Pandawa Beach in Bali used to be a real challenge to get to and was considered a “secret beach”.
But recent developments have made it much easier to access, and that’s great news for tourists and here’s why.
Where Is Pandawa Beach?
Pandawa Beach is just 8 kilometres to the south of Nusa Dua. It’s on the Bukit Peninsula which is on the southernmost edge of Bali.
How To Get To Pandawa Beach
If you want to get to Pandawa Beach, you’re going to want a Grab or Gojek ride from the beach towns or if you’re coming from further afield, you will probably want to rent a private car and driver.
Large Carved Limestone Cliffs Over The Indian Ocean
On the way to the beach, you follow some of the nicest road leading through the carved-out cliffs which were remodelled to allow easy access to what was once, a very difficult-to-reach beach.
The sides of the cliffs have been carved into “Pandawas” (which Pandawa Beach is named after).
A Pandawa is a hero from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. There are five of them here and thus, the beach is sometimes called Pandawa Lima. Lima is the Indonesian for “five”.
If you’re observant, however, you will count six, not five statues, but the fifth statue is not one of the heroes, it’s Dewi Kunti, who is the mother figure in the tale.
There is also an empty arch, which seems to have been intended for Pandu, the father in the tale, or, perhaps, Madri who was the secondary mother figure in Mahabharata.
You can stop by these sculptures to get some wonderful photos and they can also be seen from the sand on Pandawa Beach where you can get some equally dramatic shots.
The Fork In The Road At Pandawa Beach
After the statues, the road splits in two and one heads East to a bunch of local stalls serving local cuisine and cold drinks. They also rent some sunloungers and shades out to tourists, here.
If you go West, you will find that the beach is a little cleaner, the warungs a bit more upmarket (and more expensive) and some excellent places where you can rent water sports activities gear such as a sea kayak.
What’s The Best Time To Visit Pandawa Beach?
There is no bad time of year to visit Bali and the same is true for Pandawa Beach.
While it does rain a little more during the wet season, you will still get 8 hours of sunshine most days which is more than enough to spend some quality time on Pandawa beach.
You will also find that the rainy season offers cheaper deals on accommodations and flights.
The dry season, on the other hand, is drier, cooler and less humid but more expensive.
You can have a great time on Pandawa Beach at any time of the year thanks to Bali’s tropical weather.
Is There An Entrance Fee For Pandawa Beach?
Yes, the entrance fee for Pandawa Beach is 15,000 IDR per person. That’s $1 USD or $1.50 AUD, so it’s not expensive.
If you want to park your car, it’s another 5,000 IDR ($0.33 USD or $0.50 AUD) and scooter parking is 3,000 IDR ($0.20 USD or $0.30 AUD).
You can also rent a sun lounger and an umbrella for about 50,000 IDR (that’s $3.50 USD or $5 AUD).
What To Expect At Pandawa Beach
The beach is long and sandy and you can enjoy sunbathing at any time.
The water varies between blue and green as you walk the sand but there’s no real difference between either colour in terms of safety, etc.
You can swim safely near the shore, but we’d limit swimming to days iwth low levels of wind, this area is subject to strong ocean currents at times.
Renting a sea kayak is a great way to enjoy the water otherwise, and the reef breaks make this an excellent area for surfers, though we should warn you that the strong currents mean this is an excellent area for advanced surfers.
Other than that, this beach has only recently been developed and there’s not a huge amount to do except enjoy some grilled seafood, shop for colourful Balinese waistcloths at the local stalls, or talk life vests with the folks at the gear rentals place.
So, sit back and relax, and enjoy the hero characters looking down from above you and the beauty of this superb beach.
If you’re looking for local seaweed farmers, you might be better off heading to Nusa Lembongan.
A seaweed farm has been planned for this area of Bali for a long time, but it’s also subject to the strongest Southern Ocean currents, which makes building such a project a bit trickier than anticipated.
As we go to press, there are no local seaweed farmers as there’s no seaweed farm here.
There are plenty of hotels in the area including:
Pandawa Hill Resort
Puri Pandawa Resort
Padma Pandawa Villa
Ocho Bali Villa
Timbis Homestay Bali
Where To Eat Near Pandawa Beach
There are also some nice places to eat within walking distance including:
Pandawa Beach Cafe feat. ST World
Pandawa Seaview
Teba Cafe Pandawa
Pandawa Breeze
FAQs
Is Pandawa Beach Worth Visiting?
Yes, Pandawa Beach is worth visiting. It’s a beautiful beach that was once one of the most secluded spots in Bali.
Today, thanks to the large carved limestone cliffs that form a bath to the beach, it’s much easier to get to.
Watch out for the amazing statues (the best manmade limestone features in Bali) in the deeply carved arches of the ocean-facing cliffs midway down the route.
If you like white sand, blue sea and lots of it, you’ll love Pandawa Beach.
How Was Pandawa Beach Road Made? Where Is Pandawa Beach Road?
The road was carved out of the cliffs before the asphalt was laid on it.
This makes it one of the nicest and best-maintained roads in Bali and it’s a very smooth drive along smooth asphalt roads to get to Bali’s Pandawa Beach.
What Is The Most Quiet Beach In Bali?
Pandawa Beach was once one of the many secret beaches in Bali that would have been in contention for this title but now, even though it’s a picture-perfect beach with impressive terrain and awesome reef breaks, it’s no longer quiet.
When a beach is this good and easy to get to, it’s no surprise that it becomes popular. The first time you reach a vantage point that gives you a birds’ eye view of the beach, you will understand why it’s so popular too.
This leaves other beaches as contenders for the title and we think Green Bowl Beach is probably one of the quietest beaches in Bali.
This is, in part, because if you want to enjoy the beach, you’ll need to spend 10 minutes climbing down the super steep stairs to get to the sand and it takes a lot longer to climb back up again.
Given that Green Bowl Beach is only 60 meters long, most people don’t bother, which means if you can make the climb down the cliffs, you can have it pretty much all to yourself.
What Is The Geology Of Pandawa Beach?
The geology of Bali’s Pandawa Beach is very similar to other beaches in the area, it’s surrounded by limestone cliffs and has beautiful white sand which consists mainly of crushed rock, coral, shells, etc. from the ocean.
What makes Pandawa Beach different is that in order to access it, you drive down an artificial slope feature that was carved out of the limestone cliffs and which features manmade limestone features. You won’t find anything similar on Kutuh Beach or any other beach in Bali.
What Are The Ocean Facing Cliffs Midway Down Pandawa Beach Road Made From?
They are made from limestone. This is the rock that makes up much of the Bukit Peninsula area and gives this coastal area such a stunning look.
How To Book A Bali Holiday Near Pandawa Beach?
We always recommend that you book a holiday in Bali through the Bali Res Centre. They can ensure you get a great place near Pandawa Beach with a lovely view of the Indian Ocean and access to international and local cuisine too.
The Bali Res Centre offers competitive pricing on hotels, flights, tours, etc. and they specialize in Balinese travel.
Final Thoughts On Pandawa Beach
Pandawa Beach is a lovely stretch of beach which looks awesome iin Instagram photos. A few years ago, it was super quiet and very hard to get to.
Now, it’s quite a bit busier but much easier to get to and the exotic combination of carved cliffs, white sands and blue seas make this coastal area one of the nicest places to spend time in Bali.
If you’re on the Bukit Peninsula, we’d recommend taking a little side trip to Pandawa Beach.
