The name Coban Pelangi means ‘rainbow waterfall’ and it comes from the big rainbow you can see here on a sunny day (it was overcast when we visited, so no rainbow for us).
This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!
Coban Pelangi Waterfall Hike
I wasn’t expecting this one to be anything incredible based on what I’d heard, but it was actually pretty good. It’s up in the mountains, so the temperatures are nice and the air is fresh.
There are two viewpoints for seeing the Coban Pelangi waterfall — one above the waterfall and one below it.
Both are pretty easy hikes, with good views. Do both if you have time!
Upper Viewpoint
The upper viewpoint hike is the easiest, and only takes about 10-15 minutes to reach the end.
The path is mostly flat, and you’re rewarded with a good panoramic view of the mountains and the waterfall from above, along with a little rainbow painted treehouse and some benches to sit on.
With the help of a drone, I was able to take a look from even higher. You can see some of my shots of Coban Pelangi in my Indonesia drone video on YouTube.
Lower Viewpoint
The lower viewpoint takes you down closer to the waterfall.
This hike is a little steeper, but still only takes about 15-20 minutes one way.
At the lower viewpoint, there are several good spots for taking pics of Coban Pelangi from up close.
I don’t know how tall the waterfall is, but I’d guess about 50-100 meters. It’s a nice one!
Entrance Fees
There’s a fee of 15k IDR ($1 USD) as of 2024.
This gives you entry to both viewpoints for the waterfall.
How To Get To Coban Pelangi Waterfall
Coban Pelangi waterfall is located in Malang regency, East Java.
The nearest airport is Abdul Rachman Saleh (MLG) in Malang city, which has direct flights from Bali (DPS). You can also reach Malang easily by train from Yogyakarta, which is what we did.
The best way to visit the waterfall is on the way to Mount Bromo from the city of Malang. People typically visit Madakaripura waterfall on the way to Bromo, but you can substitute this one for it instead.
We based ourselves in Malang and booked a car + driver through Zaini Transport for visiting a bunch of Java waterfalls and then later a 3D2N trip to Mount Bromo and Kawah Ijen. This was the last waterfall we visited while en route to Bromo.
Our driver Dayat was punctual and very familiar with the area, so we had no trouble finding anything!
Where We Stayed
The best place to base yourself for these waterfalls is Malang. There are lots of good restaurants and hotels to choose from, and the city is easily accessible from Bali or Yogyakarta.
We stayed at the OYO 353 hotel in Malang and it was only 210k Rupiah ($15 USD) for a clean double room with cold A/C, hot shower, and 30 Mbps WiFi.
The value was insane! We will definitely come back. Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.
We stayed here at the OYO 353 hotel and it was only $15 USD for a clean double room with cold A/C, hot shower, and 30 Mbps WiFi. Incredible value!
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