Canggu, Bali, is the capital of the Bali Surf Scene, and if you want a great surf spot for an affordable price and as many waves as you can handle, then you need this guide.
We’ll walk you through the basics of surfing in Canggu, Bali and then explain all your options for a great surfing lesson (or lessons) here, too.
About Surfing In Canggu
Canggu is the perfect place for you to learn to surf. This isn’t something we say out of misplaced loyalty to our favourite part of Bali, and it’s because it’s true.
There are so many surf schools and camps that you cannot fail to learn to surf here if you want to.
However, not all schools are created equally, and it’s important to make some wise choices when it comes to your surfing instruction.
In fact, if you intend to sign up for a long series of private lessons or instructor-led courses, we strongly recommend that you try an individual surfing lesson at a given school before you make that commitment.
This allows you to find somewhere that teaches in a way that helps you learn.
And we’re all different in that respect. What works for the author may not work for you – so don’t be afraid to shop around and ask a few questions and even sample the lessons before signing on to a week-long program.
Beginners Through Intermediate And Advanced Surfers Will Be Happy
The surf breaks here in Canggu are nearly all “beginner friendly”, and that means you won’t be suddenly swept out to see or face a fifty-foot wave on your first day on a board.
Oddly, the very same beaches that are great for beginners are also good for intermediate and advanced surfers.
That’s because you can get good waves when the weather is a little choppier than usual.
For the would-be pro surfers with the experience to match, Canggu might not be challenging enough. However, if that’s how you feel after a couple of days in Canggu, try visiting Uluwatu and Keramas. They’re full on.
Equipment Rental Is Cheap
One thing you should be aware of is that surfing equipment is very cheap to rent, and as all you need is a board, you may want to hold off on buying your own board for a few days until you get a good feel for the kind of board that you want.
You can rent a board for a couple of hours for around 60,000-100,000 IDR (sometimes even less), and that’s such a trivial sum that it’s not worth worrying about.
One thing you should know is that it’s standard to allow you to swap the board for any other board with the same rental agent during the 2-hour period.
If you find you’re in an area where the board rental fees are much higher than normal, haggle. You’ll be amazed to learn that these fees are not fixed, and vendors will “price match” when given an incentive to do so.
There Are Lots Of Opportunities To Learn
You can get your first lesson from any old surf shack on the beach. They will provide a local instructor with their own board for around 300,000-350,000 IDR for two hours.
They can help you master the basics (such as paddling out from the shore) to more challenging aspects of technique, such as how to read the local waves.
However, these instructors are not usually involved in teaching long courses of lessons, and if you want a more joined-up learning experience, it’s best to visit one of the more formal surf schools or camps.
The Post Surfing Time Is Great In Canggu, Bali
Canggu is a vibrant place, and once you’ve spent the day showing off your new board skills, it’s time to party.
We recommend visiting the best beach club in the world, FINNS Beach Club, which is a Canggu classic place to hang out and enjoy the beach bars, restaurants and live entertainment in style.
We think that a lot of the reason that surfers come back to Canggu for years and years after their first visit is how much fun you can have when the surfing is done.
Many surfers say that Canggu is just way more fun than Seminyak and Uluwatu, which tend to see a more standard tourist and fewer surfers and digital nomads having fun.
New! FINNS Surf Academy
FINNS Surf Academy has just launched! It offers private surf development training programs and small group surf sessions, surf courses, workshops and retreats.
It’s aimed primarily at beginner and intermediate surfers seeking to learn for the first time or improve on their skills in a fun and safe environment here in Canggu.
Check the site linked above to find out the details of the latest events and how to book! It’s the best surfing experience in Canggu.
The 9 Best Canggu Surf Camps
Kima Surf Camp: Digital Nomad Heaven
This camp offers much more than a surf lesson a day to its students. It’s just a 250-meter walk from the beach, which is very handy if you like to get to the action immediately after instruction.
They have a great staff of professional surf guides that offer a full video analysis after your surf lesson to ensure that you know what to work on the next time you hit the waves.
We love that they provide a daily yoga class to help you stay flexible and keep your body well-toned for your time on the board.
They also have a co-working space for the digital nomad surfers out there. Best of all, there’s a complimentary breakfast each day, and they have vegan and vegetarian options for this!
If you want to stay at this camp, you can be assured that the accommodations here are first-rate, too.
In the afternoons, they offer access to a rock climbing wall and their own pool set-up (which consists of three well-designed swimming pools).
Rapture Surf Camps: Surf Lessons For Beginners To Advanced Surfers
Rapture is synonymous with surf culture in Canggu, and they offer everything from basic instruction to guided surf tours.
We can strongly recommend their 5-day beginners’ package, which teaches you all the things you need to have a good time on a board and stay safe while you do so.
They offer something for every surf level here, and their lessons are always on beautiful beaches with a great teacher.
It’s a very safe environment and has really good vibes, according to students and the camp manager.
We like that they offer free bikes to get around the local area as well as a boat shuttle service for the more advanced surfer.
Solid Surfhouse Canggu: The “One Package Fits All” Approach
This semi-private surf camp in Canggu is a wonderful place to learn the ropes of surfing, and they can provide a great social life when you’re not surfing, too.
The rooms here are quite expensive, but they do include the costs of the surf lessons in the room fees.
This amazing place is styled like an old-school Balinese place and it has very authentic vibes about it.
Their great teachers can offer everything from guidance to video analysis of your previous day’s surfing.
We think their daily yoga workouts are pretty good, too, and it’s nice to keep your body supple and flexible for when you wrestle that killer wave!
They say that they have a single “one package fits all” strategy which ensures that you get a bespoke service, no matter what level you already surf at.
Mojosurf Bali Surf Camp: Budget-Friendly Surfing Lessons
We’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that a surf camp can cost a ton of money in Canggu, Bali.
That’s because it tends to include everything you need, from food and drinks to instruction to your room, and this all adds up.
However, this camp is a bit different, and you can better tailor what you want from their program as well as opt for a dorm room to keep your accommodation costs down.
It’s an Australian-owned and operated joint, and they offer surfer instructor qualifications in addition to the standard surf lessons here.
One thing that all their previous students say about this place is how much fun they have when the day’s surfing comes to an end, and the socializing begins.
It’s one of the friendliest and most welcoming camps in Canggu.
Pelan Pelan Surf Camp: 8-Day Packages Of More Than Just Surf Sessions
The 8-day package at Pelan Pelan Camp is surprisingly good value and it includes all the lessons you need to really up your surfing game.
They are open to individuals, couples and groups joining their courses here, and the instructors are able to tailor the lessons to the level of the students with ease.
They have some cool additional activities here, such as Balinese cooking classes, as well as some excursions in and around Canggu.
And like many of the other camps here in Canggu, they also offer yoga lessons (included in the fee) every day to keep your body supple and your balance honed!
In Da Surf: Great Location And Equipment
Given its great location in Central Canggu, we thought that In Da Surf would be frighteningly expensive, but it’s not.
In fact, it’s very reasonably priced, and an 8-day course here is something of a bargain!
They offer a bespoke program to every surfer that passes through their doors where they tailor all the lessons to your individual needs.
The equipment here is world class and it’s nice to see a place invest so much effort in the details.
Former students tell us that they found it easy to make friends at this camp, too.
Surf Yoga Bali: Flexibility For More Than A Surfing Lesson
As you might expect from the name, this place advertises itself as a holistic surfing experience.
That really means that they balance the surf program with the yoga program to provide you with the skills and balance you need to perform brilliantly on a board.
The accommodation is very pleasant at this camp, and we like that they also offer some local tours and cultural outings while you’re there.
It’s nice to explore Canggu, not just see the waves.
Serenity Eco Guesthouse: 4-Day Solo Surf Lessons
This guesthouse is all about the solo traveller market, and they want to provide a course where anyone can turn up and learn surfing and yoga skills.
It’s also one of the cheapest ways to learn to surf anywhere in Bali, and a 4-day package here is incredible value for money.
Alright, the accommodation is fairly simple, but that’s fine. You’ll be too busy partying and having fun to notice.
If you want to connect with other surfers and have a great time while travelling alone – don’t miss this camp.
Wave House Bali: Upmarket Surf Lessons
Wave House has some of the best (and most expensive) accommodations of any of the camps in Canggu, and the whole place screams “bougie”.
However, the price premium also means you can get yoga and fitness classes, extra surf lessons, video analysis of each session, and so much more!
They offer a really cool program of excursions and have their own spa facility, so if you would rather get a massage after a morning on the board, you can.
We would note that they do offer discounts for returning guests and at the slower times of year, so you don’t have to break the bank on this camp unless you want to.
FINNS Recreation Club: Best Surf School For Daily Lessons
FINNS Rec Club is our last entry and we think the best. FINNS is not just the world’s best beach club. It runs one of the best surf schools and fitness centres on the island, too.
There are no accommodations at this school, though you can get yoga classes and great food, but the surf school is first-rate and it has amazing teachers who can really help tailor your learning program.
If you want to stay somewhere that’s less “surf-oriented” but want all the other benefits of camp, you want to come to FINNS Rec Club.
FAQs
Is Canggu Good For Surfing? Is There Good Surf In Canggu?
Yes! Canggu Bali is one of the island’s best surfing destinations. No matter what level your surfing skills are, there’s something here for you.
You can get surf lessons from a surf school on the beach with some of the best surf instructors on Earth. It’s easy to get private surf lessons and semi-private surf lessons, too.
There are even surf tours for experienced surfers to enjoy awesome waves and beach breaks that will really test their skills.
Where Can I Get Surf Lessons In Bali?
You can improve your surf skills almost anywhere in Bali and there is a surf school on nearly every beach in Bali.
However, Canggu offers some of the biggest choices and the best surf schools, and the surf instructors are among the best in the world.
Whether you’re a solo traveller looking for your first surf lesson or a group of pro surfers expecting to tap into local knowledge and enjoy an amazing surfing experience, Canggu, Bali, is a great place to come surfing.
Is Batu Bolong Beach Good For Beginners?
Yes. However, it’s worth noting that this one of Bali’s surfing spots is not without challenges.
Kuta and Seminyak beaches have more controlled environments for absolute beginners.
However, Batu Bolong Beach has amazing teachers and surf schools and you won’t find you’re lacking surf experience for very long, unless you want to.
Are Bali Surf Camps Worth It?
It depends on what kind of surfer you want to be. If all you want is a surf lesson or two and a few shots of you having fun at a surf spot – you don’t need to sign up for a surf camp in Bali.
Just book your lessons on the beach and enjoy.
However, if you want to build up your surfing skills to the point where you can surf anywhere at any time and with real skills? Then a surf camp is a great place for you to learn.
You will automatically get semi-private surf lessons from amazing surf coaches and surfing instructors on a level that competes with the best surf schools in the world.
How Do I Book A Bali Surf Camp Or Surf Lessons?
You can book directly with a surf school if you just want a single surf lesson, but if you want to get the best value for money or you want a series of semi-private surf lessons or private lessons or to attend a surf camp, it’s best to contact the Bali Res Centre.
That’s because the Bali Res Centre is a locally run business with a contact at each surf school that operates in the various surf spots around Bali.
And because they work with a variety of surf instructors and schools, they can get very competitive pricing for you, too. Bali Res Centre ensures that your time at the surf spots of the island is always value for money!
Final Thoughts On Getting A Surf Lesson At A Surf School In Canggu
If you want to learn to surf, there’s a surf school out there that can teach you how to get the most out of surf spots in Bali and the world at large.
You can try a single surf lesson to evaluate most schools before committing to something more expensive, such as a series of semi-private surf lessons.
There are also surf tours in Canggu, Bali, if you want to get out and about and experience the waves without all the instruction but still benefit from local knowledge.
Whatever surfing experience you’re looking for, you can find it in Canggu, Bali.
