The boardwalk
Around the rocks and forested hill.
Dominic Nelson — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dominic Nelson — CC BY-SA 4.0
Kuantan's best-known beach and the closest to town, about five kilometres east of the centre, also called Palm Beach. White sand shaded by casuarina and pine trees, and rocky headlands reaching into the South China Sea, with waves breaking over them in a lovely scene. At one end a wooden boardwalk winds around the rocks and the forested hill, loved by locals for morning and evening walks, and you may meet monkeys along it. Around the square are cafes, restaurants and stalls, and the beach draws families at weekends. The beach is free and always open, with a lifeguard tower. But east-coast waves are often strong, especially in the monsoon from about November to February, so swim only on calm days and near the lifeguards. The best time is early morning, with sunrise over the sea, or late afternoon for a walk on the boardwalk. The fishing village of Beserah, about five kilometres away, shows traditional coastal life.
Around the rocks and forested hill.
The beach faces east.
Cafes and stalls round the square.
About 5 km east of central Kuantan
On calm days near the lifeguards, yes, but east-coast waves are often strong, and from November to February it is best not to swim at all.