1001 Curug: Curug Pete Journey

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, my girlfriend and I decided to visit one of the waterfalls that had recently been gaining attention on social media. We often look for nature destinations around Purwokerto and its surroundings, and this time we came across a waterfall called Curug Pete. After watching several videos online and feeling curious, we finally decided to see it for ourselves

The Journey Begins

We started our trip early on Sunday morning. Along the way to Baturraden, we were accompanied by buses, cars, and other vehicles. The road was quite busy that morning, so we moved slowly but steadily, staying behind public transportation while waiting for the right moment to overtake.

At one point, with around two to four buses blocking the road ahead, we decided to take an alternative route through Jalan Polaris. The detour took a bit longer, but it made the journey feel calmer and more enjoyable.

Arriving Near Curug Pete

After a while, we were almost at Curug Pete. Based on the videos we had watched, we knew that after passing Starsview Café, there would be direction signs leading to the waterfall. Before reaching the final destination, we stopped by a small roadside stall to buy drinking water, knowing that we would need extra energy for the walk ahead.

We continued through a narrow village path and were soon greeted by a parking attendant. We parked our motorbike and paid a parking fee of 2,000 rupiah. Not far from the parking area, there was a ticket booth for Curug Pete, but that morning no staff were present.

After walking a bit further, we reached an area with small food stalls and several seating spots. There, we were asked to pay a cleanliness fee of 5,000 rupiah per person, which likely replaced the ticket payment since the booth was unattended.

The Path to the Waterfall

That morning, Curug Pete was quite crowded—probably because it was a long weekend. From the stall area, we could already see the flow of water from above, but to reach the main waterfall, we had to cross the river.

We carefully went down several steps toward the river, taking turns and holding hands as we crossed the flowing water together. After crossing the river, we climbed back up to continue walking. A few steps ahead, another staircase awaited us, followed by a narrow path that could only be passed by one person at a time.

Walking along the narrow edge, we were getting closer to the main area, and the number of visitors increased noticeably. Once we reached the end of the path, we had to descend again toward the river near the waterfall. We moved slowly, carefully choosing stable stones that were not slippery or loose. Holding onto each other, we made our way across the rocks until we finally reached Curug Pete.

Moments at Curug Pete

At the waterfall, we sat on a large rock near the water. For about an hour, we simply enjoyed the moment—talking, playing with the water, watching the waterfall flow endlessly, and observing plants swaying in the wind created by the falling water.

It was peaceful, refreshing, and grounding. Surrounded by nature, time felt slower, and the noise of daily life faded away.

Eventually, feeling satisfied and refreshed, we ended our journey at Curug Pete, bringing home not just photos, but a calm and meaningful experience.