The southern peninsula of Bali is one of the most beautiful regions on the island. Comprising Uluwatu, Pecatu and Ungasan localities, the entire Bukit (Indonesian for peninsula) is home to some of the most stunning cliffs and a vibrant surf scene. During my last trip to Bali I decided to stay at Uluwatu for a couple of days and explore the region a bit more than I had done on my previous trips. Those two days and my experiences from previous visits have made Uluwatu one of my favourite areas in Bali. This place has a little bit of everything for every kind of traveler. Here is a list of my five best things to do in Uluwatu.
Visit the Uluwatu Temple
The most iconic location in Uluwatu is the Pura Luhur temple which is located on the Uluwatu cliff. This is one of the most sacred temples of Bali and is among the main attractions for visitors on the island. The views from the temple and along the entire cliff edge are quite spectacular. The monkeys all over the place can sometimes be mischievous but overall they are harmless if you keep distance. During the sunset time, the place comes alive with the Cecak dance performance by the local troupe and it is quite a unique experience. Whether you are driving by The Uluwatu temple is easy to reach as it is the most popular location in the region. A visit to this temple is highly recommended for anyone traveling to Bali.
Visit GWK Culture Park
When I visited Uluwatu way back in 2015, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Culture park was in its early stages of development. Today, the GWK Culture park is one of the most popular attractions in Bali. This culture park is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and his mount or vahana Garuda. There are statues of these Gods and of course the main highlight is the tall structure of Lord Vishnu and Garuda which is visible from far across Bali. The statues are quite impressive and one can even say are architectural marvels. Also, at the entrance of the park, there are walls depicting tales of Hindu mythology such as the Samudra Manthan.There is a rooftop restaurant within the complex with 360 degree views from the top where you can cool off after exploring the entire place. I rarely recommend manmade structures and complexes but this is definitely a must visit place in Bali.
Catch a Sunset from the Cliffs
The cliff tops along the entire coastline of the southern peninsula are truly beautiful to say the least. Some of the cliffs are located a bit away from the main roads and take some effort to get to. But the journey to these spots are absolutely worth it, especially if you are trying to catch the sunsets. The sunsets are truly magical from the cliff tops with spectacular views of the ocean from every corner. The Karang Boma cliff is the most popular among sunset and photography enthusiasts. Witnessing the sunsets from these cliffs is definitely an unforgettable experience.
Explore the Coffeeshops
Exploring the coffeeshop and cafes is something I never miss doing while traveling to any destination. In Uluwatu, I made a conscious effort to visit as many coffeeshops as possible and I was quite amazed with the impressive coffee culture in this part of Bali. Quite a few casual cafes and coffeeshops can be found in Uluwatu, Ungasan and Pecatu. So if you are a coffee lover then do visit the coffeeshops and spend a few moments with some wonderful aromatic coffees. My personal favourite is the Winter Cafe, a tiny little place with cozy snow-cabin like interiors. Their coffee was just too good and the collection of cakes were quite lovely too.
Explore the Beaches
Uluwatu is blessed with a beautiful coastline and has some of the most stunning beaches in all of Bali. Because the coast is entirely along the cliffs, the beaches do need some effort in getting to. Especially the most secluded and peaceful beaches such as Nyang Nyang beach and Green Bowl beach. These two beaches especially are my personal favourites because of the rustic tropical feel to them with no loud music or party crowds around. The other popular beaches such as Bingin beach, Pandawa beach, Padang Padang beach, Suluban beach and Dreamland beach are perfect for surfing and you will find a lot of surfers in these places. Swimming however is not recommended in any of the beaches because of the rocks beneath the water.
I am sure there are a lot of other places to see and things to do in Uluwatu region. For party lovers there is always Savaya which I hear is quite the place to let your hair down post sunset. Besides that, there are a lot of picture perfect spots in this region for die-hard instagrammers such as the road to Pandawa beach. Although honestly, I was not that impressed with Pandawa beach as it felt a bit too commercial to me while approaching the place. But overall, I loved my time in Uluwatu and it is a place where certainly I could stay longer. It is a perfect antidote to the crazy stretch of Kuta-Legian-Seminyak-Canggu.
