 daily flights from Jakarta to Palu that you can take, then you will have to arrange transport to Tanjung Karang Beach. It is a 2 and a half hour flight to get to Sulawesi from Jakarta.
If you are staying at the resort then they can organise transfers to and from the airport for you (€80), otherwise hire a scooter and explore this part of the island by bike!
Hiring a scooter is a brilliant way to further see and experience a bit more of the local villages firsthand – plus you can stop whenever you like and see some spots tourists wouldn’t normally see.
You can easily buy petrol on the side of the road from local stores. It is usually kept in Coke and alcohol bottles so don’t freak out when they start pouring it into your scooter!
The ride to the beach may take you by surprise: you will go past one of the largest ports in Indonesia, so be prepared as you will see a lot of rubbish and poverty around this area.
I was worried on the way there that we would be taken to a beach filled with rubbish and pollution but it was totally the opposite once we actually arrived as you can see.
For those wondering how to get to Sulawesi from Bali, there are two ways. The quickest is to fly, which takes 90 minutes. However, this will only take you to Southwest Sulawesi.
You can also take a ferry, but that takes over 2 days! Faster and easier to fly to Southwest Sulawesi and then catch a taxi.
Typical prices in Palu
Accommodation Prices in Palu
These accommodation are starting prices for the Prince John Dive Resort (based on 2 people):
| Relax Bungalow | 88,00 € |
| Comfort Bungalow | 115,00 € |
| Deluxe Bungalow | 132,00 € |
| Family Bungalow (Maximum 4 people) | 176,00 € |
The best thing is the prices above include breakfast, afternoon tea and cake, unlimited water and dinner!
If you’re a single person you will get a discount of 25% on the accommodation prices.
Diving costs if you’re hiring from the resort
From the beach, you can catch a boat to some of the most speciose diving sites in the world.
Below are starting prices for renting equipment. Prices may vary depending on when you visit:
| BCD | €3 |
| Regulator | €3 |
| Wetsuit | €3 |
| Mask & snorkel | €3 |
| Fins | €3 |
| Complete diving equipment | €12 |
| Snorkelling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins) | €5 |
| Underwater light (for one night dive) | €5 |
| Dive Computer | €5 |
| 1 dive including bottle and weights | €29 |
| Half day tour boat trip (1 dive) | + €7.50 |
| One day tour boat trip (2 dives) | + €15 |
| Package 6 dives | €171 |
| Package 10 dives | €274 |
Bali is one of my favourite places in Indonesia, but after coming here I think it might be my second favourite Indonesian island now (sorry, Bali).
Don’t you agree with me that this place is a piece of idyllic paradise? If so, make sure you discover this place before everybody else does!
Frequently Asked Questions
Tanjung Karang is located on the coastal tip of Palu in the Central Sulawesi province of Indonesia.
The main things to do in Tanjung Karang are wated-related activities, especially swimming and diving. There is not a lot to do along Tanjung Karang Beach, instead it is an ideal spot to relax and unwind.
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Wow, Palu looks like a piece of paradise. Thanks for introducing me to it. I love the crystal clear water, colourful buildings, and the personality you brought into it all with the coconut heads.
THAT WATER!!! We only did Bali when we went to Indonesia and now I absolutely can’t wait to see more of the country and get off the tourist path. We are divers so this looks like it could simply be paradise for us!
Haha, I love the Best Western sign. The beach looks fabulous I could definitely see myself spending some quality time there.
Isn’t it great ;p
Such a good tip! I’ve never been to Bali (but would love to!) so good to know there are still some quiet, unspoiled places away from the crowds
Yes this is definitely an unspoiled paradise!
looks amazing and certainly somewhere we would like to visit. 220 euro a night for a family may be out of our budget but i am sure families who could afford it would be more than happy with this place
Yes, the resort is a little pricey compared to most Indonesian places but there are plenty of little huts that you could stay in if you asked the locals. 🙂
Looks very colorful, reminds me of the Dutch Antilles in the Caribbean 🙂 they also have the colored houses there!
Ah how amazing! I love coloured houses 🙂
Indonesia is beautiful beyond words!
Oh it totally is!
Yeah there’s so many beautiful spots in Indonesia. I loved Lombok and Bali!
I know it’s such a little paradise!
Thank you 🙂
wow this looks so fab!!! Its really making me want to go!!!!
Just came back from Sulawesi – but have been in another part 🙂 But vry similar places found in Maluku islands 🙂 Hatta island – my paradise island so far 🙂
Indeed an idyllic paradise!
Wonderful pics. This is a great post with valuable info.
I want to be there 🙂
Thanks for reading! 🙂 It sure is a beautiful place to be