Pulau Mandalika is close to Pantai Benteng Portugis, Jepara
After a long journey from Jepara to Benteng Portugis, which included enjoying the sweet, creamy flesh of durian and a brief stop at Gunung Watu Putih, we continued on to Pantai Benteng Portugis. We rode along a fairly narrow road on a motorcycle at a moderate speed. Rows of local houses lined the way, and on the left, the coastline was faintly visible. However, I still hadn’t spotted the gate of Benteng Portugis that is widely shared on social media.
Administratively, this still-pristine island belongs to Jepara Regency, specifically in Desa Ujung Watu, Kecamatan Keling, Kabupaten Jepara. To get there, you can rent a boat from the ferry crossing at Pantai Kartini. Boat rental prices vary depending on the number of passengers. The trip to Pulau Mandalika takes about 30 minutes.
Pulau Mandalika is an uninhabited island. The white sand on its beach looks incredibly clean. The lush trees appear green and refreshing. The island’s pristine beauty can also be found underwater. You can find various marine fish such as grouper, stingray, and white snapper. Around the island, there are also several untouched coral reef spots.
Activities like fishing, playing in the water, or snorkeling/diving are fun options when visiting. Simply sitting by the beach is just as enjoyable!
One thing to note: you cannot stay overnight on Pulau Mandalika because there are no accommodations on the island. However, if you want to spend the night, you can look for lodging in the Benteng Portugis area right across from the island. Room rates vary from Rp 80,000 to Rp 200,000.
If you’re looking for a peaceful vacation surrounded by pristine nature, Pulau Mandalika is an excellent choice. Just remember to keep the area clean and preserve its natural beauty!
Before we knew it, our destination, Pantai Benteng Portugis, came into view. A sturdy yellow gate stood with “Benteng Portugis” written on it. A wide paved courtyard stretched between several planted trees. In the distance, the red-and-white Sang Merah Putih flag fluttered in the sea breeze. We parked our vehicle beside the gate, right under a fairly shady ketapang tree. This is Pantai Benteng Portugis, located in Desa Banyumanis, Kecamatan Donorojo, Jepara.
From the gate, the beach is still about 100 meters away. Motorcycles can actually park inside or be ridden closer to the beach, but we decided to park ours outside. There are already many food stalls here, and on the left side, there’s also a building that might be usable.
Right in front of the beach, a seawall has been built to prevent waves from reaching the upper area and to stop abrasion. The landmark sign reading “Benteng Portugis” stood directly in front of me — a small circular blue base that contrasted with the shiny lettering. Across the water, the small island named Pulau Mandalika was clearly visible, just a few miles from the shore of Pantai Benteng Portugis. The sand on this beach is black but very soft. I tried grabbing a handful of it.
After taking plenty of photos at the Benteng Portugis landmark, we followed the concrete path on the right side. The path was quite quiet even though there were many visitors — most of them were sheltering under the trees. We walked along the path while taking pictures. As we walked, we could see several beachside stalls bustling with visitors.
Out at sea, a pair of small fishing boats were anchored. From the information I gathered, there are local boats that can be rented to go to Pulau Mandalika, but there’s a minimum number of people or payment required. We simply enjoyed the view while continuing our walk.
The concrete path continued on, apparently intended for people who like hiking. We didn’t go all the way to the end of the path; instead, we were drawn to the white, slightly slippery rocks on the beach. These somewhat sharp white beach rocks looked like a fun place to sit. While sitting on the rocks, we could look out toward the mainland of Jepara.
The Most Peaceful Healing Spot
Pulau Mandalika is the most peaceful healing spot. There is no noise from vehicles, far from the hustle and bustle of crowds, and especially free from the endless chase of deadlines. The island has a very beautiful beach with crystal-clear water in shades of greenish-blue. The white sand beach further enhances the island’s beauty.
To reach this destination, you can travel from Benteng Portugis across the sea for about half an hour using a fishermen’s boat. If you plan to visit the island and enjoy its beauty, you can contact the Mandalika Muda Youth Karang Taruna group.
You do not need to pay an entrance ticket to visit Pulau Mandalika. What you need to pay is the boat rental fee. The boat rental price varies and depends on the agreement between the visitors and the boat owner.
Lighthouse Keeper on Pulau Mandalika
This island only has two residents who serve as lighthouse keepers. The lighthouse was built in 1897 to improve maritime safety. To reach the lighthouse (Menara Suar/Mercusuar Mandalika), visitors need to walk to the top of the island. The trail is well-marked, so you won’t get lost.
Although the path is slightly uphill (since the lighthouse is located at the highest point of Pulau Mandalika), you will enjoy the natural atmosphere along the way, surrounded by dense trees lining the route.
The management of the island falls under the Jepara Department of Transportation, while the surrounding waters are managed by the Jepara Regency Government. Because the island has no permanent residents, the facilities there are very limited — only a toilet and a small prayer room (musala) are available. There are no food stalls or shops, so you need to prepare all your equipment and supplies properly before crossing. Facilities on Pulau Mandalika are still very minimal.
However, this does not reduce the excitement of tourists who come to vacation and have fun here. Most visitors come to the island for fishing. Several types of fish that can be found in the waters around Pulau Mandalika include white snapper, stingray, grouper, gerabah fish, and striped catfish (sembilang).
