Surfing in Jimbaran – All-Level Surf in South Bali
Jimbaran isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you look at Bali’s epic surf line up, but the accessible spot does offer a mix of mellow waves, some challenging points/reefs, and scenic beaches.
Nestled just south of Kuta and at the doorstep of the Bukit Peninsula, Jimbaran serves as a more relaxed alternative to the bustling surf hubs of Canggu and Uluwatu.
The waves here are generally softer and better for beginners, with some fun options for intermediates when conditions align.
The added bonus is the proximity to both Bali’s best beginner beaches – Kuta and Seminyak are just 30 minutes’ drive away – and the world-class waves of the Bukit – Ulus and Padang Padang are around 35 minutes away.
It’s a really good base if you want somewhere that’s easy to reach as soon as you step off the plane, nice hotels at hand, and a decent selection of waves on the doorstep with the potential to branch out on strike missions.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Bali
What’s in this guide to surfing in Jimbaran?
Where is Jimbaran?
Jimbaran sits on Bali’s southwest coast, just 10-15 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, which it kinda buts up to on its northern side.
A taxi from the airport to most hotels in Jimbaran costs around IDR 150,000–200,000 (£8–£10), making it one of the most accessible surf bases in Bali. You’ll generally pay a lot more than that to get deeper into the Bukit/out to Canggu.
Accessibility really is one of the strongpoints of surfing here. I often reccomend it as a top place for people who are in Bali on a stopover for 24 hours or something and want to fit in a surf.
Where to surf in Jimbaran?
Airport Lefts
Airport Lefts is a fun, peeling left-hander with a long, workable face that holds up well in a mid-range swell. Like Airport Rights (see below), it requires a boat ride to access and is best on higher tides, when it can even have a short barrel section that’s super fun.
Lefts isn’t strictly in Jimbaran. It’s best accessed from the north side of the airport, which is actually Kuta. It’s usually a tad busier than Rights but only becuase it’s less of a challenging wave.
Airport Rights
Sitting just offshore from Bali’s main airport runway, on the Jimbaran Beach side, Airport Rights is a right-hand reef break that delivers fast, playful walls with occasional barrels on the right swell angle.
It’s a great wave for intermediates and up, best surfed on a mid to high tide becuase low tides expose way too much of the reef.
Sadly the trades in the dry season are head onshore here so the cleanest days will always be the ones with either a freak N wind or no wind at all.
You need a boat transfer to get out there. Expect to pay around IDR 150,000–200,000 for the trip. Boats go directly from Jimbaran Beach, so this one is usually considered one of the breaks in Jimbaran itself.
Toro Toro
A slightly less-surfed wave than the duo at airports is Toro Toro. It’s generally seen as one of the more fickle reef breaks on the outside reefs of Jimbaran but I’d say it’s the perfect intermediate wave in decent swells because it has a peeling right that has some of the most forgiving walls in the area (plus, any right down on the Bukit is gold dust!).
On bigger days that right can barrel into something super sweet and it makes the whole thing a much more advanced wave.
There’s a left, too, which is shorter and fast. Paddle channels on both sides of the wave. Often used by surf camps for intermediate groups.
Toro Toro is boat access only from Jimbaran Beach.
Tower
Tower is basically the inside section of Toro Toro but they never match up because it will section out. It’s a beginner wave on small days and a fun all-level wave when bigger, though generally always softer and mellower. Only rights.
Jimbaran Beach
The main stretch of Jimbaran beach has quite a few spots that are mainly good for learners as these site beyond the reef shelf and tend to only get size in the biggest of the dry season swells.
They include:
- Ahisma – A very fickle wave that only really works on low tides on big days, this is a left with some nice shape when it’s on. It’s just hardly ever on. Can be a bit hollow when it’s huge but usually a peeler that’s good for surf schools.
- Lifeguard Hut – The big orange tower in the middle of the bay is the lifeguard hut. It’s got a break out front but I’ve only ever seen it as an ankle slapper with groms on it.
Muaya Beach
The name for the extreme south end of Jimbaran itself. Muaya Beach is home to a cluster of nice resort hotels and has this decent beginner and intermediate wave to its name.
It’s beach break so you get A-frames but the lefts are far, far superior as the swell lips around the headland and breaks on the banks at a low tide. It’s not really surfable at high as it fattens out so much. Complete low tides can also be rocky.
When it’s huge around the Bukit, crowds can descend here as it might be one of the few places working. Plus, it’s known to the surf camps and schools.
Honeymoons (also called Cliff Jump)
This one’s a great wave but a bit of a detour out of Jimbaran. You take Jalan Karang Mas south towards Balangan and then veer off onto a side road going north. There are various places on G maps you can plot a route to on the scooter but I think Cliff Jump or something is the one that’s stuck.
Access can be a bit tricky to the spot itself. You’ll see some people literally just hop off the cliff side into the line up. I would not reccomend as it’s sketchy with the lava reef below.
The good thing is that the wave isn’t usually very busy because it’s off the beaten track. Starts with a sucky take off right by the rocks and then peels into a nice left shoudler that’s great on medium, long-period swells.
Lots of protection from the wind, generally a top intermediate wave.
More surf near Jimbaran
Jimbaran’s central location makes it a great jumping-off point for surf missions to both the beginner-friendly beaches to the west and the high-performance waves of the Bukit Peninsula to the south.
- Balangan Beach – One of the first Bukit Peninsula breaks, Balangan is a long, peeling left-hander that’s best for intermediate to advanced surfers. It can handle size and gets really fun on a mid-tide.
- Padang Padang – There are actually two waves at Padang Padang. The inside wave is a perfect beginner break, while the outside reef is Bali’s heaviest barrel, strictly for experts only.
- Uluwatu – A world-class left-hand reef break that works in almost all conditions. Multiple take-off points mean it can handle a crowd, but this is a wave for advanced surfers only.
- Kuta & Seminyak – Easier beach breaks that are perfect for beginners and lower intermediates. Kuta gets crowded, but it’s one of the most consistent waves in Bali.
Where to stay in Jimbaran
- Cari Surf Camp – These guys ARE NOT based in Jimbaran but they do run a fantastic range of camp options in the Bukit Peninsula that will surf spots in the region to suit your level, Jimbaran being a possible option. The camp is really fricking nice, with its own pool and stylish cabanas.
- Balquisse Heritage Hotel – A super stylish hotel with proper Bali vibes, a block or two back from Jimbaran Beach. It’s one of the best hotels in the area.
- Kedonganan Beach Villas – Better access to the beach breaks in the middle of Jimbaran Beach and options that are self-catering. Nice big villas. Step out and onto the sand, which is nice.
Best time to surf in Jimbaran?
Like the rest of Bali, Jimbaran’s surf is best in the dry season (April to September), when steady SE trade winds groom the waves and swells from the Indian Ocean light up the reefs.
The wet season (November to March) still offers surf, but the winds are less predictable, the water quality can drop, and conditions are better suited for beginners.
The good news is that Jimbaran is also pretty near the eastern side of the Bukit Peninsula, so you could come to stay here in wet season hoping for some surf and make the trip to Serangan or Sanur if it’s not working at all. They are about 30 minutes’ drive away.
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!
