Sunda Kelapa can give the impression of a romantic and iconic place on the Jakarta coast, according to the photos.
Dozens of strange-looking, brightly coloured boats are moored along the shore, loading and unloading without sophisticated machinery.
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Boat cruises around the harbour
In the old harbour, even today, you'll meet many fishermen and sailors who will offer you a boat ride along the harbour; once you see the brown colour of the water and their old boats, you may be tempted to go overboard, but it can still be an interesting experience.
Forget the organised tourist cruises. However, in the chaos of the harbour, experienced sailors will immediately recognize a tourist and you can be sure that an offer for a boat ride will come within minutes.
The locals are not annoying and if you refuse, they won't persuade you.
Always agree on the price in advance, expect to pay around 60 000 idr for a 30-minute cruise.
How to find the port?
From photos and articles it may seem that Sunda Kelapa is a well-known tourist spot, but the opposite is true and finding it with traditional boats moored can be quite difficult.
The harbour is still active and you will probably be the only tourist in it. Even so, it is perfectly legal to walk along the pier and take photos of the boats. Just be really careful, as boats are loaded and unloaded during the day and heavy trucks drive along the harbour.
The main entrance to the area is located about 1.5 km north of Taman Fatahillah Square in the Kota Tua district.
From Jakarta Kota Station, take this route on foot, but be prepared for very dusty and busy streets.
A more convenient alternative is, of course, to use the Grab or Gojek taxi apps.
Is a visit to the port worth it?
Count on the fact that Sunda Kelapa is an active port with dusty roads, noise and very heavy truck traffic.
Although the moored boats look photogenic, Sunda Kelapa is not a tourist spot and therefore there is no tourist infrastructure.
If you want to experience the truly authentic atmosphere of a Jakarta suburb with interesting boats, then you should definitely come here.
If you are looking for more comfortable and pretty tourist spots, skip a visit to Sunda Kelapa.
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