Tanjung Bira (Cape of Bira) - A Flake of Heaven in South Sulawesi

If people call Bali as The Island of the Gods, Tanjung Bira looks like A Flake of Heaven. A tranquil beautiful place in South Sulawesi where you can see a carpet of white smooth sand, clear crystal bluish water, beautiful scenery, moderate waving tide, and gorgeous view under water; it does really spoil your eyes and relax your nerves as well. Unlike beaches in Bali that are mostly crowded with visitors, Tanjung Bira is a place where you can get both the beauty and the tranquility.

If you are a kinda beach guy, love swimming, snorkeling, diving or just simply laying on the sand enjoy the sun-bathing, Tanjung Bira would be a perfect choice for your next escaping place or holiday destination.

How to Get There?

As you landed in Makassar (formerly named Ujung Pandang), you will need to drive to the south for about 5-6 hours. If you do not rent any car, you can simply go to bus station Malengkeri. From Malengkeri station, you can choose either to take a public car with yellow license plate to Bulukumba or straight to Tanjung Bira (cost around 50,000 IDR) or take a bus Malengkeri – Selayar and drop by at Tanjung Bira Harbour.

Tanjung Bira is located in the regency of Bulukumba, in the southern part of South Sulawesi. From Makassar to Bulukumba you will pass 3 regencies: Takalar, Jeneponto, and Bantaeng. No worry about spending a long boring driving, since you will capture beautiful view along the road or stop by in several tourism spots you’ll find along the way.

Passing the Takalar your eyes will capture rice field along the road. The view will continue till you enter Jeneponto. Not only yellow rice fields, you will also find cornfields and salt ponds! Yes, since the area is in the coastline, people here build salt ponds for their living.

Jeneponto is also famous for their horse. One of the well-known culinary from Jeneponto is Coto Kuda. It’s a kinda sup with coconut milk and herbs and of course the horse meat. Go trying it, since you’ll hardly find it in any other place. The meat fibers are rougher than beef, but it tastes good. Just try to erase the image of a horse while you are eating it.

Coto Kuda

Entering Bantaeng, you will meet many tourism spots like waterfall, cave, and historical places. If you have enough time you can visit those places you meet along the way or you can stop by beautiful beach just to refresh yourself before continue driving.

 

Soon you’ll get into Bulukumba where Tanjung Bira is located. But before you arrive at the cape of Bira, you can drop by The Islamic Centre Dato’ Tiro and visit the Phinisi Village – the village where the people build the famous giant Phinisi boat.

You will be amazed with the giant boat. They make it by hand – no machine. One Phinisi boat takes more than a year to build. It is made of solid steel wood – very strong, such a sophisticated art craft. Surprisingly, the boats are usually made by request and sold to Canada, USA, and many other countries in Europe. What a proud product of Indonesia!

  

  

Accommodation and Things to Do

Once you reach Tanjung Bira, you’ll have to buy an entrance ticket. It costs around 10,000 IDR for domestic visitors and 30,000 IDR for foreign tourists. Having passed the entrance gate, you’ll find lines of hostels on your two sides of the road. You can choose a place to stay suitable to your need; with the price range 100,000 – 500,000 IDR / night.

Leave your belonging at the hostel, grab your sun cream and enjoy the beach!

  

  

If you love snorkeling or diving you can rent a boat for 250,000 – 300,000 IDR to take you to Pulau Kambing (Goat Island) where you’ll find gorgeous under water view. You can also rent a mask or a fin for 25,000 IDR each, and you can use it for a whole day snorkeling.

Ask also the boat person to take you to Pantai Barra (Barra Beach) which is just 10 minutes from Bira beach. Barra beach is as gorgeous as Bira beach. You can move staying here if you like, but the cottages will cost you more.

The best time to visit the place is around September – October and February – March. During that time, you will find thick smooth sandy beach, friendly waving tide, nice weather, and less crowded of visitors. Go planning your vacation there and enjoy the flake of heaven!

Tanjung Bira

At Barra Beach