Best Bali Surf Spots – Where To Surf In Bali
Lauren Collison February 26th, 2018 Posted In: Articles Tags: Surfing
The Top Bali Surf Spots: Where to Surf in Bali
It feels like every year I meet more surfers who are singing Bali’s praises. Bali, Indonesia, is one of the world’s most popular tourist destination, and its beautiful beaches draw impressive, consistent waves. Here’s my list of some of the best surf spots in Bali.
Padang Padang
Padang Padang tops many Bali surf guides because it has something for everyone. Located in the Bukit Peninsula, a well-renowned spot among many surfers, Padang Padang has two sections, right and left. Padang Padang Left offers massive, powerful barrel waves, but Padang Padang Right is a sandy beach with gentle, long waves that are great for beginners.
Like most Bali surf spots, Padang Padang is best from April through October. Ocean temperatures here peak as high as 86 degrees Fahrenheit in early January, and dip down to 77 in mid-August.
Picture of Impossibles courtesy of MagicSeaweed.
Uluwatu
Overlooked by a clifftop shrine, Uluwatu is one of Bali’s best-loved surfing spots. When the waves are small, the beach is crowded, but as its famous barrel waves grow higher and higher, the tourists thin out to make way for some seriously skilled surfers. This beach offers something for everyone over the course of the year, but bring boots to protect against the sharp coral on the ocean floor, and watch out for changing currents that might sweep you away.
Thanks to Bali’s tropical location, the water here is warm year-round. Be ready for ocean temperatures in the high 70s in the middle of August, with the mercury rising to the mid 80s by the beginning of the year.
Impossibles
Ominous, right? Impossibles doesn’t quite live up to its name — it’s perfectly surfable — but this is an advanced spot for swimmers who definitely know what they’re doing. A long reef underwater serves up long, powerful barrel waves, two to five feet high, and three takeoff zones (including one near nearby Padang Padang) give you plenty of variety. Even if Impossibles is beyond you, its beautiful beaches and rock formations make it a must-visit.
August is the “cool” season here, and sees ocean temperatures in the upper 70s. With these water temperatures, consider wearing a wetsuit top. By late December and early January, the temperature rises into the mid-to-upper 80s.
