Tibumana Waterfall has been in Bali for thousands of years, but its relatively secluded location means that it barely sees any visitors.
This is a real shame because it’s a lovely drive to get to Timbumana Waterfall and once you’re past the charming villages, the rice terraces, and the palm tree-lined road, you can enjoy a simple hike into the jungle to find this beautiful place.
Here’s everything that you need to know to plan a trip to beautiful Tibumana Waterfall, Bali. You’ll be the envy of your friends if you go.
Where Is Tibumana Waterfall, Bali?
Tibumana Waterfall is in Gianyar. That is in the central part of Bali and it’s about 45 minutes from Ubud and about an hour and a half from the beach destinations of Canggu, Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, etc.
The address of the Tibumana Waterfall is Jl. Setra Agung, Apuan, Kec. Susut, Kabupaten Bangli, Bali 80661, Indonesia
How Do You Get To Tibumana Waterfall, Bali?
The best way to see any of the Bali waterfalls is to join an organized tour which will take you to some of the other attractions nearby and provide a guide to help you get the most out of your day.
We recommend that you contact the Bali Res Centre (whose contact details are in the FAQ section below) to book a tour.
However, we’re not kidding when we say that this hidden waterfall is off the beaten path and that means there aren’t many tours that go to Tibumana Waterfall.
So, you might want to consider booking a private car and a driver to get there instead. It’s going to be cheaper than a taxi or ride-share and a driver will wait as long as you need at each place without moaning about the lost income from waiting.
You could also take a scooter to Tibumana Waterfall but we recommend that you don’t. It’s hard to be road-legal in Bali and if you’re not legal, you’re not insured.
Given that you must be sober, wear a helmet, have a current International Driver’s Permit (IDP) and a current license with a motorbike endorsement (a car license is not good enough) to be road legal – most people shouldn’t rent a scooter or motorbike in Bali.
In addition, the roads are not in good shape and local drivers tend to ignore or reinvent the rules of the road and accidents are common.
Even experienced riders struggle to stay safe on Bali’s roads and newbies should simply avoid scooters and motorbikes to stay safe.
Is There A Car Park At Tibumana Waterfall, Bali?
Yes! Among the rice fields and local palms, there is, indeed, a car park, especially for this waterfall. It also has a tiny shack there to take the entrance fee.
We wouldn’t recommend leaving anything of value in your car here if you leave the car unattended, it’s unlikely that anybody will try to break into the car but there is very little security here.
How Much Is The Tibumana Waterfall Entrance Fee?
If you want to park a vehicle it will cost 5,000 IDR for that.
The Tibumana Waterfall entrance fee is just 10,000 IDR per person (an amazing value entrance fee in our book compared to some other Bali waterfalls) and then you will need to pay 5,000 IDR if you want a locker in the changing rooms.
You should expect to pay your entrance fee to this waterfall in cash and that means visiting an ATM before you arrive (there is no ATM nearby) and they do not take cards.
When Is Tibumana Waterfall Open?
This hidden gem of a waterfall is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the year except during the Hindu festival of Nyepi, the “Day of Silence”.
As nobody is allowed out of their home or hotel on this day, it won’t come as a huge surprise that you can’t go to Timbumana Waterfall.
The little hut that collects the Tibumana Waterfall entrance fees may not be open when you arrive at Timbumana Waterfall in the early morning, so please make sure that you pay before you leave.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Tibumana Waterfall, Bali?
There is no best time to visit Tibumana waterfall in terms of time of year. In fact, this is true of all the best Bali waterfalls.
While it’s not going to be great if it’s raining, the rainy season provides on average 9 hours of sunshine each day – it won’t rain all day long at Tibumana Waterfall.
We’d also note that it does rain during the dry season, it just doesn’t rain as much.
However, as with everything in Bali, if you want a quiet place with no other tourists around – it’s always best to get there early in the morning.
This is also the best time for photography as it ensures you get that magical “golden hour light”.
What To Bring To Tibumana Waterfall?
There’s not much at this waterfall other than a changing room so we’d recommend that you bring:
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Swimming clothes
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A change of ordinary clothes – if your clothes get wet they may struggle to dry in the humid climate, stay comfy and bring a change of clothes
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A camera and your camera kit – ideally in a waterproof bag
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Towels – it’s nice to dry off after swimming
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Snacks and drinks – you don’t need to bring a lot but there’s no canteen or warung here
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Decent shoes – nobody will stop you from wearing thongs but it’s easier to make the hike in decent shoes
What To Expect At Tibumana Waterfall?
You will follow a winding path with some stairs down and around the cliff face until you get to the waterfall.
It’s about a 15-minute walk from Tibumana Waterfall to where you park your car and vice-versa.
That means you should allow, at least, half an hour for your visit to Tibumana Waterfall and assuming you want to enjoy the falls after your journey through endless rice fields, you probably want to give yourself 30 minutes to an hour to actually relax and enjoy the natural rock pools, the bamboo bridges, exotic vegetation, etc.
The path itself is beautiful and you will be surrounded by bird song and all the butterflies playing happily in the sunlight. It’s absolutely gorgeous and it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best waterfalls in Bali to visit as you walk down.
It really ought to be one of the most popular waterfalls and it probably will be one day.
It’s one of the easier walks at waterfalls on the island and while it is definitely not wheelchair accessible, almost anyone who can walk and has a basic level of fitness should be fine to tackle this walk.
We would note that if it rains, things can get a little slippery and it might be a good idea to wear some shoes with grips rather than thongs.
Once you arrive at the fall itself you will find it’s a single cascading column of water if you arrive in the dry season but that it’s a pair of columns in the wet season!
You’re fine to swim here and there’s a changing room and lockers available to change in.
There’s always one of the local villagers keeping an eye on things too just in case anyone runs into any trouble in the water.
Taman Sari Waterfall
This amazing nearby waterfall is on the same road as Tibumana Waterfall and it would be a real shame to come all this way and miss out on it.
It’s very close by and if you drive to Tibumana, there’s a sign for Pengibul Waterfall or Taman Sari on the right.
It’s a simple waterfall with a pair of steps flowing down over the rocks and uniquely for a Bali waterfall, there’s no entrance fee here!
Photography Tips For Tibumana Waterfall
The light is pretty good for most of the day at Tibumana Waterfall though it’s definitely best in the golden hour of the morning.
The sun’s rays pass through the waterfall and are split into a prism of coloured rays. It really does feel like something out of a fairy story.
We recommend shooting your model in the fall with a wide-angle lens to get a sense of the majesty of this waterfall and then using a zoom lens to get some close-up shots that look great on Instagram.
There’s no doubt that camera equipment and water generally don’t mix well, so it’s best to keep it away from the water spray if you can.
Best Equipment For Photography At Tibumana Waterfall
A wide-angle lens – this is the perfect tool for an environmental portrait that captures your model and the waterfall in a single image. However, there is a tendency for these lenses to fail to flatter the model and they definitely make the waterfall the star of any image.
A zoom lens – this one will make your model happier, it’s a much more flattering way to shoot a person’s face and it will make them the star of the image, something very important for a great Instagram shot.
A tripod – long exposure shots of waterfalls are awesome because they turn the water into a creamy-looking flow, rather than the harsh and angry flow that you get with a short exposure. You can’t handhold for this kind of shot, though, you need a tripod to keep the camera steady.
A circular polarizer and an ND Filter – yes, you can do this kind of thing in post-production but it’s better to take a good image first off and these two tools will ensure your water and sky colours pop and that you can shoot much longer exposures too.
Other Nice Waterfalls In Bali
Tukad Cepung Waterfall
This is a magical waterfall that is hidden among some rocks and which in the early mornings gets some truly unique sunlight that transforms it into a fairy grotto.
Tegenungan Waterfall
A beautiful and lush Ubud area waterfall with a genuinely captivating view. Get there at the start of the day for the best light and views.
Kanto Lampo Waterfall
This waterfall is tucked away in the heart of the Balinese rainforest and it’s famous for its incredible and iconic rock formations.
It’s not the easiest waterfall to get to but it’s a journey worth making.
Aling Aling Waterfall
This is a beloved waterfall for cliff jumpers all over Bali. Local guides can show you how to act like a daredevil without any risk to your safety here.
Leke Leke Waterfall
This is a fantastic place to enjoy swimming around the base of a waterfall and exploring a secret cave too! It’s pure Indiana Jones territory.
FAQs
How Long Is The Hike To Tibumana Waterfall? How Long Does It Take To Walk To Tibumana Waterfall?
It’s just 15 minutes from the car park to the waterfall and it’s a very easy hike, though as with all waterfalls, the path can get a bit slippery when it’s wet.
How Do I Get To Tibumana Waterfall?
As we’ve said above the best way to enjoy Tibumana Waterfall is to either join an organized tour where the waterfall is a single stop in a larger itinerary or to hire a private car and driver.
We never recommend riding a scooter in Bali, we think the risks outweigh the rewards and we want everyone to have a safe holiday here.
What Is The Most Beautiful Waterfall In Bali?
We think this might be the most subjective question that anyone can answer.
The most common response is Sekumpul Waterfall and it’s certainly a very impressive fall which is a nice payoff for the adventurous and tricky hike that precedes it.
However, it’s fair to say that you could argue that any of the waterfalls in Bali are the most beautiful waterfall and the Tibumana waterfall location is a very lovely place, indeed.
It’s a picture-perfect waterfall and unlike Sekumpul, it’s not one of the top tourist attractions in Bali and that means you can enjoy the beautiful falls, rice fields, palm trees, plunge pool and swimming hole without the drawbacks of mass tourism.
How Do I Book A Trip To Tibumana Waterfall?
We always recommend that you book a trip in Bali via the amazing Bali Res Centre.
That’s because it’s a locally owned travel service that has all the inside knowledge to ensure that your trip goes smoothly.
Their local connections also mean that you will get very competitive pricing for any service that you need.
Best of all, when you book with the Bali Res Centre, you keep your money in the Balinese economy and out of the hands of greedy, faceless multinational companies.
Final Thoughts On Tibuman Waterfall
Tibumana Waterfall is a real gem of the Balinese countryside and one that, for now, is not on most tourist’s radar.
A trip out to this waterfall is very much worth including on your Bali itinerary!
