Uluwatu is located in the southernmost part of the island of Bali. It is famous for surfing, dramatic seaside cliffs, and beautiful beaches. After exploring central Bali, I made my way to this incredible part of the island.
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The kind of tourists you’ll find around here are either the surfer dudes or romantic couples. There are a number of private high-end beachfront resorts as well as mid-range hotels or homestays.
If you’re not planning on staying at a luxury resort, I’d recommend staying near the middle of Uluwatu because it is more walkable. If you plan on going anywhere you’ll need your own transportation. Grab is available but there isn’t a good range over all of Uluwatu. So there is the potential for being stranded (which did happen to me, unfortunately). It’s best to rent a motorbike through your accommodation.
I stayed at UTube Hotel and Spa. It is located on the main road and is centrally located. There was a local market, a few restaurants, and a grocery store nearby. Since it was on the main road, there was always traffic, but it wasn’t too loud.
Uluwatu Beaches
When you travel Uluwatu, most beaches will charge you an entrance fee and a fee to park your motorbike. It’s usually between 5,000 – 10,000 IDR for one person and one bike. Keep this in mind while you’re planning your trips to the beach. During my stay, I visited 3 beaches: Melasti Beach, Suluban Beach, and Thomas Beach.
Melasti Beach
Located on the Southern end of Uluwatu, Melasti Beach is a little difficult to get to because it is hidden among residential roads. There is also a steep decline to get to the beach. However, the road was recently redone so it is a smooth journey to the bottom.
When you first step onto the beach there are loungers with umbrellas that you can rent. Some locals also set up some food and drink shops nearby and there’s a toilet. If you keep walking along the beach, the people will dwindle down and you’ll find that you have an area all to yourself.
The beach itself is a white sand beach, with swallow rocks covered in seaweed near the shoreline. You can walk on top of the rocks and from the beach, it’ll look like you’re walking on water. The beach is very clean and not crowded at all. There aren’t any trees or obstructions on the beach so to find some shade, you’ll head over to the rocky cliffs where you might find a small cave.
Suluban Beach
Next up is Suluban Beach which is located on the Western side of the Uluwatu. This is where you’ll find the popular bar Single Fin and a bunch of surfers. The beach is a little bit of a hike down the cliffside but the journey is well worth it. There are plenty of caves, rocks, and tide pools to explore. It isn’t the best for swimming because there are so many rocks near the shoreline. If you swim further out to sea, it will become more clear.
This beach is definitely more crowded because it is located right next to a hotel, surf shops, restaurants, and bars. Regardless it’s a great place to watch the sunset because the sun will set directly over the ocean and you won’t have any obscure views.
Thomas Beach
Out of these three Uluwatu beaches, Thomas Beach is my favorite and I wish I found it earlier. It is also located on the Western side and very close to Suluban Beach. Thomas Beach has a hidden and unmarked entrance, meaning there is no fee. At the bottom of the beach, there are loungers and umbrellas that you can rent as well as shops selling food and drinks. There’s even a little homestay with two or three rooms if you wanted to stay on the beach for a night.
Thomas Beach is good for swimming and fishing. You’ll see many of the locals out of the water in boats catching food for their family. I was there during sunset and some guys started sorting the catch of the day and cooking it on the beach.
Honorable Mentions
These are some Uluwatu beaches that I didn’t have time to visit during my time in Uluwatu, but were on my list.
- Green Bowl Beach
- Panadawa Beach
- Dreamland Beach
- Padang Padang
- Nusa Dua
I recommend checking out as many Uluwatu beaches as you can. Also, make a map where you want to go because even though the beaches look close together it will take a long to get there due to many hills.
