Bali Surf Guide

Helpful hints for the Isle of the Gods

We’re back with another installment in our surf guides! This time we’ll be covering the Isle of the Gods, Bali. Bali is an extremely popular tourist destination in Indonesia. It’s loaded with high quality reef breaks and some solid beach breaks as well. The Bukit peninsula is where the best waves are found, but there’s waves all over the island. Bali is often the starting point for journeys to other islands in Indo and is one of the more developed areas that still has great waves. With solid infrastructure and easy access you can expect to share lineups with a lot of others. With that said let’s jump into it…

Seasons

Peak season: June – August.

This is the dry season, when there will be the most swell and SE trade winds groom the west coast into clean rippable walls. It’s also when there is the most surf tourist activity so you can expect heavy crowds at all the marquee spots. There’s still plenty of uncrowded waves to be had though, you’ll just need to watch the lineups and time it correctly… 

Shoulder seasons: March – May & September – October. 

These times of year can be absolutely epic, there’s still early/late season pumping swells but half the crowds of peak season. Winds and swell can both be hit or miss these times of year but usually May & September are just as good as the dry season months. 

Off season: November – February.

This is the wet season, so you can expect some rain during your stay. It’s also when the west coast gets hammered by onshore winds. The good news though is that crowds are far fewer and there is still swell. This is when the east coast lights up, the winds are often offshore creating clean conditions. You probably won’t get absolutely mackin’ swell but there’ll be surfable waves!

Surf Spots

On Bali there’s spots for every skill level, we’ll cover most of the big name spots and a few of the lesser known ones as well. We’re not giving away any local secrets here, but you’ll definitely find somewhere fun to surf on this list. This section will be broken down by skill level.

Beginner Breaks:

• Kuta Beach – Beachbreak right in Kuta. Plenty of rentals and lessons available in the area. Water quality can be suspect but there’s plenty of waves. Tends to closeout above head high. It’s usually smaller than elsewhere though… Great for beginners but more advanced surfers will want to skip it. 
• Dreamland – On the Bukit Peninsula, when it’s small this a decent option for the novice surfer. First time surfers might have some trouble and would be better off at the beach breaks in Kuta or Seminyak. Dreamland breaks over a mix of reef and sand, but is nowhere near as gnarly as all the other reefs in the area. The waves at the south peak on the outside roll in as mushy lefts and rights and then become peaky shorebreak on the inside. When it’s small and mellow the north peak will work and breaks over a rock reef. It’s a mushy right that breaks into a somewhat defined channel. Both peaks are generally better on a mid to high tide. When the swell is big this wave is best suited for intermediate to advanced surfers.
• Batu Bolong – AKA Old Man’s, located in Canggu this is the prime longboard wave on Bali. There are some loggers who rip out here but the wave itself is pretty mushy and is great to learn at. Just make sure to avoid burning people and you’ll have a good time! Very similar to San Onofre here in Southern California. 
• Berawa – Located between Canggu and Seminyak, mellow lefts and rights break over a mix of sand and reef. Not usually very crowded, but fairly consistent.
• Padang Rights – Located on the Bukit Peninsula, this is a wave best suited for novices, first timers are better off at the beach breaks. The wave breaks over sharp coral reef and works best in small to medium swells on an incoming tide. On an outgoing tide the current in the channel is no joke, and on big swells the wave will break closing out the channel. It’s directly across the channel from Padang Padang, the most coveted barrel on Bali. There are many locals who give surf lessons here and help tourists get on some nice waves. When it’s working well it’s a mellow right that rolls along the edge of the reef towards the channel. 

Intermediate Breaks:

• Canggu Echo Beach – A peaky high performance wave breaking over reef and sand. Can offer up some nice walls for ripping or some barrels. Best in small to medium swells, can max out if the swell is really pumping. Best in the dry season but works year round. It can get pretty crowded and there’s plenty of rippers who show up when it’s good. 
• Balangan – Another reef on the Bukit Peninsula. Just around the corner from Dreamland, it breaks over shallow reef peeling left off the headland. The reef here isn’t near as sharp as the breaks from Uluwatu to Bingin. The wave is a solid left wall that generally gets better with more size. You can get the odd cover up but you’re mostly looking at speed walls and turn sections. 
• Impossibles – On the Bukit just north of Padang rights, this is a section of shallow and very sharp coral reef. Reef booties are very nice to have here for low tide… From the cliffs it’ll look like a perfect peeling left but in reality it’s often insanely fast and often impossible to make sections. There’s usually three different takeoff points but on the right swells it’s makeable from the top of the reef all the way through to the end. You’re mostly looking at speed walls here with sections for turns, but don’t cutback too hard or the wave will run away from you. There’s some rad barrels to be had here, they’re rather difficult to make (don’t stall too hard) but you’ll get some sick vision! Can get crowded but usually not too bad.
• Nyang Nyang – Located on the southern point of the Bukit, this is an undeveloped part of the island. Quite a refreshing break from all the build up along the cliffs throughout the rest of the Bukit and surrounding areas! The wave has lefts and rights breaking over coral reef. Not as high of quality as other spots on the peninsula, but still plenty of fun and often far less crowded. Works best in either the wet season or early mornings in the dry season. Higher tides are also generally better. On large swells currents can get pretty gnarly and the waves can get serious. Due to its location on the peninsula it picks up a lot of swell and will often be larger than other spots. 
• Medewi – A left pointbreak on the northwest side of the island. Usually breaks somewhat mushy but can be plenty of fun and rippable at times as well. It’s fairly far from most other popular breaks so it’s not often very crowded. 
• Balian – Rivermouth breaking over rock and sand. The lefts are better, best in small to medium sized swells. It can be pretty rippable or rather mushy depending upon the swell and tide. Located north of Canggu, doesn’t get too crowded. 

Advanced/Expert Breaks:

• Bingin – On the Bukit between Dreamland and Impossibles. Bingin is a left-hand barrel machine breaking over very shallow and sharp coral reef. It’s often stated that if you can’t get barrelled here you won’t get barrelled anywhere. It works best at head high to head and a half. Generally you just pull in, get tubed, and kick out before it closes out on shallow reef but occasionally it can offer up a section for a turn or two. It’s almost always crowded, even at first light. When it’s working there’s a local crew that will be all over it, getting all the best ones. If there’s 10 people or less, consider it not too crowded and give it a crack. Very tight takeoff zone, but a dependable barrel and a classic Bali staple.
• Padang Padang – The crown jewel of Bali, the “Balinese Pipeline.” It breaks somewhat often on bigger swells throughout the dry season but only truly breaks properly a handful of times. When it’s on it attracts the best rippers from all around the island. It’s big roll-in to a very hollow barrel breaking off a very shallow and sharp ledge of coral reef. Low tide is for experts and pros only. Higher tides offer more of a safety buffer but you can still get rocked and end up on dry reef. Gets very crowded, but you can get some really sick barrels here.
• Uluwatu – One of the most consistent and best spots on Bali. Located near the tip of the Bukit it draws in loads of swell. It’s actually multiple breaks in one large area of reef. Most spots are easily accessed through the cave entrance. When the swell is up the current passing the cave entrance is running like a river, so time your exit properly and aim well south of the cave. Lower tides make the exit from the water a bit easier, but the reef is sharp. The spots are as follows from the south end of the reef to the north: 
  • Secrets – Around the headland at the south end of the reef this section breaks best on medium swells. A long paddle up from the cave entrance. It’s a left that can get really good and is rarely crowded due to the paddle. More often than not it’s a bit of a mush-burger and not really worth the paddle. Don’t ride it too far or you’ll slam into the cliff.
  • Temples – Just north of the headland, temples breaks over really shallow coral. This is where most visiting and local pros surf. It can throw some serious tubes with the right tide/swell combo. More user friendly on a higher tide. Often steep and fast, rather difficult to pick off the good ones, but when you get a good one it’s really good… Usually less crowded than main peak or racetrack due to the long paddle up the reef.
  •  Main Peak – Straight out from the cave this peak is a high quality left. It can offer up rippable walls and nice tubes. Works on all tides and best at 4’ to 8’ faces. Sometimes you can find the odd right off the peak that’ll break into a channel between main peak and temples. This section works on all tides but gets hollower on low tides. The reef here is all dead coral so it’s not as gnarly as temples or racetrack. Usually quite crowded but there’s windows where it’ll be good and hardly any crowd.
  • Racetrack – When you paddle out through the cave the current will pull you right past/through this section. It’s the last section of Uluwatu and is an absolute barrel machine.  The reef here is very shallow and sharp. It can offer up some serious tubes. Low tide gets ultra hollow but also can be pretty sketchy. Higher tides offer some safety but make sure to starfish over the coral when you fall.
  • The Bombie – Breaks off a shallow section of reef out the back between temples and main peak. An a-frame with a better left. More often than not just a big drop into a mush burger, you’ll need a big board to get anything out here. On really big swells it can sling you into a gnarly left tube. People tow it on the biggest swells of the year.
  • Outside Corner – Only show when it’s 10’+, it breaks outside of main peak on a corner of reef between where main peak and racetrack normally are. Offers a long rippable left wall with massive tube sections. It can handle as big of swell as what the Indian Ocean can throw at it. When Outside Corner is breaking the current on the inside is absolutely cranking and makes getting back into the cave extremely difficult. So lower tides are easier to get in on. You’ll also want a step up out there when this section is breaking, as taking a late drop is fairly critical and nerve-wracking. Losing a board out here would result in a long and difficult swim. 
• Keramas – The prime wet season spot. On the east side of the island right out from the Hotel Kommune. It’s a roll-in to a right barrel that then offers up a rippable section to blast a few turns or an air. A favorite among regular footers, works year round but during the dry season it’s blown out by mid-morning usually. Gets quite crowded. 
• Sanur – Outer reef on the east side of the island. Best in the wet season or early mornings in the dry/shoulder seasons. Can be a racey right wall or extremely hollow right hand tube. You’d need to take a boat out to it, and due to how far out it breaks it gets blown out easily. You’re also far from help if something goes wrong…
• Kuta Reef – Bowled up left, similar to Uluwatu. Long paddle out (¼ mile or so), so a lot of people will hire a boat to drop them off. Picks up more swell than other nearby spots.
• Airport Lefts/Rights – Two reefs that break off either side of the Denpasar Airport runway. One side breaks left and the other breaks right. Both offer hollow sections and rippable corners. Best with higher tides and clean conditions.

Where to Stay:

• Uluwatu / Padang Padang – This is my preferred area to stay. You can find many different types of accommodation around here. Everything from upscale hotels and villas to cheap hostels and homestays. In this area you can be within walking distance to restaurants/bars and surf spots depending where you stay. Or it’s always just a short scooter ride away. 
• Bingin – There’s many villas, b’n’b’s, and homestays located right on the cliffs near the beach. There are some warungs here but you’re a lot more limited for walkable options in this area. You’ll need to scooter or drive to get to any bars and the majority of restaurants. The best thing about staying here is you can keep a close eye on Bingin and if it’s firing and not very crowded you can score amazing waves with minimal crowds!
• Dreamland – This area is all giant resorts and hotels. These hotels and resorts are all nice and not terribly expensive. You’re extremely limited in walkable food options. Especially after like 8pm. There’s a golf course in this area if that’s your fancy. 
• Sanur – There’s a lot of hotels and hostels in this area. It’s a good place to stay in the wet season or if you want to go scuba diving you’re much closer to a lot of dive operations on this side of the island. It’s a fairly walkable area, close to restaurants and bars that intermingle into the neighborhoods. 
• Kuta/Seminyak/Legian – Tourist trap area, everything from backpackers hostels to luxury resorts. In the thick of the hustle and bustle of the island. Kuta has beach clubs, night clubs and a lot of nightlife with a big party vibe. Seminyak and Legian have a bit more relaxed vibe and are a little less grungy, where you might encounter a lot of social media influencers. It reminds me a bit of Tulum. Easy to find bars and restaurants anywhere here.
• Canggu – This is where everyone who wants to party hard but still surf decent waves comes to. Lots of wild bars and party hostels all over. Super popular among young traveling Australians. Accommodations of all types can be found here, from dirt cheap hostels to luxury mansions. 
• Medewi – Much more mellow and relaxed than most other places on the island. It’s a lot farther north of where all the partiers hang out. A quiet fishing village with a nice point break in the backyard. 
• Ubud – A yoga/hippie enclave up in the mountains. Lots of yoga retreats and tree house hotels can be found here. If there’s a serious lack of swell or there’s too much swell and you don’t feel like surfing, it could be worth it to come up here for a couple days and get away. But if you’re not into yoga/wellness retreats and drinking kombucha, Ubud can be seen in a day trip.

Getting Around:

• Scooter – This is generally the most popular way to get around. If staying on the Bukit it’s pretty essential to rent one to get spot to spot. There’s plenty of rental places all over the island. My preferred method is to take a taxi to where I’m staying and then rent a scooter at one of the nearby shops. Many hotels and hostels have rentals available but they’re usually a little more expensive than the ones available elsewhere. Generally I try to find a place that does them for $3-5 a day, the longer you rent it the cheaper you can generally get them. Just a heads up, most people almost crash or do crash at least once on these, especially when riding with multiple people on them. Make sure you get one with a surfboard rack though. Be careful though, there’s many stories of tourists getting into bad crashes resulting in serious injury or death. If you’re just traveling spot to spot in the Bukit it’s not too gnarly, but when passing through Kuta or Canggu things can get dicey. Same deal for if you’re heading to Padang Bai/Keramas.  
• Dirt Bike – If you’re planning to travel farther distances or to other islands a dirt bike is a good call. They handle rougher roads far better than scooters and are much less likely to run into issues. They’ll be more expensive than the scooters though, and it may be more of a challenge to find one with a board rack.
• Car – You can rent a car but it’ll be considerably more expensive than a scooter or dirt bike. Most cars here are stick shift as well, so if you’re looking for an automatic expect to pay even more. Make sure you’re comfortable in crazy traffic conditions too because it gets pretty hectic.
• Taxi – This is my preferred method when traveling longer distances, mainly  due to the wild traffic conditions. It’s also convenient for carrying your stuff easily. So if you plan to stay in multiple different spots on the island consider taking a taxi.

Other Stuff to Do:

• Scuba Dive – There’s great diving off Padang Bai, on the East coast of Bali. There’s also great diving off Nusa Penida island. Plenty of dive operations are all over the island, just find one with good reviews and go have fun!
• Snorkel – If you’re not scuba certified you can contact one of the many dive operations and most of them offer snorkel tours as well. There’s also some cool snorkeling on the reefs on the Bukit when the swell is really small.
• Go to the Monkey Forest – In Ubud there’s a monkey sanctuary with many cool structures/ruins that are centuries old. Monkeys are running all over the place and sometimes will even climb on top of tourists. Be careful to hide your phone, wallet, sunglasses and keep your backpack on your chest. The monkees will open your pack and steal your stuff! 
• Hike the Volcano – You can go hike Mount Batur on a day hike. There’s many tour operators who can guide you up the hike. Stunning views are at the top.
• Whitewater Raft – You can whitewater raft down multiple rivers up in the mountains near Ubud. Check out https://bali-river-rafting.com/ for more info and booking! 
• Visit one of the many beautiful Temples – The Uluwatu Temple is probably the most famous temple on Bali but there’s many temples all over the island. They all have beautiful architecture, statues, and ornate stonework throughout. Many are many centuries old and some are even over 1000 years old. Many have a small entrance fee that takes care of upkeep and helps out local villages. When heading temples its best to wear modest, non-revealing clothing. Most temples have wraps for patrons to cover their legs with at the entrance. Be respectful when visiting the temples as these are very sacred places to the locals.
• Hit the skatepark – Bali has some really rad skateparks throughout the island. Pack your board and when the waves are blown out, too big, or you’re surfed out you can hit the park instead. Check out google maps and go explore a few. There’s a decent wood park/bowl at the Uluwatu Surf Villas and another bowl in Balangan. There’s multiple parks around Kuta and the airport as well.
• Golf – Bali is home to many excellent golf courses. There’s a couple in the Dreamland area that look well maintained. There’s also a few on the other side of the Bukit near Nusa Dua.

Dining and Drinks:

I’ll preface this section with a couple things, first off if you’re looking to party you can find something happening nearly every night in the tourist hot spots. Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu all have lively nightlife scenes. Second, many of the best restaurants are the hole in the wall local Indonesian places. You can get a bowl of Mie-Goreng (Noodles, veggies, fried egg and usually grilled chicken) or Nasi-Goreng (Rice, veggies, fried egg and usually grilled chicken) for a few dollars and it’ll taste amazing!

• Single Fin & Rave Cave – Single Fin is probably the most famous bar in Bali. Perched atop the cliffs at Uluwatu there’s multiple floors here with a DJ set up in front of a dance floor overlooking the surf. It gets packed, especially on Wednesdays and Sundays with people bussing in from other parts of the island. Fairly expensive by Indo standards but that’s what you get for the fame and location… The fun ends at midnight at Single Fin but for those looking to party late into the night there’s a little hidden spot on the Uluwatu Cliffs called the Rave Cave. It’s located below Single Fin and has a very divey feel to it when empty, as more people leave Single Fin the Rave Cave will start to fill up. It turns into a steamy one room rave with the party going until around 3am. To find it just ask any Single Fin employees, locals, or partiers in the know.
• Angel Mart – This is a convenience/liquor store located just up the street from Single Fin. They have a bunch of tables and chairs in the front and this is where everybody goes to pregame for Single Fin and most other bars in the area. On weekend nights and Wednesday nights this place is quite a scene. The beer here is far cheaper than at the bars too!
• The Hatch – A cool bar located between Bingin and Padang Padang on the Bukit. Very aesthetic bar, they made the place look like a jungle growing indoors. There’s elevated walkways around the perimeter and some bridges over the center of the area. There’s plenty of seating downstairs, and upstairs there’s a game cube where you can challenge your friends to some mario kart or super smash bros. Tuesday or Thursday nights seemed to be the time to hit here. 
• Sunset Point – A bar on the backside of the Uluwatu surf break, but not quite all the way to the Uluwatu Temple. It’s an outdoor area with various tables, chairs and couches around the property. Perched upon the cliffside it’s a great place to go grab a beer after a solid session at Ulu, or a good spot to take a date for a drink. Very spacious, picturesque, and not too fancy.
• Pretty Poison – In Canggu this bar is a popping place. There’s a skate bowl that is open for anyone who wants to test their skills. Be forewarned though; it’s a pretty gnarly bowl and there will be many onlookers. So if you don’t rip, maybe kick back and enjoy the show.
• Reggae Beach Party – During the dry season, in Padang Padang they host a weekly beach party at night with live Reggae music. I believe it was every Saturday but make sure to confirm that once you’re there…
• La Baracca – This is an Italian restaurant that is absolutely delicious. Going for Italian in Indo may sound strange but it’s well worth checking out. They have multiple locations on the island but I can tell you first hand the one near Uluwatu is incredible. There’s also a steakhouse/burger joint a couple doors over from La Baracca that is equally amazing, but I forgot the name of the place…

Other Things to Know:

• Avoid keeping anything of value in your scooter/car. Break-ins are somewhat common in tourist areas. When you’re going surfing, bring only essential cash and leave your phone, passport, wallet, etc. at your hotel.
• DO NOT BUY DRUGS OR BRING DRUGS TO INDO. If you’re into smoking weed or doing other drugs do not bring them to Indo. Foreigners have gotten life sentences or even been executed for possession of minimal amounts of weed and other drugs. It’s simply not worth the risk. 
• The gas stations are cheaper than the roadside local “petrol stations” but the roadside stands are very convenient.
• Bali belly is almost unavoidable, but you can take some steps to avoid it. Don’t get ice or tap water at smaller local restaurants. Bring some charcoal pills. If you get Bali belly drink a ton of water, it’ll pass and you’ll be fine.
• It’s not a matter of if you hit the reef but rather when. You’ll get yourself a “Bali tattoo” and leave some skin on the reef if you’re getting barreled. When it happens though, make absolutely sure you get any pieces of reef out of the cut and clean it with alcohol, lime or hydrogen peroxide. Reef cuts tend to get infected very quickly so tend to it ASAP. They sell “Chinese medicine” in red packages in the pharmacies, this is the best stuff to put on your cut after you clean it. Some people will sit out a few days after a brush with the reef but I never felt the need to do so, just make sure to keep your cuts clean.
• Reef booties might be a good idea. Low tide Ulu, Impossibles, and Bingin all involve walks across sharp dry reef. Rip curl makes some small foldable reef boots that fold and fit in your board shorts pocket, they’d be a good investment. 
• Respect the locals! Balinese people have very tight communities and will back each other every time over a foreigner. So whether it’s in the water, on the road, or at the bar remember you’re in their home so show them some respect. If an altercation arises expect a mob… So avoid negative interactions as best you can! Locals are for the most part incredibly friendly and happy to share their awesome island with you.
• Drive carefully, get barrelled, and have fun! Bali is an incredible island with great waves, beautiful scenery, and friendly locals so enjoy!