Danau Kaco/Mirror Lake

Jambi offers natural tourist potentials that are just as fascinating as other regions in Indonesia. The province, which covers an area of ​​50,160 square kilometers, is part of the Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS).

As a UNESCO world heritage site, the park is home to around 4,000 species of flora and around 370 species of birds. Jambi is not just home to Mount Kerinci, which stands at 3,805 meters above sea level (masl). The Malay Land province also has many lakes, waterfalls, caves, and beaches that are no less captivating.

One of them is the phenomenal natural attraction named Lake Kaco in the Lempur area, Kerinci Regency. According to data from the TNKS, the area of ​​Lake Kaco is no more than 90 square meters, and its location is in Gunung Raya Subdistrict, near the border of Bengkulu Province.

A little effort is required to reach this hidden lake, which is nestled comfortably amid the dense tropical rainforest of Sumatra. The journey from the center of Jambi City to this unique lake takes up to 10 hours and it is recommended to bring your own vehicle or rent one as there is no public transportation to the lake yet.

The first destination is Sungai Penuh, approximately 500 km west of Jambi City. During the trip to Sungai Penuh, visitors will be treated to the green scenery of paddy fields planted with Kerinci's characteristic long-grain payo rice, which is fragrant and fluffy.

The smooth and winding road along the spine of the Bukit Barisan Mountains also adds to the excitement of the journey. It is suggested to take the route from Jambi City to Sungai Penuh in the morning to avoid arriving at the first destination too late at night, especially since there is no public street lighting along the way.

If you arrive at Sungai Penuh at night, it is recommended to find accommodation immediately and continue the journey to Lake Kaco the next day. Sungai Penuh is the nearest city to Lempur, about 40 km away, and takes about 45 minutes by car.

Lempur is the last stop before reaching Lake Kaco, and it is no more than 20 minutes by car, passing through rice fields and a smooth two-meter-wide paved village road. Visitors can also use the services of local motorcycle taxis and pay around Rp50,000 one way. The air in this area is very cool, ranging around 20 degrees Celsius.

It is easy to know when you have arrived at the entrance to Lake Kaco, as the road is no longer smooth, becomes rocky, and becomes steeper. A post in the form of a stilt house marks the end of the journey and the beginning of the journey to the lake, which is visited by more than 7,000 tourists every year, with 1,000-1,500 of them coming from abroad. If you bring your own vehicle, it can be parked at the post.

The Lekuk 50 Tumbi Lempur Indigenous Community manages the post, which was established in 2021. In addition to serving as a ticket sales booth, visitors can also buy Lake Kaco souvenirs there. Domestic visitors will be charged Rp15,000, and foreign tourists will be charged Rp150,000 per person.