Bali is one of my favorite places in the entire world, and one of the destinations that I would visit again. Here is my travel guide to Bali.
How to navigate Bali? Don’t let the word island confuse you, Bali is a very big island. Going through it with a simple bicycle covering all the distances, up hills, and rocks wouldn’t be wise, unless you are staying there for months and are very athletic.
Motorbike is the best option. You only need a normal drivers license and in some cases only ID. This is the most affordable option given the distance you will cover with it. Prices vary from place to place.
Public transportation: in Bali public transportation is bad, not frequent and unreliable. I myself took to the bus from the airport to the center of Bali for 3.000 ruphias... very cheap, but I would not take the bus ever again because it left me in a vey random spot, and it took very long. . In Bali there aren't traffic lights, to be able to use the crosswalk you have to wait several minutes or run very fast. It is very hard to find places, since sometimes the directions aren't correctly written as it shows on the map. I recommend to download an app like Maps me to use without internet.
In occassions by trying to help people send you in de opposite direction by accident or because they don't understand teh actual place you asked for, I wouln't do that unless the lace is too obvious or like b ig resort, complex.
Uber: it is very cheap and very fast.
taxi-motorbike: from and to the airport for 12.000 ruphias.
Where to stay in Bali?
best location: Depending on what you want to do. Legian is the most touristy area, usually where party people stay, and people who seek for quick access to the beach. If you want that calm atmosphere in the middle of the jungle then Ubud is your place to be, but you will be not very close to the beach and the access to it will always depend on a long ride.
The good thing about Bali is that you will be able to find very affordable stays with good quality.
For a very (VERY) tight budget there are Lowcost Bed and Breakfast,
If you wish to stay in Jimbaran the first night or the last night to be close to the airport (only almost 3 miles away) this is a very clean spot a few blocks away from the beach. I ignore if this is still functioning after COVID and how are the installations now, but you can check here: : Jalan Batur Sari, No 12 Kedonganan, Jimbaran, 80361, Indonesia. El teléfono internacional : +6281338999911
They have a terrace with beach chairs and comfortable sofas and from up there you can appreciate the locals authentic culture and day to day life since this is in a local area.
Couchsurfing is another option for adventurers backpackers when traveling for months. Using this platform back then I had the chance to meet and incredible Balinese girls who showed me the path to the beach and took me to a night market to try delicious typical Balinese meals. In Bali I was very fortunate, I was hosted in the most humble homes and witnessed gestures of great generosity.
Hanging Gardens of Bali
This is a luxury hotel very secluded in the center of Bali, in an area called Pajangan. With an infinite pool facing a breathtaking landscape. The vegetation is abundant. Prices start at $800 dollars per night. If you can stay here at least is worth a visit to eat at their restaurant.
Is Bali safe?
As a solo traveler in Asia, during the day it was easy to move, and in the contrary of wanting to take advantage of a girl traveling alone, they were very helpful and generous at all times. I would not go anywhere alone at night, especially if your stay is not located in Legian.
Get a guide:
My guide was in Bali was a very generous middle aged man that possessed high knowledge of the region and even the cola ones me different points of view regarding religion and politics in Indonesia. With his motorbike Ferdi, my guide, took me to lots of places that I’ll list along this guide. Even told me that the famous Ketut that reads your future, while alive, allowed ten people per day tu visit him at a very high price.
Best beaches in Bali:
Legian Beach
This is fun beach that I really liked because of its energy: colorful umbrellas extended along the shore, pillows and bars.
Happy people. Surf schools.
Legian is also is a very transited street in Kuta. Because if it’s tourism, here are the most expensive things. Prices are higher than in other places of Bali. There are international stores like Billabong, Quicksilver, beauty salons, wax, Hard Rock Café. Basically everything that is hard to find in other areas.
Negotiating here is necessary given that even at the hair salon they might want to doble the prices for tourists —did happen to me.
During the night there are plenty of bars in this area, live music, and even a nightclub called Sky garden with three levels: it is a very interesting place. If you go at 5 p.m the ticket is 50.000 ruphias and you can have an open bar with food buffet style (burgers, pasta, meat, etc.) until 9 p.m. they offer from cocktails to the popular local beer: Bintang. After 9 p.m the ticket costs 100.000 ruphias and there is only an open bar (no food) until 11 p.m. this is a touristy place and we here are almost no locals.
Jimbaran beach
this might not be the best beach in terms of turquoise waters, not even activities. I liked this beach because In Jimbaran there are not many tourists, I had the chance of witnessing a local baptism ceremony by the beach. It also offers a very romantic option after the sun sets. At this beach they set dining tables right on the sand to have dinner by the candle lights. The weather is so warm that is actually very pleasant to have a sea breeze and hopefully a full moon above your head while you savor exquisite authentic dishes.
Blue Cala Point Beach
It was my favorite beach the further south you go the clearer the water. The access to the beach is very tricky because is descending a cliff. There is a set of wooden steps built who knows when. Part of it is made with rocks. The steps are thin and narrow. It is very steep. It is recommended to use these steps barefoot or with closed shoes but not flip flops. Once you reach the sand there are wonderful caves awaiting for you. There is no public transport in this area. This is located over an hour away from Kuta.
It is ideal to spend a few hours here to enjoy cristal clear waters. Be careful with the water snakes hidden between the rocks. The water is very calm on the shore and has the perfect strong waves as our go further into the ocean and that’s why is the perfect spot for surfers. The entrance, where the steps to go down begin, is full of bars, on different levels.
As the sun starts to set the water rises covering the entire shore and filling the caves so it’s humanly impossible to stay after that without risking your life. The acces at the time is of course not permitted.
What to do in Bali?
Visit UBUD:
This is an area up north from Kuta (where Denpasar airport is) in the middle of the jungle, and you will find all the activities listed below.
Tegenungan Waterfall:
This is a precious waterfall, that it might not seem to powerful but safeguards hang out very close so the water won’t drag you and make you heat parts of your body against the sharp rocks
There is a cave behind the water falling. The price to have access is $20.000 ruphias.
If you wish to coin the hill that takes you to the top of the waterfall there is an extra ticket for other 20.000 ruphias
Tegenungan Rice Terrace :
The rice terraces are shocking to see for first time. They are overwhelmingly beautiful. You can descend through natural steps in the ground walking through the plantations. After the rain the water gets stuck on the steps, creating a beautiful reflexión., y brillan espejadas y plateadas.
Monkey Sacred Forest:
A forest inhabited by monkeys. You can see them jumping and carrying the baby monkeys. They are very cute but they also know how to steal food, and even devices. Ticket prices start at 80.000 ruphias.
Ubud Market:
New market in the center, on one of the main streets, with a huge selection and variety of products: blankets, vases, furniture, bags, clothing, food, shoes, spices, even animals. Here prices are higher because is where most tourists go due to its location surrounded by bars, restaurants and hotels. Here it is very hard to negotiate prices.
The old market, by the temples it is more local, old houses were acquired to build this market almost same products but at a better price, more of an authentic experience. I recommend both. The roughest part of traveling is to see how animals are sometimes used for selfish purposes, you will be able to see chickens with dyed hair for sell. Here is where I step to beg you to do conscious tourism and to not participate or be part in nay of this.
Ubud Palace
This is the residence where the royalty used to live, there are temples, an orchestra room filled with typical instruments of the culture., an auditorium, ancestral dances are practiced here as well.
The rooms where the members of the royal family used to sleep are not allowed to public.
BESAKI TEMPLE
Temples and houses that respect the tradicional architecture from past years and keep building the same style not to loose its uniqueness. This temple it is not close from the touristy area. It is about three hours away from Kuta. There are travel companies that take you here or you can drive with the motorbike. Or be driven by your guide in a motorbike if you have a guide. Please if you ever hire a guide or a tour do it through legitimate website (get your guide/viator). Don’t use anything that looks unreliable.
You can only access with knees and shoulders covered. The ticket is bought at the entrance. You can witness rituals from very close if happening in that moment. It is a sacred place. When walking in Bali you will notice little baskets full of fruit, plants, and incenses. This happens twice a day: morning and evening. This is an offering to the gods. At the end of every day piles of those baskets end up becoming trash. In this temple if you wash yourself with the water from the pool you are washing away impurities.
TANAH LOT
It is a temple on top of a cliff, right by the sea. If you are a lover of walks you can go from Kuta to Canggu where the temple is located. It is 6 kilometers away.
LUHUR ULUWATU
This temple is on top of a hill, on a rocky surface. Located in the south of the island, it is close to Blue Cala Beach if doing those two things in one day works for your itinerary not to go back and forth. The ticket is 30.000 ruphias. Shoulders and knees must be covered.
If you see to many temples in a short length of time the 5th temple visited might not seem that great because you start depreciation it. So take your time to do it. I do not recommend you to try to visit as many temples as you can in one day, take your time to absorb the experience.
Visit Gili islands and Lombok:
If you have a long time in Bali, Gili Islands and Lombok are good places to visit. These are very small islands close to Bali. Depending on the season and weather if ferry are doing trips to these islands. In order to take the ferry you have to go to the port on the east side of Bali. I would not trust to get the ticket online unless this is a legit website as Viator.com or Getyourguide.com, there is the option of getting it in a travel agency either at the airport or once in Bali. The boat takes up to two hours to go from Bali to Gili islands.
To go to Lombok the ride is 1 hour and 30 min.
In Bali the ancestral architecture is everywhere. The prayer chants will sound very early in the morning as a culture that is part Muslim. You experience so many acts of generosity that your heart opens. Bali is truly magical and trascendental.