Agrotourism Poncokusumo

Batu - west of Malang - has long been famous for its apple orchards and is now a prime, commercialized agrotourism destination. But east of Malang people are growing apples too, without the overdevelopment of Batu.

When we arrived at Poncokusumo village, admittedly out of season, we had to ask around before being referred to mr. Andre, an apple grower who also guides tourists. He lives on the main street just across the road from Jami mosque. The main apple harvest was just finished, but mr. Andre took us to an orchard with some apples left and the chrysantemum fields of his brother.

Because there is no winter season, the apple trees bear fruit twice a year. Harvest is in March and in September. For the trees in bloom one has to come three months earlier, December and June. As the trees need some rest too, autumn is simulated by manually picking all the leaves from the trees. Most apples are locally converted into apple juice and apple chips. We paid mr. Andre' s price of Rp 50,000 for his services, as well as the market price for a few kg of apples and a box of apple juice.

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Mr. Andre also offers 4WD tours to Bromo and Penanjakan viewpoint. This is a very much longer drive than the tours one gets at Ngadisari and Tosari, but much more rewarding. One gets an overview of Tengger Caldera from several directions and makes a half circle on the bottom of the caldera through the so-called 'savana'. The tour includes a side trip to the mountain lakes Ranu Pani and Ranu Regulo. Cost: Rp 800,000 with Poncokusumo as starting point, Rp 900,000 if you ask to be picked up in Malang