Canggu
With its hip vibe, surf beaches, cafe culture, yoga studios and organic ethos, it’s no surprise to learn that Canggu is also known as ‘Ubud by the Sea.’ Whether you want to learn to surf, practise your downward dog, grab a beanbag on the beach, browse the Sunday market, or simply soak up the bohemian culture, Canggu has much to offer.
In recent years Canggu has grown in both and size and popularity, thanks to its great surfing beaches, hipster cafes and chilled ambience. The area largely consists of a series of beaches, all with their own vibe, stretching from the northern suburbs of Kuta in the south, up to the island temple of Tanah Lot in the north. It’s worth noting that the beaches further north have much darker sand, but the surfing is excellent everywhere and if you’ve never surfed but would like to try, it’s a great place to book a lesson, grab a board and catch some waves.
The many surfers that travel to Canggu have brought a relaxed and bohemian style of beach life to the area. Yoga studios are now springing up all along the coast, so it’s easy to keep up your practise by taking a class. There are also lots of shopping opportunities in the growing plethora of ‘hippy’ style shops and markets, which are great for browsing artisan jewellery, organic foods, clothing, hand-crafted accessories and surf-ware. Both vegetarians and vegans are well-catered for in Canggu, although there is a wide range of restaurants to suit all palettes and budgets. Look out for the murals adorning the walls of the cafes and restaurants.
The beaches here are made for lounging and you’ll find plenty of beanbags and sunbeds to enjoy a cool drink while watching the surfers. As Canggu faces westwards, the sunsets are stunning and we’d recommend watching this natural wonder at one of the beachside barbecue bars, with a cocktail and a snack.
If you’re looking for some traditional Balinese culture, we’d suggest a visit to the famous Tanah Lot Temple, one of seven sea temples believed to form a protective ‘chain’ around the island. The temple is sited on a small island of rock, around 100-metres offshore, making it only accessible at low-tide. Built over 500 years ago, the name of the temple means, ‘Land in Sea’ and it is believed that a small spring of water at its base produces holy water able to cleanse away any bad spirits, making Tanah Lot one of Bali’s most important sacred temples. The best time to visit is sunset, where you can also see a traditional Balinese Kecak dance.