Bali’s beaches – Bukit Peninsula

Bali has some of the most beautiful beaches with clear turquoise water and dramatic limestone cliffs. The beaches on the southeast side of the island are also well known for the great surfing available for riders of any ability.

The Bukit Peninsula is quite small making it very accessible to get around on a moped. There are many shops that rent mopeds in the area for $3-$5 usd/day with or without a surfboard rack. Renting a moped here will be the best thing you do! Just make sure to practice a bit so you feel comfortable with the sometimes hectic traffic.

I was only able to visit three of the countless beaches during my stay here and they were each as breathtaking as the last.
Listed below in order of my preference.

Balangan Beach

A wide beach good for both swimming and surfing, you can easily spend all day here. This beach is a little off the beaten path and you have to wind around through small jungle roads and then walk down to the beach through some construction. This beach is still on the process if being discovered which is part of the charm. If you drive a moped there be prepared to pay 2000 Indonesian rupiah for parking (like 25¢ us).

There are many surf shacks lining the beach offering surf lessons/rentals, basic accommodation, cheap food, music, chairs under umbrellas, and good company.

Overall impressions:
Low key vibe, clean, very few beach venders, must be a fairly decent swimmer but not impossible.

Uluwatu Beach

Uluwatu is for advanced surfers only. Swimming is prohibited during high tide, but a fantastic experience at low tide when the beach emerges. The photo below was taken at low tide, otherwise the water crashes in above the rocks.

The path down to the beach is full of uneven steps taking you down the cliff through the surf shacks, restaurants, and vendor stands. There are many spots on the cliff above with prime spots to ogle the surfers below.

When the tide goes out, a few lagoons emerge on the near side of the reed that are deep enough to swim in and the view of the surfers and fishers coming in to shore is surreal because they are walking in on top of the reef, appearing to be walking on top of the water.

As with other beaches, be prepared to pay 3,000 Indonesian rupiah for parking a moped here.

Overall impressions:
Low key, beautiful views, surfing only during high tide, swimming possible during low tide, lots of vendors, bigger town scene.

Padang Padang Beach
Padang Padang is a small beach on the way to Uluwatu. The road crosses a bridge that doubles as moped parking for the beach below. As with all places in Bali, you must trek the stairs down either side of the bridge to reach the sea below.

Padang Padang is very swimmable and great for novice surfers. Food and sarongs are available on the beach from the one shop present. Parking here is free but there are many monkeys in the area who will take anything you leave unattended at the top.