Known for sunset and surfing, Echo Beach is one of the many Canggu beaches stretching along the Indian Ocean and drawing thousands of locals and tourists to chill on a bean bag with some snacks and a cold coconut or test your luck catching a wave.
If you’re not sure what to expect from visiting this Bali beach, here is our insider guide on how to get the best things to do around Echo Beach.
Echo Beach Canggu, Bali – Pantai Batu Mejan
Echo Beach is one of a few black sand beaches in South Bali, sitting right on the river mouth.
Echo Beach is located in Canggu, between Batu Bolong and Pererenan Beaches, right at the end of the Jl Pantai Batu Mejan.
It is a great location, central to all the hustle of bustle of Canggu with a wide sandy beach with some rocks on the left side of the beach that are exposed during low tide.
Visitors then labeled this beach Echo Beach in early 2000s. once area started to transform from a dirt road through rice paddies to more modern surroundings.
Things To Know Upfront About Echo Beach Canggu
- Black sand beaches get really hot during the day, so be careful and wear some thongs.
The downside of the beach is that for sunset there are crowds. So come early to get a bean bag in the front row.
Amenities. Toilets are available but they are not the most pristine.
This is not a good spot for swimming for both kids and adults. You will see red flags on the beach with swimming sign crossed over.
Search for a guesthouse or homestay if you’re looking for more affordable accommodation.
Buildings and construction works keep popping up around Canggu, so if you want to relax during your stay around Echo Beach, make sure the location of your villa or apartment is in a quiet residential area.
How To Get To Echo Beach Canggu
You can get to Echo Beach by walking, or by using a private driver. Taxi apps are not allowed in the beach area, so you will have to stroll from the corner of the Batu Mejan and Batu Lingjong if you order Grab or Gojek.
Same for leaving the beach, if you want to use a taxi app you need to walk up the street to the turn where Garden Canggu Bali cafe is.
There is no free private parking. The public parking is available to everyone and it costs around 2,000-5,000 IDR (less than 0.5 AUD). If you are driving the car the parking entrance and exit can be a bit tricky, be careful.
From Ubud or international airport (Denpasar Ngurah Rai Airport), it takes around 2 hours, but only 15-20 min from Berawa, and around 30-40 minutes from Seminyak to reach Echo Beach.
Things To Do At Echo Beach, Canggu
Apart from enjoying the natural beauty of the ocean shore and coconut palms backdrop, or simply walking up and down the beach raised promenade path, there are a few popular things to do around the area.
Grab a Sunset Drink With Some Delicious Food
Friends and families come to this beach to watch the sunset. Children run around, play, and enjoy ice cream.
There are many local cafes with friendly staff and a variety of food and drinks to choose from, but you can also buy grilled corn from local vendors on the beach.
At night, there are so many lights lit, the beach scene is really warm and cozy!
Practice Surfing
Echo beach waves create a left-hand break that is great for advanced surfers. The best time for surfing is mid to high tide, as it is a reef break and during low tide you will be too close to the reef mass.
Echo Beach Surf Breaks
The breaks here are called River Mouth (on the right where the river is), The Sandbar (middle section beach break), and Echo Beach Left (reef break right in front on the end of the road).
It is best to paddle out around the centre, where the Sandbar break is located. For more experienced surfers, there are sometimes barrels to try around the river mouth. The waves are in general quite fast and hollow.
However, the waters are not clean year-round. During the wet season, there can be some trash and impurities in the water.
Bring your own board, rental services at Echo Beach are not as common as down at Batu Bolong Beach. However, there are a few surf shops at the street leading to the beach that do rent the boards out, like Boardriders Echo Beach.
Surf breaks from Canggu Beach to Echo Beach are rather crowded and you need to be ready to watch closely the people who may drop in.
Try Spa Treatments
After a long hot day on the beach, it is time to unwind and maybe even treat some sunburns with soothing aloe vera massage.
Tonic Massage and Botanicals is just 10 10-minute walk from the beach.
Shopping
Right before the beach, there are many multiple markets and it is a great place to buy silly souvenirs or summer accessories.
There are so many shops around Echo Beach, from surfboards to pharmacies, so you won’t be missing anything.
Restaurants To Try Around Echo Beach
Apart from food on the beach, there are more dining options up the street, including a restaurant serving Indonesian-style food – Teh Manis Bali, and a great spot for smoked meat and BBQ – Smoke Bali.
And walking to them you should absolutely grab an ice cream at Canggu Center Gelato.
When going to the beach early in the morning, you can grab a simple breakfast right on the beach or stop by Garden Canggu Bali, they have savoury breakfast options and smoothie bowls.
Accommodations Around Echo Beach
- Luxury Resorts. Get a room with a balcony to enjoy the views. The 5-star hotel also provides guests access to an infinity pool and a restaurant. They also often have a kids club so it is a great option for a family.
There are many private villas and apartments on Batu Mejan Street. It is best to choose a property that is a bit tucked away from the main street as it is still a very busy tourist street and it can be noisy at night.
Rooms will be available in budget-friendly guesthouses. Simple bedrooms can cost around 300,000 IDR (29 AUD).
Final Thoughts
Locals, tourists, and expats living in Canggu love visiting this beach.
Whether you love outdoor activities like surfing or just love chilling on the beach working on your tan, Echo beach is one of the Canggu beaches you can rely on for good sunset views and decent waves.
