In the Kecamatan of Glenmore, Situs Kendenglembu and Doesoen Kakao offer two distinct points of reference for culture and plantation history. A broader regional view extends to the Glenbaru area, which includes Glenmore and Kalibaru, and to the wider destination of Banyuwangi. This distinction is helpful when planning a trip: not every landscape or cultural site in Banyuwangi is within the Glenmore destination area.
Cultural heritage and plantation history
A decision dated 28 April 2025 designates Situs Kendenglembu as a cultural heritage site; it is located in Desa Karangharjo, Kecamatan Glenmore. Doesoen Kakao is on the Kendenglembu plantation in Kecamatan Glenmore. A report on the 2023 festival describes historic buildings and the Kendenglembu site as places to visit. This brings two distinct areas of focus together: the cultural heritage designation and the plantation setting, with its historic buildings and connection to the site.
Glenbaru and the surrounding area
The wider Glenbaru area, which includes Glenmore and Kalibaru, is home to old plantations dating from the Dutch colonial period. A 2023 article names PTPN XII as the manager of these plantations. Their colonial origins and the management named in that article are two distinct historical aspects. Another regional perspective is offered by Wisata Alam Banyuanyar in Dusun Curah Leduk, Kecamatan Kalibaru: a natural bathing area developed from a natural river, with several waterfall levels and pools. Thus, plantation history and a water-shaped landscape sit side by side in the wider area.
Banyuwangi as a wider destination
Banyuwangi also offers a range of cultural experiences. The Gandrung Sewu Festival has been held in Banyuwangi Regency since 2012; in 2023, it was included in the Kharisma Event Nusantara programme. In Desa Wisata Adat Osing Kemiren, the customs, language and traditional art of the Osing community are preserved. At harvest time, women perform Gedhogan there: they strike mortars and pestles, accompanied by angklung and drums. As this performance is tied to the harvest season, it is best to confirm the dates locally. In Kemiren, visitors can also learn about traditional coffee preparation. The beans are pounded, roasted and sifted before the coffee is served; traditionally, roasting is done in a pan over a clay stove. Confirm the availability of this activity with local hosts.
Landscape and nature, in turn, offer a different set of highlights. Alas Purwo National Park includes mangroves, savannas, tropical lowland monsoon forests and coral-fringed beaches. Thousands of migratory birds visit its forests each year, and sea turtles come to remote beaches to lay their eggs. At Ijen, distance and duration can be distinguished: a 3 km route leads from Paltuding Post to the edge of the Ijen caldera; visitors can walk along the crater rim for about one to one and a half hours. Local access rules may change.
The coast also offers a variety of scenery. Teluk Hijau, also known as Green Bay, is in Taman Nasional Meru Betiri near Sarongan, Kecamatan Pesanggaran. The bay has clear, greenish seawater and is surrounded by rocky cliffs and well-preserved tropical forest. Pantai Plengkung, known as G-Land, is in the Alas Purwo National Park area in Kecamatan Tegaldlimo. Large waves create conditions for challenging surfing, though wave conditions vary. At Pantai Pulau Merah in Desa Sumberagung, Kecamatan Pesanggaran, a small hill of red sand lies close to the shoreline.
Discover more destinations: Bago, Sampang, Genteng, Pasuruan, Peterongan, Wates, Kotasumenep, Blitar.
For the broader travel overview: East Java.
