David Junior
Indonesia has many natural tourist destinations, from mountains to waterfalls. Yet, among those spots, you must not miss Mount Ijen where you can see the ultimate Ijen Blue Fire.
Ijen Crater Blue Fire has become a remarkable attraction in the Ijen plateau where you can see the phenomenal blue fire. In fact, Mount Ijen Blue Fire has been recognized in UNESCO’s World Biosphere Reserves in 2016.
If you are interested in visiting this natural attraction, this article will guide you to the ins and outs of the Ijen Crater Blue Fire. So, read this article until the end!
An Overview of Ijen Crater Blue Fire
Mount Ijen is one of the active volcanoes in East Java, Indonesia, specifically located in Banyuwangi Regency and Bondowoso Regency’s frontier. A cool, pleasant air will welcome you as soon as you arrive here after traversing a road encircled by beautiful greenery. Therefore, if you plan to view the Ijen Crater Blue Fire, make sure to wear warm attire since the temperature can touch 10 degrees Celcius daily, or even 2 degrees on some occasions.
This mountain is famous for its astounding blue fire found in its crater. Then, what makes the crater ignite a blue fire? Ijen Crater has become one of the world’s most sulfuric areas. Sulfur changes color depending on several factors. It is crimson in liquid form and yellow in solid form.
Lava sparks sulfur when it comes into contact with the surrounding high temperatures, causing the flames to turn blue. Although the Ijen Crater can reach temperatures of up to 600˚C, its blue flames are only visible at night.
At just 360˚C, sulfur sparks; however, the blue color results from a chemical reaction rather than a temperature increase.
In the crater, you will see not only the Ijen Crater Blue Fire but also the turquoise lake consisting of hydrochloric acid. The lake was created when hydrogen chloride gas leaked from the volcano over time and mixed with the water.
Massive concentrations of solid yellow sulfur border the surrounding hills after the sulfuric lava has cooled and crystallized. Approaching the lake may be alluring, but the air is quite hazardous.
Also, do not think of swimming there because it has a burning 0.5 pH and can damage your body. If you want to see the lake, you must wear appropriate breathing protection.
How to Witness the Spectacular Blue Flames?
As mentioned before, Ijen Crater Blue Fire is only visible at night. Thus, if you want to witness the miraculous blue fire, you must come at night or before the sun rises at max. The Paltuding Post is open at 1 am, so you must arrive around that time to get the ticket.
The blue fire will slowly vanish around 5 am and be completely unseen when the sun rises. In addition, it is recommended to come in April - November to see Ijen Crater Blue Fire.
Then, to get to Ijen Crater, you can either go from Bondowoso or Banyuwangi. But, it is best to take the Bondowoso route since the Banyuwangi one can be very steep and improper.
Most people travel from Bondowoso to Paltuding Post (the PHPA Post, the beginning point, or the hike to the crater) by foot for the final 8 km (from approximately 64 kilometers). After reaching Paltuding Post, you can hike a distance of 3 kilometers to reach the edge of the Ijen crater caldera.
Safety Tips for Visiting the Ijen Crater
To get the most memorable experience in Ijen Crater, do not forget to pay attention to your safety during the trekking. Here are some safety tips for seeing the Ijen Crater Blue Fire.
1. Wear Warm Clothes
Located 2,769 meters above sea level, Ijen Crater can be freezing at some times; therefore, it is a must for you to wear proper and warm clothing. Yet, make sure that the material is not heavy (like jeans) since you will move a lot during the trekking.
2. Wear Hiking Shoes and Gloves
Together with gloves, you must wear hiking shoes or rough-soled shoes to prevent getting slipped during the trekking. Some of the terrain on Mount Ijen has steep angles, so sufficient friction force is needed to maintain balance. Also, it is recommended to wear gloves to protect your hands from the sharp rocks.
3. Bring Flashlights
Next, since you will hike at night or dawn, the trek will be very dark and visibility will be limited. Therefore, do not forget to bring a hand flashlight or headlamp as you walk around the crater.
4. Rest Well and Prepare Your Body Fitness
The hiking activity at Ijen Crater could be tough, so you must take a good rest. It is recommended to sleep for 4 hours at minimum before hiking to prevent getting sleepy during trekking.
In addition, before visiting Ijen Crater, it is best to prepare your body for fitness. You can do jogging, running, or any activities that can boost your respiratory health and body fitness. With that, you can manage your breathing well and are not out of breath during the trekking.
5. Bring Sweets
Hiking to see the Ijen Crater Blue Fire can be exhausting and require more energy, making you feel hungry fast. Therefore, please bring some sweets like chocolate to get more energy and reduce hunger.
6. Bring Gas Masks
Then, the last but not least safety tip to visit Ijen Crater Blue Fire is bringing gas masks. As mentioned above, Ijen Crater is a sulfuric area, so the air can contain hazardous gasses like sulfur dioxide. So, bringing gas masks is a must!
Other Attractions Near the Ijen Crater
When you arrive at Ijen Crater, many exciting activities await you aside from seeing the Ijen Crater Blue Fire. After witnessing the blue fire at dawn, you can continue enjoying the beautiful sunrise at 5.30 am.
Also, do not forget to take great pictures of the crater and the turquoise lake. Even more impressive, the view of billowing sulfur smoke will make your photos more interesting. Moreover, as you trek in Ijen Crater, you will find edelweiss flowers and casuarina junghuhniana plant (mountain pine). But, do not bring them home with you!
Those are the ins and outs of Ijen Crater Blue Fire that you can learn. To ensure that your trip is convenient, you must prepare the travel well. In this case, you can entrust Cheap Bromo!
Cheap Bromo offers many Ijen Crater Blue Fire packages you can choose from. So, what are you waiting for? Book your trip with Cheap Bromo!
