Kawah Ijen

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Welcome to Adventure Fix, the newsletter that helps you discover extraordinary journeys and experiences across the globe. 

Today, we’re heading to Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia to see the blue lava lake that’s brewing inside the Kawah Ijen volcano.

There are plenty of places you can see a lava crater in the world but Kawah Ijen is believed to be the only place on the planet to consistently see these striking blue flames.

Blue Lava of Kawah Ijen

During the day, Kawah Ijen looks like your standard stream of red-hot bubbling molten rock volcano, but when the sun sets, the mountain transforms into something out of a sci-fi film.

So, how does this natural wonder come to life?

The secret lies in the sulfuric gases emerging from the volcano's depths, igniting as they meet the air and transforming into an otherworldly azure glow.

Despite only being visible at night, the blue flames are always ignited on the surface of the lava, they’re just harder to see in daylight. 

The water in the crater of the Ijen volcano is a brilliant turquoise color. Don’t be fooled by the inviting color, the lake is a 90-degree pool of sulfuric acid in which nothing lives, and which would kill any that dared to swim in it.

Despite the dangers within the Ijen complex, its rare and quite literally breathtaking sights can be safely visited with a knowledgeable tour guide and protective breathing apparatus.

The best time of year to visit this volcano is the dry season, mostly it starts from April until the beginning of November.

And, the best time of the day to see the blue fire in the Ijen crater is one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise because when the sky is dark, the blue color will appear more clearly.

Explore More

If you would like to learn more, here are some links you can check out to get more information about seeing the blue lava of Kawah Ijen volcano.  

• Blue Fire (video)

• Stunning Electric-Blue Flames Erupt From Volcanoes (article)

• Bright Blue "Lava" Spews From Indonesia’s Kawah Ijen Volcano (article)

How to Visit Kawah Ijen Volcano

Despite the dangers within the Ijen complex, its rare and quite literally breathtaking sights can be safely visited with a knowledgeable tour guide and protective breathing apparatus.

The island of East Java can be reached by plane from Jakarta or Surabaya or by boat from Bali.

Tour operators can arrange transfers, guides, accommodation, and meals so all you have to do is show up and hike up the volcano.