Staying true to its roots, this 'agro resort' offers guests a chance to experience traditional village life and the island's natural attractions while staying in a comfortable, homely hotel.

The Resort offers 51 rooms with basic comforts, such as hot-water showers, and a homely atmosphere with soft white linens and splashes of Javanese design. An overhead fan keeps the cool highland air circulating, negating the need for air conditioning and keeping to the no-frills, natural concept of the resort, the rooms do not have televisions. However an on-site pool and massage facilities add a touch of pampering to the resort.

It is outside where the true beauty of Margo Utomo Agro Resort lies. The cottages are laid out along a central walkway lined with tropical flowers and is surrounded by plantations and farms where guests can explore or partake in special hands-on tours to learn more about the agricultural traditions of the region.

From these plantations, Margo Utomo Agro Resort gathers the freshest vegetables and produce and delivers it to the table in the form of delicious local dishes. Guests gather in the main dining room, located in the original, colonial-style house of the first resort, for a convivial meal similar to that experienced in a Javanese village.

Offering more than just a place to sleep, Margo Utomo Agro Resort is one of the best places to experience rural Javanese life. Friendly hosts, charming rooms and an unparalleled location in the highlands combine to deliver a unique respite away from the tourist trail.

Facilities:

• Swimming pool
• Massage service
• Laundry service
• Meeting facilities

Dining:

• Margo Utomo Restaurant - Guests can sample the freshly grown produce and dairy products from the farm at the open air restaurant

Room type:

• 51 Standard rooms

Margo Utomo Agro Resort address in Kalibaru: Jalan Lapangan 10, Kalibaru, East Java, Indonesia.

Margo Utomo Cottage Hotel is located on the Menyan hill at Banyuwangi, a village in Kalibaru near the Strait of Bali. Mt Ijen is a one-hour drive and the ferry port of Ketapang, for the boat to Bali, is a 1.5 hour drive.

Who should go?
Our advice: located in the tranquil natural environment on the Menyan Hill in Kalibaru east Java, Margo Utomo is the perfect stay for travelers looking to experience local Javanese lifestyles.  The nearby plantations, homely property and exquisite outdoor surroundings provide a welcomed break from the tourist trail for intrepid travelers.   

When to go?
There isn't much variation in temperature on East Java, averaging about 32 degrees Celsius throughout the year.  The dry season is from April to October and is the best time to visit.  The wet season is from November to March and coincides with the southern hemisphere's summer, so East Java receives a lot of tourists at this time.  December and January are the most humid and rainy months in East Bali.  April and May are the best months to visit as the weather is the most bearable and coincides with the end of the low season.

Where is it?
Margo Utomo Cottage Hotel is located on the Menyan hill at Banyuwangi on the island of Java. This eastern location is close to Bali and can be reached by a short drive followed by a 30-minute ferry crossing.  Travel to Surabaya, in central Java, takes 7 hours by train.

What's not to be missed?
Taking a walk in the plantations at Margo Utomo.  Witnessing the beauty of Wonorejo Falls.  Exploring nearby Mt Ijen Volcano and its crater lake. Dining on fresh cuisine cooked from the resort's garden.

What's cooking?
After visiting the resort's fields, farms and crops, guests can then dine on these delicious, locally-grown ingredients at Margo Utomo's restaurant.  The al-fresco environment enhances the dining experience, with cool air from the hills and quiet countryside noises setting the atmospherel.