Bungus Bay
Bungus Bay (Pantai Bungus) is a beach some 20 km south of Padang, West Sumatra.
Get in
There is no more angkot/minibus directly. Use car-hailing apps (grab, gojek, maxim) - moto Rp 100-120,000, car Rp 150-190,000, duration 75-90 min. Or ask your hotel for their own shared taxi Rp 150,000 or private taxi Rp 350,000.
Moto likely to decline as part of road very uphill and could be dangerous depending on luggages/load and construction work ongoing on same uphill segment at Apr 2024. Be careful of driver asking for "extras".
Arrange way back beforehand (group or nice driver) as there is no Grab coverage in Bungus bay or Sigunturmuda, and hotel may ask high price for taxi back (Rp 300-400,000). It's possible to hitchhike but be patient and prepared: road up/down hill, mostly exposed to sun, mostly motorbike trafic until Sigunturmuda.
Get around
You can rent a manual motorbike in Carlos or Tintin for 50,000 or 60,000 Rp, depending on your bargaining skills. But there is not much to see around except the typical Indonesian countryside.
Do
- Laze on the beach and snorkel.
- Day trips to the nearby islands.
There is actually not much to do in Bungus Bay. Indonesian tourists from Padang like to come here during the weekend and relax. The beach is not amazing, you cannot surf, and there are no real tourist attractions apart from the nearby islands and a little waterfall a short distance away.
Eat
There are a few little restaurants along the road.
Sleep
- Losmen Carlos, ☏ +6281363973411, losmen_carlos.bymaicheil@yahoo.co.id. 3 beach cottages, with a nice view of the evening sunset. There are basic rooms for Rp 100,000. With bathroom outside, there are 2 rooms at Rp 50,000. Pickup from Padang Rp 125,000. On the evening, if there are enough tourists, Carlos will pay a guitarist to play around a beach fire. The food is not so amazing, and there is a 10% tax on the restaurant bill. You can book an island day-trip for Rp 200,000 per person including lunch on the island.
- Losmen Tintin. Not far from Carlos, similar family guesthouse next to the beach. Very basic rooms from Rp 50,000.
- 🌍 Ricky's Beach House, ☏ +6281363811736, +6282171826258, ichy83@hotmail.com, contact@authenticsumatra.com. Small wooden house in front of the beach, with 3 rooms, and common bathroom and also a terrace with hammock. The crew is friendly and takes care of everything - food, drink, and they can bring you for a walk in the forest, river, waterfall or to spend the day (and the night if you want) in Pagang island near the village. Snorkelling (free), waterfall and river trek (Rp 100-125,000, ~1 hr 30 jin one-way). you can learn the Minangkabau culture by helping the local woodcarver, learn traditional dances and Minangkabau cooking + teach in the local school to meet the kids and share your culture. The atmosphere is friendly, the crew is always happy to share, play guitar and sing to accompany your nights there. Limited wifi (personal hotspot, weak 4G, better near restaurant/beach). western toilet with bucket flush, Mosquito net, fan, towel, power plugs x3x2, Water refill. Meal: breakfast (08:00-10:00) and lunch (12:00-14:00) per order, community diner per cook (~20:00). shared bungalow/bathroom with private room Rp 350,000, private bungalow and bathroom Rp 500,000 (x7). 3 meals included.
- 🌍 RIMBA Ecolodge, Muaro Duo Bay, Sungai Pisang, Tlk. Kabung Sel., Kec. Bungus Tlk. Kabung, Kota Padang, Sumatera Barat, ☏ +62 821 7082 6361 (WhatsApp). Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. private bathroom, cupboards, mosquito nets, towels and toilet paper. laundry Rp 60,000/wash, snorkelling, canoe (free), day trip island or coastal villages Rp 700-800,000. no dorm, bungalows Rp 350-500,000 per night per person, Rp 150-300,000 taxi +Rp 500,000 boat transport up to 5 persons, wifi from mobile Rp 30-120,000.
Connect
Most hotels have no internet access outside of mobile hotspots and weak reception. Check with them if important.