A 200m waterfall in a narrow canyon near Bromo where you wade and get soaked to reach it.
Madakaripura is one of the tallest waterfalls in Java, tucked into a deep, mossy canyon on the lower slopes below the Bromo massif. The walk in follows a river gorge with sheer walls, and the final approach takes you under a curtain of water that pours off the rim, so you arrive at the main chamber already drenched. Inside, the cliffs close into a near-circle with the tall main fall thundering down at the back.
The site is steeped in legend as the meditation place of Gajah Mada, the 14th-century Majapahit general.
This is a wet, slippery adventure rather than a viewpoint. The trail crosses the river several times and water pours over you on the way in, so plan to get completely soaked.
Getting there
From Cemoro Lawang or Probolinggo it is about a one-hour drive down toward Lumbang, usually combined with a Bromo sunrise trip on the same morning by private car or as part of a tour. From the car park, a local guide (now mandatory) leads the 20 to 30 minute walk up the canyon to the falls. There is no useful public transport to the trailhead.
Best time
The dry season (April to October) means a safer trail and lower flash-flood risk; in the wet season the river can rise fast and the site may close for safety. Go in the morning, both for light in the narrow gorge and to pair it with sunrise. Avoid visiting during or just after heavy rain.
Good to know
You will get soaked, so wear quick-dry clothes or swimwear, bring a dry bag for valuables and your phone, and use sandals or shoes with grip on the slick rocks. Ponchos and lockers are available to rent at the entrance. A local guide is required and charged per group, so budget for that on top of the entrance fee.
Yes, completely. The trail wades through the river and you walk under falling water to reach the main chamber, so wear quick-dry clothing and pack valuables in a dry bag.
The foreigner entrance fee is around IDR 50,000 to 55,000, plus a mandatory local guide (roughly IDR 100,000 per small group) and small charges for parking and lockers, as of 2025.
Yes, this is the usual plan. It is about an hour's drive from the Bromo area, so many travellers do the sunrise jeep tour and then visit the waterfall later the same morning.
Add it to a route across Indonesia and we will work out the travel time and cost between every stop.
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