Beach, sun and rocks constitute the beautiful landscape in Kenting

Like many foreigners, we didn’t have a car and opted to go to Kenting via bus and train. It’s remarkably easy.

Alighting from the bus onto Kenting main road, we were struck by that seaside town feel that one seems to get all over the world. Suddenly everything is more relaxed, brighter and gay. It’s certainly easy to part with your money in the wonderful selection of stores selling everything from authentic branded goods like Billabong and Quicksilver right through to slip-ons for NT$50 per pair.

Heading straight for one of the many scooter-hire shops in the street, we secured our wheels for NT$350 per day. Although we were not asked for our licenses, we were asked to leave our ARC with the owners. Other friends visiting Kenting have been asked for licenses, so go prepared.

We headed north for a few kilometers. In Nanwan (南灣) we stopped for some breakfast at one of the numerous cafes along the road. Without the imposing hotels blocking the view it was wonderful to relax watching the ocean.

Nanwan was a whaling village during the Japanese occupation many years ago, and the beach is situated on a curved bay with about 600 meters of golden sand. Many beach activities, including wet biking, are on offer tending to make it slightly noisy if you had a quiet snooze in mind.

We continued north about six kilometers to Baishawan (白沙灣). There are two areas from which to access the beach. The first entrance from the Nanwan side is the quieter option. Renting an umbrella for the day is a must, and one feels positively spoiled relaxing on the fabulously coarse golden sand with a massive umbrella drooping slightly in the breeze.

The snorkeling was great due to the nooks and crannies in the rocks along the edge of the beach, and the visibility was awesome. As this area is a protected area, no motorized sports are allowed, ensuring that the day was spent alternately swimming, snorkeling and snoozing. By sunset we were ready for the beach bar, about one kilometer away at the other end of the beach.

From there we decided to hunt down some accommodations for the evening and headed to Chuanfanshih (船帆石). The direct translation is “Boat Sail Rock”. It is essentially a huge piece of coral reef standing a few meters off the shore. It looks like a sailing ship from a distance, and resembles the profile of former U.S. President Richard Nixon when viewed up close. In the summer you need to book accommodations in advance.

We picked a moderately priced (NT$1,000 for two) and spotlessly clean hotel across the road from Nixon’s Head, and then went to Kenting for supper and the night market. The street vibe in Kenting at night certainly has something for everyone.

Whether you want to people-watch; buy food, clothing or curios; or go clubbing, Kenting has it all. At the end of the evening it was reassuring to know that a five-minute drive away our blissfully quiet hotel was waiting in the next town.

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