Suwat Waterfall is one of the best waterfalls in Bali. Yet, for some reason, it’s never gained popularity with the tourist groups unlike some of the other waterfalls.
That means you can enjoy Suwat Waterfall in relative privacy and still get all the great shots you want at this highly Instagrammable waterfall.
It has a hidden natural pool and even a bamboo raft to enjoy as you luxuriate in the cascading water among the lush tropical foliage of Ubud. Here’s what you need to know about Suwat Waterfall.
Where Is Suwat Waterfall?
Suwat Waterfall is located in Gianyar Regency. That’s not far from Ubud by car.
If you want to come from the beach towns of Canggu, home of FINNS th world’s best beach club, Seminyak, Kuta or Legian it’s usually around an hour’s drive if the traffic is going your way.
How To Get To Suwat Waterfall, Bali?
You can reach Suwat Waterfall in Bali through any of the following means (listed in order of preference for most people):
Hire a private driver and car. This is, by far, the most convenient way to travel in Bali. It’s nowhere near as expensive as you might imagine it to be and it means your driver will keep an eye on your stuff when you visit different attractions and may even be able to offer some helpful tips or local knowledge. It also means that you are the masters of your own destiny – you can go anywhere and see anything and at your own pace. Given that Suwat Waterfall is a bit off the beaten path, you might want to explore the rest of this part of the regency before you return home.
Grab or Go-jek. The ride-sharing apps are the most popular way for most people to get around Bali. However, the downside of using these apps is that you’d better hope that the driver is willing to negotiate a return trip because you’re not likely to find too many drivers looking for business around Air Terjun Suwat. Once you’ve done that, you will probably spend nearly as much money as you would have done on a private driver in the first place.
Scooter. We never recommend that people use scooters in Bali and that advice doesn’t change. However, you can get to the waterfall using a scooter. But be warned, if you do ride in Bali, it’s quite difficult to be road-legal and if you’re not road-legal then any insurance that you think you have is worthless. You must also wear a helmet and not drive under the influence of anything. Given the number of ugly accidents that we see on Bali’s roads each year, we think it’s better to spend a little more and get a drive
When Is The Best Time To Visit Suwat Waterfall?
All waterfalls in Bali are best visited during the rainy season, that’s because the water flow is greatest at that time of year and thus, the waterfalls look more impressive in your photos.
Having said that, apart from a few minor waterfalls (and Suwat is not one of the minor waterfalls in Bali) they don’t dry up in the dry season and you should be fine to visit this waterfall at any time of year.
Then, there’s the time of day. Normally, we advise people to get to places in Bali super early to beat the crowds but, for now, at least, there aren’t really any crowds at Suwat.
So, the best time to arrive is around 2 p.m. give or take half an hour. If you are taking photos, you will be delighted by the light breaking through the water spray and the falling water itself in your shots.
You will, of course, need an ND filter or be prepared to do a lot of stacking if you want long exposure shots at that time of day to make the water appear smooth.
Because the waterfall doesn’t see many visitors, yet, it’s also a great place to work on your Instagram Game as your model(s) will be free to pose and have fun without disturbing anyone else.
What Are The Opening Hours Of Suwat Waterfall, Bali?
The opening times at Suwat Waterfall are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For the moment, there’s no need to rush there and turn up early to get some peace and quiet but in the future who knows? So, why not visit now?
What Is The Entrance Fee At Suwat Waterfall?
The entrance fee at Suwat Waterfall, as we go to press, is 15,000 IDR per person.
That’s about $1 USD or $1.50 AUD. This is paid on your way in the car parking lot.
Please bring the exact change in small bills to pay. You cannot pay by card and there are absolutely no ATMs near this waterfall.
If you don’t have change the attendant might not be able to break your bigger bills for you.
What To Expect At Suwat Waterfall
Once you reach the car park, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to follow the path down to the waterfall.
Air Terjun Suwat is just a short walk through a small bamboo forest and a range of other lush vegetation.
We’d recommend getting your camera out as soon as you start this 5-minute hike as the bamboo makes for some really good shots that you can’t get easily elsewhere in Bali.
Rock Carvings
Once you reach the waterfall itself, the first thing you should notice is the beautiful rock carvings that run all over the rock faces here.
Natural Pool
Next, you should find the natural pool and feel free to jump in for a swim but be warned, there are no lifeguards on duty here and you swim at your own risk.
There’s a bamboo raft floating in the pool and you’re welcome to use it to enhance your Instagram shots.
If you check to the side of the waterfall, there is a cave mouth and you can climb in and explore, but it can be quite hard to get to if the water level in the pool is low.
The sunlight doesn’t really get down into the area around the waterfall until about 2 p.m. but when it does reach the spray, it can create amazing rainbows of light that can really enhance your shots.
However, the more light that shines down, the harder it is to get the water to look clear and beautiful in your shots, so the extra light is not always a good thing.
Photography Tips At Suwat Waterfall
If you want to get the best photos at this waterfall we recommend:
Using a wide-angle lens – it’s the only way to get everything in the shot
Using a tripod – if you want the water to look smooth, you need to shoot long exposures and you can’t handhold them
Using an ND-filter – this will help reduce the light for long exposure shots
Using a CPL filter – this will reduce reflection in the water and help intensify the colour of the water and the sky
Note: As with all waterfalls spray can damage your equipment, we recommend using a weather-sealed body and lens or sticking to your smartphone for image capture.
4 Other Best Waterfalls In Bali
Goa Rang Reng Waterfall
This waterfall in a cave is a bit of an adventure to get to and it’s certainly more challenging than Suwat Waterfall.
However, it’s not far away from Suwat and the waters here are really clear and a striking shade of topaz.
It’s worth noting that you can only get to the Goa Rang Reng Waterfall by motorbike as the pathway is quite far from the road and not accessible by car.
Nungnung Waterfall
Nungnung is a truly amazing waterfall and it’s about an hour and a half drive to the North of Ubud.
If you’re going to visit, we recommend getting there in the early morning to avoid the large crowds and to get the best of the light for your photographs.
Be warned, it’s a bit of a hike from the road and if you have someone with motion impairment, they’re going to find it almost impossible to reach Nungnung Waterfall.
Tegenungan Waterfall
This majestic waterfall is surrounded by lush, green flora and framed almost perfectly by the rocks on either side.
It’s very close to Ubud which makes it a good choice to visit if you’re already visiting Suwat Waterfall.
Oddly, this is a great place for afternoon light and you will find that your images get a more vibrant, warm hue in the later part of the day, however, Tegenungan Waterfall does get markedly more crowded as the day draws on.
Kanto Lampo Waterfall
You’ll need to be pretty adventurous to visit this waterfall as it requires you to wade through a river (knee-deep) and then pass through a cave entrance to get there.
However, this multi-cascade waterfall is very much worth the effort and you will get some of the most dramatic images of a waterfall possible here.
FAQs
Can You Swim In Suwat Waterfall?
Yes! In fact, there’s a big natural pool which sits a level below the main waterfall and that means not only can you swim but even small children can swim safely at this waterfall.
Can You Swim In Waterfalls In Bali?
It depends Bali waterfalls are not all the same and while it’s perfectly OK to swim at some of the amazing waterfalls on the island, at others, you’re going to find that it’s not.
If you can’t swim, it’s usually because you can’t access the pool beneath the waterfall safely or because the cascade of the fall is so strong that it can cause injuries to people if they swim in the pool.
It’s worth checking before you visit any popular waterfalls as to whether or not you can swim if this is a big deal to you.
Can You Swim At Ubud Waterfalls?
You can swim at most Ubud Waterfalls and you can definitely swim at Suwat Waterfall.
However, you should check each Ubud waterfall on your itinerary as there are some waterfalls where swimming is not allowed for your own safety.
Is Suwat Waterfall Near Tibumana Waterfall?
Yes, Suwat Waterfall is just a few minutes’ drive from Tibumana Waterfall. It’s also near the Goa Gajah bat cave outside of Ubud and that means, you should easily be able to accommodate both of the Bali waterfalls and the hidden gem of a temple on a single outing.
How Do I Book A Trip To See Suwat Waterfall?
We always recommend that you book a trip to any waterfalls in Bali through the awesome people at Bali Res Centre. They can also arrange your flights and accommodation here in Bali at very competitive prices.
The Bali Res Centre is locally owned and operated and specializes in all aspects of Balinese travel.
Which Waterfalls Are Easy Access In Bali?
GitGit Waterfall is probably the easiest of the waterfalls in Bali to access. This beautiful waterfall is widely considered to be one of the best waterfalls in Bali too.
It’s a short and easy walk from the car park to the waterfall, however, as with all other waterfalls in Bali, you cannot get to GitGit Waterfall with a wheelchair and we’d urge caution visiting this waterfall with any kind of impaired mobility too.
Tegenungan Waterfall is also comparatively easy to get to and if you intend to explore Bali and its waterfalls, these two are a great place to start.
Final Thoughts On Whether To Visit Suwat Waterfall
We don’t know why Suwat Waterfall has failed to catch on with the public but it can only be a matter of time.
It’s one of the most impressive waterfalls on the island with truly breathtaking views and the natural pool (complete with bamboo raft) makes it a great place to take some wonderful photos too.
Nature lovers and Instagrammers are guaranteed to fall in love with Suwat Waterfall in Bali.
