Samas Beach

A sea turtle conservation place.

Every year, the Yogyakarta Sultanate conducts the Labuhan ceremony at this beach, on the anniversary of the sultan's ascension to the throne.

Parangtritis is sometimes said to be a place to meet the legendary Nyai Loro Kidul or 'Queen of the South' (Ratu Kidul). Local folklore warns visitors not to wear green clothes or the queen is likely to try to entice the wearer into the ocean to drown. Quite large crowds of mainly local tourists visit Parangtritis over the weekends and at holidays. Larger tourist buses as well as various types of cheaper minibuses ply the route to the beach from Yogyakarta. There are local tourist facilities at Parangtritis including parking arrangements, modest hotels which provide visitors with places to change and shower, and small restaurants. Often small ponies or horse-drawn carts can be hired for rides along the beach. The beach is not really a good swimming beach. Drownings are unfortunately not uncommon at Parangtritis because channels, strong rips and sizable waves often occur off the beach.

This Catholic church is remarkable for its Javanese styling. The main building is in the form of a traditional joglo, and there is a chapel in the form of a Hindu temple. Mary, Jesus and the angels are represented as Javanese.