Pantai Batu Bolong — Attraction in Pulau Bali

I have been coming here regularly for the past 5 years and am saddened with the development of mass tourism at this place, which was used to be very laid back and had a local atmosphere. Locals street vendors used to gather here and the public was very much local, too. Now it seems that every transaction here is meant for Western tourists.

Canggu beached are used to be covered by abundance rice fields and limitless coconut trees at her beaches, the saying goes. But now it is becoming, pitifully, more and more like her oldest sisters, Kuta/Legian/Seminyak. Here and there you can see pieces of rice fields, but villa's at various styles and sizes are becoming the dominant landscape. Surfers come for all over the world to use this place as their playground. Cafe's and Bar, all made to fit the western styles, are in abundance. I do not get this. If you are on holiday in exotic country, why on earth you want to have croissant with bacon for breakfast, mozzarella salad for lunch and spare ribs for dinner? Try nasi bungkus instead at local waroeng for € 0.4 ( Rp. 5.000). Try kopi tubruk (Balinese coffee) instead of espresso. And ask for a bike for transportation, instead of a motorcycle. Perhaps by doing this there is a vain hope that the damage is a little less than worst.

The mass tourism, wherein I, myself, also participate, has contributed to the loss of more and more rice fields or to put it more critically, the loss of Balinese' authenticity and its nature. How ironic the fate of Balinese. Thousand of years ago they run away from the influence of Islam by sailing from Java to be able to preserve its culture, only to be now slowly destroyed by mass tourism. This time, sadly, there is no escape...

A nice place to be with in Bali. This is the closest beach from the city area, only 20 km from core city. Most of the people come here for the sunbath, surfing and enjoying in the beach. Water is comparatively clean and have small waves which attracts the beginners to experience the surfing. There are availability of surf board and guide for the beginners with reasonable price to enjoy. The crowd is much more in the weekend, but no problem as this beach is wide enough to accommodate a thousand of numbers. The crowd is usually with the foreigners to enjoy the beautiful beach. So, think that you are not only a new person there, the rest are also the same. So, don"t hesitate to grab the new opportunity, to surf there. In addition, you can also enjoy with nature, clicking your epic pictures near to beach, with delicious food around. This beach is one of the enjoyable place to go. For the transportation, it is difficult to go with local transport. So, it is advised to book a rental car or bike (the best) to arrive there and also to avoid the danger traffic. Enjoy going to the beach and make sure your safety in the beach and follow the guidance from your surfing guide.

Enjoy to the highest...

Batu Bolong Beach in Canggu is an incredible spot. Yes, it gets crowded (like most places in Bali), but it’s well worth a visit. The sand is darker and a bit ashy, but the beach is relatively clean, and when I visited in August, the water was also clear.

Surfing here was an absolute treat. There are beginner-friendly point breaks right by the beach, making it a great place to learn. For intermediate surfers, it’s even better the waves are a decent size, A-frame, and deep enough that you don’t need to worry about shallow reef. It’s the perfect spot to practice turns and ride the face of the wave.

Because it’s a popular beach, it does get busy in the lineup. But if you come with the mindset of sharing waves, being respectful of locals, and just enjoying the Bali vibe, you’ll definitely catch some good sets. The breaking points shift, so there are always opportunities to snag a wave if you stay patient.

On the practical side, parking a scooter was easy, and surfboard rentals are available nearby. Overall, I absolutely loved Batu Bolong Beach and would recommend it for both surfers and those just wanting to get...