If you’re looking for somewhere with awesome Airbnbs, great bars, top sunsets, organic eats and ever-changing waves, look no further than the Canggu surf. It’s got bowly waves to suit longboarders and wedges that are fast and fun. All levels will love it. The only downside is the crowds. But hey, it’s a vibe.
An introduction to Canggu surf
Ah, Canggu. Digital nomad mecca. The cool corner of the Bali south coast. Haven of yogis and laptop warriors. There’s lots to like in this part of the Isle of the Gods.
Once upon a time, this was the untrodden land beyond the chic resorts of Legian. It was a patchwork of rice paddies and fishing shacks and black-sand beaches. You’d be hard pushed to find any hint of that any more.
Today, roasteries and organic vegan kitchens mingle with artisan bakers and lively sunset bars in the ever-growing web of narrow roads behind the shoreline. Canggu is booming.
One of the reasons for that is the Canggu surf. It’s not the best on Bali, that’s for sure. But, on good days, there’s lots going for it. A series of spots string their way up the coast from south-east to north-west, starting with Berawa near Seminyak and ending with the challenging reefs of Echo Beach.
Variety is the keyword, because you get classic Bali rights off volcanic bottoms. You get glassy walls and A-frames that barrel. But you also get mushy lagoons where the surf schools of Canggu show beginners how to pop and stand.
There’s fantastic infrastructure in Canggu these days – or at least there is by Balinese standards. You can still expect mega jams on the roads in the morning and mid afternoon (when everyone’s returning from the waves). However, a HUGE selection of Airbnbs annd surf camps helps to balance that out.
Downsides include a growing localism attitude and kook slams on the beginner breaks. Still, it’s lovely here. It really is.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This is part of our greater guide to surfing in Bali – check there for more information on the other awesome surf breaks on the isle of the gods!
Canggu surf at a glance
The good:
The bad:
What’s in this guide to the surf in Canggu?
Where is Canggu?
Canggu is one of the main sections of the built-up south coast of Bali. Head north-west from Kuta and you’ll pass through Legian and Seminyak – both major hotel areas – before arriving. The transfer from the airport in Denpasar takes around an hour, but that’s mainly because the roads are usually clogged with traffic. You can book pre-paid rides to get there in the arrivals terminal. Fares should be about 225,000 INR (10-15 GBP). More on all that below…
How to get to Canggu?
Getting to Canggu wouldn’t be that hard if it weren’t for Bali’s infamous traffic. As it happens, it’s not that hard anyway, but it can be 1.5 hours in the car if you jet into Denpasar – the main airport – at a peak time. We actually kinda like rocking up about 1am because it means we can dodge that.
Of course, you have to get to Bali first. Flights from all over Asia and long-haul links from Europe go there directly these days. It’s actually among the busiest airports in Indo. We use Skyscanner to search for connections.
in normal traffic the drive from the airport to a hotel in Canggu will be about 40 minutes. There’s a cacophony of drivers waiting to drive you outside the terminals but we find it so stressful that we now always pre-book transfers. You can do that with a highly rated driver via Viator here.
The other option is rent your own car. That’s becoming more common in Bali since the local authorities moved to ban scooters. Still, you’ll need to be super confident driving in very busy conditions, on pretty bad roads. It’s not for the faint hearted. We use RentalCars.com for all our hires in Europe and Asia.
The best surf spots in Canggu
Okay, so there are a few secret waves still to be revealed in Canggu. We’re not gonna risk a scratched scooter to put them here. Hey, half the fun is scouting this lesser-known part of the Isle of the Gods to find them for yourself! However, there are three spots which lead the way for Canggu surf. They’re all popular, so expect crowds. They’re also all very different in shape, power and character. We’ve also thrown in another that’s lesser known but sometimes shows some nice walls.
Echo Beach Left
The farthest spot from the town of Kuta is also the most challenging wave in Canggu. A left-hander with plenty of kick as it rolls into shallow reef sections at mid and low tides. Expect short but fast rides through mini barrel sections when it’s overhead. On more relaxed swells, wax down the <6″ for the potential rippable walls. Hazards are underfoot rocks and rips. Some localism. NOT for beginners. Other peaks stretch up the beach too but these change with the sandbanks. Can be fickle so know what you’re doing.
Batu Bolong
Hate it or love it, Batu Bolong is Canggu’s most popular wave. We sigh at the sheer amount of people in the lineup some days. It’s simply not cool. Flying foamies and drop ins are the diet to expect. Rise for a dawn patrol and you could be rewarded with room for manoeuvre. Decently long rides come with the walling rights but there are also some peaks with fast lefts. Good for the longboard on slow days. Great for practicing ripping or sitting in the pocket. Underfoot is pebble and sand with some stone. The surf schools – and the crowds – will flock in the mid morning. There’s also an uber-beginner break just in front of Old Man’s Beach Club.
Berawa (Pantai Berawa)
The Berawa surf spot folds off an open river mouth and a series of underwater reefs down towards the south-west end of Canggu. It’s quite tricky to get to, so the crowds will thin out. However, be wary of coming just for the sake of it. The wave is deceptively slow peeling. In fact, the shoulder wipes fast and you’ll need to be able to handle hollow sections so you don’t get locked in. Berawa is one of the surf spots in Canggu for bigger swells because it can hold up higher. Rips and pollution are the bad side. Beware high tide – it’s just not happening then.
Batu Belig
Hardly a soul goes here to surf, but it’s not a secret spot per se. It’s more that it takes more for Batu Belig to get working and surfable. Look for S-SW swells and nothing over a metre and you could be in for some neat walls with challenging drop ins over a sand bottom. You’ll never have a long ride here. What’s more, leave the swell pick up too much and closeouts are the norm. I think I saw one rental shack on the sand last time I was around (2023) – maybe.
Surf camps in Canggu
Nowhere else in Bali has the same array of surf schools as Canggu these days, save perhaps for the Bukit peninsula in the south. The town has branched out from its original digi nomad vibe and is now considered the top place to learn on the island.
That has upsides and downsides. First, the bad news. The water can be murky in the wet season and bouts of Bali belly are regular occurances. It’s also pretty busy. The good news is that the best surf instructors in the islands are attracted here, and the surf schools need to do a lot to stay ahead of the crowd, which means quality is the key word.
It’s not for nothing that we feature quite a few Canggu camps in our guide to the best surf camps in Bali and the best surf camps in Indonesia as a whole. Hell, we even have a dedicated guide to best surf camps in Canggu itself, which runs through the five top options right now.
Here are our two fav at a glance…
- Pelan Pelan Bali – The 15-day package at Pelan Pelan might cost around $1,500 per person, but it’s a doozy of a surf camp option that offers luxury at home and real quality out on the water. There’s surfing every weekday in Canggu, run by locals who know the breaks like they were born by them (becuase they were). Meditation and yoga kick-start the day. There’s also day trips around Bali included. It’s a cracking package.
- Mondo Lifestyle Resort – Mondo is probably better suited to more casual travelers and backpackers. They operate out of a stunning new property in the heart of Canggu. It’s got lush gardens and a big pool. The surf training is accessible but intense, with two hours per day and video analysis afterwards.
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
Want more Canggu Surf camp options? Search the whole shebang below right now and book in a few clicks.
Where to stay when surfing in Canggu
One of the upsides of the unceasing development that seems to be going on in Canggu is that there are now loads and loads of awesome hotels to pick from. We’ve chosen some of our favourites. They’re cracking stays with a touch of that Bali luxury. But – crucially – they also offer good proximity to the best surf breaks up and down Canggu beach.
Surf Lodge Canggu
Surf Lodge Canggu is everything you need down this way when it comes to surf tripping. The pad is classic Bali – think rooms with desks for digi nomads, a pool in the garden, palm-shaded sunning areas. It’s only 800 meters from the beach, too.
COMO Uma Canggu
COMO Uma Canggu is exactly the sort of high-luxury spot that Canggu is about these days. Slickly designed with a mix of modern and traditional Balinese elements, it opens onto Echo Beach’s surf breaks with a glimmering swimming pool and bamboo-shaded sun terraces. Rooms are Scandi cool with mod cons like flat-screen TVs. Some even have private decks right by the swimming pool – perfect for morning dips!
Aston Canggu Beach Resort ($$)
Sat right by Batu Bolong’s main entrance, this four-star hotel offers doorstep access to some of the Best surf spots in Canggu. it’s classic Bali seaside resort stuff – think a rooftop infinity pool and sleek contemporary design throughout. Cocktails in the deck up top at sunset are also pretty special.
Kos One Hostel ($)
Whoever said hostels have to look like hostels? Chic, cool, and downright luxurious Kos One channels a little bit of its namesake Greek island and mixes it with Balinese charm. The dorm rooms are beautifully done with pod-style beds, but it’s the curvy pool set between the emerald rice paddies outside that really takes the biscuit. It’s also a great place to meet and mingle with other surfers.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Canggu Surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Canggu Surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
Surf lessons in Canggu
There are more surf schools in Canggu than you can shake a puri offering at. They’ve mushroomed up here in the last decade to cater to the ever-growing crowd of casual surfers and beginners who come this way.
For that reason, they offer some great packages for those who aren’t yet ready to commit to a full on surf camp for a week. They last between two hours and a full day, and are a great way to see if surfing is the thing for you.
Sadly, for every great school there are like five bad ones. That’s why we’d pre-book one of the following:
- 2-hour surf lesson with We Surf Bali – We Surf are a leading name here. They’re fantastically reviewed and have garnered a rep for offering simple but effective surf lessons to total beginners on the Canggu beaches. What we love is that they do the basics right. The equipment is good and well maintained. The instructors keep it accessible and easy to follow. We’d probably try these first, and if they’re busy go for…
- The funniest surf lesson in Canggu – Curly, a local ripper with 17 years of experience on the waves here, certainly makes lessons fun! He’s a great guy, super knowledgable about the waves, and really energetic. His methods are unorthodox but the session will live up to its name!
When to surf in Canggu?
Don’t worry, Canggu surf pumps all year round! There’s rarely a time when there’s no wave available. The real question is what sort of wave you’re after. How high? Punchy and strong? Day-to-day consistency? With questions like that there’s really two seasons in play:
Monsoon/Wet season (November-March)
The ‘monsoon’ in Bali actually refers to the wind, not rainfall. In fact, the time from Nov to March can actually be pretty dry. It is wetter overall, but showers tend to be quick and heavy. Most will burn themselves out overnight in most cases.
The monsoon season actually sees the power of the waves decrease on the Bali west coast. Most of the serious surfers will head over to Lombok or the far side of Bukit to chase barrels. Canggu surf December time is probably the lightest of all, with mush aplenty in Old Man’s for the beginners. Still, there are often big days you’ll need to beware of and hollow conditions are still known – this is Bali, after all!
Dry Season (April-October)
Dry season in Bali starts in earnest around April time. Surfers set their clocks to the moment the E-SE trade winds start purring, because that breathes life into breaks like Ulus and Padang Padang over in Bukit.
It’s also good news for Canggu surf, but not because of the wind. This is also the time that the dominant Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean S-SW come across, feeding high swells with long periods all over this part of the island. Keep those winds in mind, though, because they’re actually crossshore in Canggu so stronger days could be better at dawn before the gusts get up.
It’s boardshorts and rash vests all year long in Canggu folks. Some bring a 1mm-2mm rubber vest for extra protection as you’ll be surfing every day if you wanna’. It’s super, super important to nail down your sunscreen game – we have a guide to the best for the tropics right here.
Surf shops in Canggu
Canggu has stacks and stacks of surf shops. Most of them cluster between the cafes and bars of Pantai Batu Bolong on the way to the most famous breaks. But there are also others scattered up as far as Jalan Raya Canggu in the north.
BGS Bali Canggu
Need a wax, leave with a wax and a flat white. That’s just how it is in this coffeeshop-surf shop mishmash in the depths of Canggu. Super chilled and super cool, the spot is all polished concrete and minimalism. The range of stock is small but well curated. Short boards, fish tails, leashes, and some surf fashion is the name of the game at BGS Bali Canggu.
Kartel Boardstore
Well-rated for board buyers, Kartel Boardstore offers a wide range of potential additions to the quiver. The catalogue contains models from famous shapers from Oz and beyond, along with some more affordable pop-out boards that you won’t be so scared about dinging on the reefs of Berawa surf spot. Of course, there’s also reams of fins, leashes, and surf apparel to get stuck into.
Best places to eat in Canggu
Canggu has risen to become one of the foodie meccas of southern Bali. look for some of our top-pick eateries in the blocks behind Canggu beach and you won’t be disappointed.
Sprout
Duck under the trimmed hedgerows to enter Sprout and you’ll find yourself in a soothing interior of muted greens and whites. That’s the setting for arguably the best organic-health food stop in the area – and that’s seriously saying something in Canggu! Fruit bowls, buckwheat pancakes, and fantastic blended coffee roasts are the order for brunch. Don’t miss it.
Peloton Supershop
Let’s make it simple – vegan eateries DON’T get any better than this! Changing the world one plant-based burger at a time, the folk here are passionate about all things cruelty free. Whet the appetite for a menu of breakfast burritos, hash browns, bok choy-soy salads, and seiten hot dogs. Ah god my mouth is watering!
Koloni
Koloni can seem like a prime example of the sort of hipster coffee-and-food haven that’s now abundant in Canggu. However, we still think it’s a cut above the rest. The menu is a welcome fusion of Californian and Balinese flavours, which means poke bowls of grilled fish and beetroots topped with avocado. Seating is either in the cool greenhouse-style indoors or out between the blooms of palms and ferns.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
