There are a lot of beaches in Bali, but there are only a couple where it’s possible to go dolphin watching and Lovina Beach is the main destination for folks who want to see these awesome creatures in the wild.
But there’s more to Lovina Beach than just dolphins and our guide will help you get the most out of this less-visited area of the island.
Where Is Lovina Beach?
Lovina Beach is a series of beaches in North Bali around a series of small villages that run parallel to the shoreline.
These villages are steeped in traditional Balinese culture but are starting to adapt to the needs of tourists and wherever you are in the area, you won’t be far from free WiFi, sun loungers and great restaurants serving nice food.
If you head slightly inland from the beaches, you will discover rice paddies, mountains and temples too. The area is
How To Get To Lovina Beach?
From Ngurah Rai International Airport it’s best to arrange a private car and driver who will undertake the long drive to Lovina Beach for a fixed price. It will take about two hours in ideal driving conditions but can take longer if traffic is bad.
You can arrange this service before you reach Bali through the Bali Res Centre (their contact details are in the FAQs) or you can engage a private driver at the airport, be warned that you are likely to pay much more if you opt to get a driver at the airport than booking one in advance.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Lovina Beach?
If you want to visit this nice beach in Bali, there’s no bad time of year to visit and while it’s fair to say that you will get marginally less sun during the rainy season, you will still get around 8 hours a day at that time of year.
However, if you come in the dry season, you may find that it’s less humid and that it’s a little cooler thanks to an onshore breeze. This comes at the price of increased airfares and accommodation fees, mind you.
Normally, we also advise people to visit places in the early morning to avoid the crowds but because all the tourists head to Lovina Beach for dolphin tours, it’s actually less busy in the middle of the day before the boats return.
Things To Do On Or Near Lovina Beach
Lovina offers plenty of things to do and some of the highlights include:
Swimming & Snorkelling
It’s a beach and while there’s almost no surf, that’s a good thing if you love swimming and snorkelling as you can do these things to your heart’s content in Lovina.
Just make sure to stay away from the boats as they go out in the morning to watch the dolphins and you will have a safe and enjoyable time in the water here.
It’s a great area for children to learn to swim or snorkel too, but please don’t leave them in the water unsupervised.
Sunbathing
We strongly recommend the use of suncream here in Bali if you want to sunbathe as the sun is fierce and the UV index can be very high, particularly in the dry season.
However, we think it’s great to spend some time on the sand soaking up the sun’s rays and letting your body produce loads of natural vitamin D (which is said to help your body fight off infection).
Water Sports (Especially For Little Ones)
Given that there’s not much in the way of heavy waves or surf, this is a great area of the island to spend some time learning water sports and this is particularly true for kids.
There are plenty of schools around the beaches here that will be ecstatic, for a small fee, to teach your children anything they want to learn.
Dolphin Watching Trips
The big draw of this area is dolphins and boats leave the local harbour every morning to follow the dolphins through the marine environment.
Some people say that this might cause the dolphins distress, but they don’t seem that bothered and continue to make an appearance every day and swim alongside the boats for a couple of hours.
Just please don’t try and touch, feed or interfere with the dolphins as that might cause them distress.
Sunset Watching
There’s nothing like grabbing a stool at one of the local beach bars and watching the sun go down over the Indian Ocean with a cold beer or cocktail in hand.
Bali has some of the world’s most spectacular sunsets and it would be a shame to miss them in Lovina.
Cooking Classes
The Adjani Bali Cooking School is here and they offer an excellent 3-hour class where they teach you to prepare a full 5-course Balinese meal!
This class will take you to the local market to source ingredients before you cook.
Volcano Treks And Hot Springs
You’re not far from Mount Batur in Lovina which means you can always combine a visit here with a volcano trek (it’s reasonably easy to get to the summit of Mount Batur) and then hit the hot springs after your climb to soak out any muscle aches.
Where To Stay Near Lovina Beach
There are plenty of comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi in this part of Bali and many of the hotels have onsite pampering services for spa treatments, etc. too. Some of our favourite places to stay include:
The Lovina – with breathtaking views of the sea and the mountain range behind it, this is a great hotel to stay in. It provides free use of snorkelling gear, bikes, and kayaks and has a 10-seater airport shuttle service too. There are 91 luxury villas and suites to choose from and not only is this an ideal location to explore the area from but the prices are far lower than in the South of the island.
The Damai – this boutique resort consists of just 14 exquisitely appointed villas and sits in a beautiful tropical park with wonderful views of the coast and the volcanoes of Java. The onsite restaurant uses ingredients grown in their own gardens and farm. If you want an escape from the rat race, you can’t go wrong at The Damai.
Bali Paradise Hotel Boutique Resort – the pool here is huge and it has an excellent bar to enjoy refreshing drinks while you swim. The hotel offers some of the best service in Lovina and the onsite restaurant offers really good food. They also have a pool table, ping ping table and many other entertainment options – it’s ideal for a family getaway.
Puri Bagus Lovina – this charming resort offers villas and suites as well as pleasant yoga lessons by the beachfront pool. There’s a lovely garden for you to wander through and the hotel environment is very quiet and peaceful. Try the “romantic dinner” if you go as a couple, they will even send a guitarist to serenade you!
Rambutan Hotel – situated in Central Lovina and managed and owned by the local family Richard and Tini, this is a very nice resort. There are two onsite pools and a fantastic spa and they even have a room for live music. We liked that they have a pool table and badminton court for guests too.
Where To Eat Near Lovina Beach
You can also get plenty of tasty food within a short distance of the beach and some of our favourite restaurants in this area include:
Secret Garden Restaurant – this is a beautiful place to eat, nestled in a “secret garden” away from the main streets, it has a cosy vibe and exceptionally good food for the area. Try the seafood curry and a side of chilli prawns if you’re interested in sampling the catch of the day. It’s a bit pricey for Lovina but we felt that it was very good value for money overall.
Jaring Kitchen & Drinks – this is a pleasant local warung that serves both Indonesian food and a more international menu. It’s a great place to go with kids who are fussy eaters or for some traditional local food in a place with a warm and welcoming environment. Try the Ayam Kecap if you like chicken and wash it down with some of their excellent (and very generous) cocktails.
AKAR Cafe Lovina – this is the place to go if you’re vegan or vegetarian. The menu has a strict emphasis on plant-based grub and certain dishes are said to have healing properties too. Their vegan chocolate ice cream is the perfect accompaniment to a hot and sunny Bali day.
Buda Bakery & Resto – this upstairs restaurant has some lovely views over the area and the bread and pastries are first-rate. If you’re hoping for a great bakery, you just can’t go wrong at Buda and their breakfasts are top notch too.
Warung Ibu Wina – this is a wonderful local place that serves tasty traditional Indonesian dishes and the atmosphere is convivial and welcoming too. They have an open kitchen, so you can be certain that the ingredients are fresh and that they’re adhering to hygiene standards. Their Nasi Campur is excellent and the seafood basket is a great way to sample Bali’s marine life on a plate.
Some Great Beaches In South Bali
Berawa Beach
This black sand beach is home to FINNS and is one of the most popular destinations on the island. Surfers love Berawa for its breaks and everyone loves sitting on the sun loungers at FINNS with a cocktail in hand watching the sunset. There’s not much of the old Bali in this area, but if you want a year-round warm welcome, you will always find it in this area.
Uluwatu Beach
Uluwatu Beach is a surfer’s paradise and the site of many international surfing events. It’s a little bit off the beaten path compared to the main beach towns but it’s becoming increasingly popular as word gets out about how pleasant the sand can be.
Nusa Dua Beach
Nusa Dua Beach is often considered to be the most attractive beach in Bali and it’s home to many high-end resorts and families often choose Nusa Dua as their holiday home away from home.
FAQs
Is It Worth Going To Lovina Beach?
Yes! If you’ve never seen one of Bali’s black sand beaches, this is a great place to experience it for the first time.
A dolphin tour is an amazing experience and Lovina is yet to really suffer from mass tourism which makes it great value for money too.
In fact, we might go as far as to say that for most travellers this is a hidden gem and it’s worth more than a day trip.
What Is Lovina Beach Famous For? What Is Lovina Beach Known For?
Lovina Beach is best known for its dolphin tours and black sand. The area is not on the main tourist trail in Bali, yet and offers a quiet and laidback experience compared to the beach towns of South Bali.
Can You Swim In Lovina Beach? Is Lovina Beach Good For Swimming?
Yes, you can swim at Lovina Beach. In fact, the waves here tend to be very mild (which isn’t great for surfing, mind you) and you can easily swim or snorkel in the water just off the beach.
However, though it’s safe for children, we’d recommend that you keep an eye on your kids and don’t let them swim unsupervised, the ocean here in Bali can be unpredictable at times.
How Do You Get Around Lovina Bali?
We would recommend hiring a car and driver throughout your stay near Lovina Bali.
That’s because this area of North Bali has very few taxis and no real public transport that you can flag down and it’s quite spread out, so you might need to walk a long way between places.
Also, the roads aren’t in the best condition in North Bali which makes riding a scooter somewhat dangerous – it’s better to pay a little extra for a car and avoid having to claim on your travel insurance for an accident.
If you get the best flight deals from the Bali Res Centre, that should help to pay for your transport in Lovina, Bali.
Where Is The Best Beach Club In Bali?
The best beach club in Bali is the world’s best and that’s FINNS in Bali. While Lovina Beach is a beautiful beach, it’s not famous for its club environment.
That’s why we recommend a two-centre holiday in both South Bali and North Bali where you can enjoy the excitement of FINNS and the busier beach towns and then head to Lovina, Bali for the famous dive sites, vibrant marine life, dolphin watching, rich cultural heritage, etc.
How To Book A Holiday In And Around Lovina Beach
We always recommend that you book your holiday through the Bali Res Centre. They can get the best flight deals, the most competitive pricing on hotels, resorts and villas, and arrange transport from Denpasar airport and a private car to get you around too.
However, you should arrange your own travel insurance when you come to Bali and make certain that it covers everything you intend to do on the island.
After all, lounging by the pool of your two-bedroom villa in Central Lovina is markedly less risky than volcano treks that end with you plunging into hot springs and the costs of your travel insurance should reflect that.
Final Thoughts On Whether To Visit Lovina Beach
Lovina Beach is a delight to explore and it’s a part of Bali that many holidaymakers will never see. It’s a fantastic place for water sports, diving among coral reefs and seeing dolphins.
This coastal area is the “real Bali” and we’re not sure how much longer it will stay off the beaten path, particularly if plans for a new airport in the North of the island go ahead.
So, why not visit Lovina while you still can? It’s worth more than a day trip, we think.
