Weekend Getaway from Jakarta: Trek to Portibi Farm

By: Rosette Obedoza

Portibi Farm’s vision as written from their website is, “to try to turn back the tide of deforestation, urban overmigration, and general bad taste that have been pulling down a potentially fantastic country.” Located on an old clove plantation, just South of Jakarta (2-3 hours from central Jakarta depending on city traffic) a working farm, and a specialty B & B for those who value the natural beauty of Indonesia and appreciate farm to table, homecooked meals. We see this place as a delightful weekend break from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
In fact, I could not agree more with Vi of www.team-curious.com on what she listed down why their family love Portibi Farm, she wrote:

• This place has a soul: the owners are there, they care about the place, their staff, their guests and it shows. It’s not a hotel and feels like staying at a friend’s home
• The beautiful grounds, lush and green, perfect for bug hunters and budding botanists
• The houses, each uniquely designed and built with beautiful local material
• The food prepared with the farm’s harvest : fusion tacos, Vietnamese pho… instead of the usual nasi goreng (amazing range of dishes for vegetarians too)
• Its commitment to low energy consumption
• How everyone sits together for meals, including Portibi’s staff

It feels like visiting family in the company of the Portibi owners, Jocean & Ayu, and their staff, breaking bread together, sharing stories over afternoon tea at the main house, and exploring the surrounding area during the morning hike that builds up a good appetite after – the following lunch is always a perfect welcome back treat! During the afternoon, the children are invited to make an artisanal farm bread which is also served during dinner. The meals prepared by the owner, Ayu is by far one of the best, healthy dishes we genuinely enjoy. Her salads are creative, flavorful, and never boring.
A farm tour is also provided during your stay, a good introduction to the lay of the land and the farming operations of Portibi. The accommodations reflect the owners’ commitment to energy conservation and the rustic vibe of a simple mountain resort. Leisurely napping by the hammock while enjoying the calmness of the mountain and fresh air – is my picture of Dolce Far Niente (the Italian art of doing nothing). 
To better prepare for you stay at Portibi Farms, know that a minimum of 2 nights stay is required. They can easily be reached by WhatsApp at mobile: +62.812.82118850 or by e-mail at info@portibi.com to check for availability and rates. If you need transportation from Jakarta, this could be arranged with Portibi Farms for an additional fee.
Getting there –
Exact address is : Jalan Ekologika No. 7 (masuk dari Jalan Alas Wangi) Cibuntu RT03, Pesawahan, Cicurug, Jawa Barat, Indonesia Located 2-3 hours South of Jakarta by car, along the main Siliwangi North South artery towards Sukabumi, above Cimalati swimming hole, for those who know the area, and about 7 km South of Lido lakes.

For a detailed guide, Portibi Farm provides the following instructions:
Given general worsening chaos of streets, overpopulation of West Java, reluctance of Aqua to put their water trucks on the train, and a seemingly never ending love of angkot and other automobiles by our compatriots, this is now the recommended scenic / less sand / Aqua truck traffic route via Bogor. Our average travel time from Bogor to the farm using this route is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, though we long ago gave up trying to predict arrival times in the morass of Indonesian roads. Searching for Jalan Ekologika at any time in your journey should also be useful for getting you back on track. If your GPS tracking gets not smart enough & you get lost in our general area (within 2 km or so from the farm, sometimes farther), the keywords to ask helpful locals are:  “Kebun bule di mana? (Where is the white guy’s farm?). If lost, call +62.812.8211.8850.

​Website: ​http://portibi.com/
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