After Tourists Death, Is Mount Rinjanis Trekking Still Safe?

TheIndonesia.co - Juliana Martins, a 41-year-old tourist from Brazil, came to Indonesia for the same reason thousands do each year: to climb the majestic Mount Rinjani. But her trek turned tragic when she fell from a hillside near the crater’s edge. Her body was found days later after a strenuous rescue mission hampered by fog and treacherous terrain.

The accident has sparked an outpouring of grief—and a difficult reckoning for Indonesia’s most popular trekking destination. As more people scale Rinjani’s heights in search of natural beauty and spiritual escape, are corners being cut on safety in the rush to promote eco-tourism?

A Park Under Pressure

Mount Rinjani is the second-highest volcano in Indonesia and a crown jewel of the country’s national park system. Its crater lake, Segara Anak, draws eco-conscious travelers seeking a “green” adventure away from Bali’s crowds.

Tourism has brought real benefits. Trekking jobs support hundreds of local guides and porters, while villages like Senaru and Sembalun have seen rising incomes from homestays, rental shops, and warungs. But the surge in visitors—over 150,000 trekkers annually—has stretched the limits of the mountain’s infrastructure and monitoring systems.

“The park is promoted as a sustainable tourism model,” says Dina Novita, an ecotourism consultant based in Lombok. “But safety protocols are not keeping up. And we’re seeing the consequences.”

Safety or Sales?

Local trekking operators often compete on price, and not all adhere to strict safety guidelines. Guides may lead groups without proper training in emergency response or altitude risks. Equipment is sometimes outdated, and regulations around maximum group sizes and guide-to-hiker ratios are weakly enforced.

“The path near the crater is narrow, steep, and can be dangerous in wet conditions,” says Ardi, a veteran guide from Sembalun. “We always warn trekkers, but not all listen. And not every guide is trained to handle panic or injuries.”

In Juliana’s case, reports suggest she became separated from her group, and a drone was later used to locate her body—raising difficult questions about trail supervision, communication tools, and rescue coordination.

The ESG Gap in Adventure Travel

The tragedy underscores a deeper tension in eco-tourism: sustainability efforts often focus on the environment but overlook human safety and governance.

“The ‘E’ in ESG gets all the attention in tourism, but the ‘S’ and ‘G’ are equally vital,” says Yohana Astuti, a policy researcher at the University of Mataram. “Who’s responsible when a tourist dies? What oversight exists for guides? How are risks communicated?”

While Mount Rinjani’s park management has made strides—such as limiting plastic waste and controlling daily trekking quotas—its safety infrastructure remains basic. Emergency shelters are few, satellite communication is limited, and helicopter rescues are rarely feasible due to cost and weather.

A Wake-Up Call

Juliana Martins’s family has accused the rescue operation of negligence, citing delays and poor coordination. Indonesian authorities have defended the mission, but the incident has reignited calls for reform.

Some trekking associations are urging for mandatory first-aid training and certification for all guides. Others want better signage on risk zones and stricter enforcement of group monitoring.

More broadly, travelers and tour operators are being asked to consider safety as part of sustainability. “Being eco-friendly doesn’t just mean collecting your trash,” says Dina Novita. “It means ensuring everyone gets home alive.”

Moving Forward

Mount Rinjani remains one of Indonesia’s most iconic destinations. Its beauty is undeniable. But if that beauty comes with growing human cost, it risks undermining the very values eco-tourism claims to uphold.

Striking the right balance—between adventure and accountability, nature and responsibility—is now more urgent than ever.

For Juliana and those who love Rinjani, the mountain deserves better. So do the people who climb it.