Nelayan Beach may not be as famous as Batu Bolong Beach, Berawa Beach and Echo Beach in Canggu but that’s part of its charm as it means there are fewer people on this beach and you can enjoy everything it has to offer in relative calm.
Our guide to Nelayan Beach will highlight everything that this area has to offer visitors to Bali and help you decide if it’s the right area to spend some time in on your holiday.
Where Is Nelayan Beach?
Nelayan Beach is a little-known strip of beach between the two giants of the Canggu beach scene – Berawa Beach and Batu Bolong Beach.
Address: Jl. Nelayan No.31, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali
How To Get To Nelayan Beach?
It’s difficult to walk from either of the two main beaches directly onto Nelayan Beach because of the river outflows into the sea at the end of either beach.
That means you’ll need a Grab or Gojek from your Canggu Resort if it’s not directly near this beach.
If you’re coming from Ngurah Rai International Airport then this beach is about an hour’s drive in average traffic, though as with all places in Bali, if the traffic conditions are not good, it can take much longer to reach Nelayan Beach than the short geographic distance might suggest is reasonable.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Nelayan Beach?
There is never a bad time of year to visit Bali and Nelayan Beach is great all year round. Sure, during the rainy season, it rains a bit more than average but it rarely rains all day long. On average, there are 8 hours of sunshine a day in the wet season.
In exchange, it’s cheaper to get rooms in a local property and flights tend to be cheaper too (leaving guests on the island with more cash to spend). You will also find that there’s better availability of seats in local restaurants, etc.
And in the dry season, it’s a bit better for surfers, with nice onshore breezes and a slightly cooler, less humid temperature.
The best time of day to visit this beach is at sunset, when as everyone who has started to spend time in Canggu will tell you, the view over the ocean is absolutely spectacular.
Is There An Entrance Fee For Nelayan Beach?
No, there is no entrance fee for Nelayan Beach though if you want to use the parking facilities nearby, you may be asked to pay a small fee for them.
You can walk straight onto the beach and join the other people there without any problems.
Things To Know Before You Visit Nelayan Beach, Canggu
The area around Nelayan Beach used to be quite famous for its street art but that’s no longer the case and while you may, as with everywhere in both Canggu and Bali as a whole, occasionally stumble over some attractive graffiti in this location, it’s definitely not a major draw for the beach anymore.
In the main, the things you should know about Nelayan Beach include:
- This is a black sand beach – we love black sand beaches and we think they give Canggu much of its charm, but we should note that while this kind of sand is lovely at sunrise and sunset as the water trapped in it reflects the light in a beautiful fashion, it also gets seriously hot during the day. Please wear thongs/flip-flops at a minimum on these beaches as you can easily burn your feet.
- The most popular time on this beach is sunset – however, it never sees the kinds of crowds that the three main beaches in Canggu gets and if you fancy a quiet beer or two with a view, this is a good place to be.
- Check out the beach huts and fishermen’s boats – you won’t see many of these on the rest of Canggu’s beaches.
- Do not swim at Nelayan Beach – this beach is notoriously dangerous and travellers who want to return home in one piece would be best off sticking to swimming in the pool at their hotel or at one of the local attractions rather than risking the ocean water here.
Things To Do At Nelayan Beach
There is a temple at this beach, Pura Segara Canggu, but it’s not open to non-Hindu guests. For Hindus, it’s a pleasant spot to stop and pray but it’s a very modern temple with little in the way of historical significance.
Surf
This isn’t one of the most popular beaches in Canggu for surfing and you will need to book surf lessons in advance on most days to be certain that the instructors can accommodate you.
Nelayan Beach is a good beach for beginner and intermediate surfers who will find that the break is challenging without being impossible to handle.
There are plenty of equipment rental spots here too, so if you haven’t brought your board with you – don’t worry about it.
Watch The Sunset
The sunset in this part of Bali is legendary and everyone should hit the sand on a Canggu beach to enjoy the spectacle of the sun slipping behind the horizon over the ocean.
We’d also note that the black sand beaches look amazing at this time of day as the water trapped in the sand provides a striking reflective surface for the light show overhead.
Go For A Walk
This isn’t the longest of beaches, but it is completely open to the public and you can enjoy a stroll along the sand here.
This beach tends to attract families with children, single women and couples and small groups rather than the rowdy crowds of some of Canggu’s more popular beaches.
Many people walk their dogs on Canggu’s beaches and this is no exception.
Go Shopping
You might want to head to Batu Bolong Beach or Berawa Beach roads if you want the best shopping experiences in Canggu but there are a few shops around this beach area and they’re rarely as busy as those in other areas which means you can have them all to yourself.
Go On A Boat Tour
This beach is a popular spot for boat tours departing from Canggu and GoBoat is based right by this beach. We would note that we’ve not used this tour company and they seem to have very mixed reviews from previous travellers.
Where To Stay Near Nelayan Beach
The best place to stay in Canggu, when it opens, will be FINNS Bali Resort (the ultimate Canggu resort) but until then these hotels and villas are good places to stay:
- Hidden Villa & Hidden River Cottage – a small cottage complex that requires a direct booking but in a very pleasant environment. If you value peace and quiet, you will love this spot.
- Canggu Cabana Resort & Spa by iNi Vie Hospitality – this 5-star hotel is something of a bargain when booked in the off-season and it has an amazing pool area and attractive garden too.
- ZIN Canggu Resort and Villas – ZIN is probably the best-known property in this area and it’s very popular with a young crowd. The pool is lovely and the ambience is laid back and chill.
- Serenity Eco Guesthouse and Yoga – if you want to be as planet-friendly as you can at a Canggu resort, this place is a good option. Not only is it eco-conscious but the yoga teaching is first-rate too.
- The Clifton Canggu Villas – these villas are surprisingly affordable and are only a short walk from the beach. Guests can enjoy a top-notch gym and pool as well as all the usual facilities such as an indoor
- shower, etc.
Where To Eat Near Nelayan Beach
There are also some great places to eat in this area and some of them are surprisingly good value:
- Black White Aksata – if you’re in the mood for some cheap Japanese food in a semi-traditional warung environment then this spot will have you covered. Their guests dine on benches outside of a small
- ZIN Cafe – this cafe attached to the popular resort is extremely popular because it also functions as a free co-working space (you an work as long as you buy food or drinks). It’s good value for money too.
- Alkaline Vegan Restaurant – This plant-based eatery is well-regarded in local vegan circles and they take a very creative approach to their food which will keep you going back for more.
- Warung Kopi Bali – this is as close to an old-school beach warung as you can find in Bali nowadays and it’s a great spot for a cold beer, some local food or even a cup of coffee.
- Deli Canggu – if you’re in the mood for an excellent sandwich, this is a great spot to grab some lunch on the go. It’s great value for money too.
Other Things To Do Near Nelayan Beach
For your information, there are plenty of other things to do close by to this beach and you shouldn’t ever find yourself bored in Canggu, Bali. Some of the highlights near this location include:
FINNS Beach Club
FINNS is the world’s best beach club and it sits on Berawa Beach here in Canggu. It’s free to enter and there’s no minimum spend if you just want to grab a pew at the bar or at one of their amazing party restaurants.
But we recommend booking in advance, committing to a minimum spend and getting a luxurious day bed and enjoying a day by the pool in style.
Batu Bolong Beach
Batu Bolong Beach is Canggu’s most popular spot and while we’d recommend that you stay in Canggu resort that’s not too close to Batu Bolong Beach to ensure that where you stay is quiet enough to sleep – everyone should spend some time in this area when they’re in Bali.
It’s got the biggest number of shops, bars and restaurants around this location too.
Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot is one of the biggest attractions on the island. It’s a wonderful temple complex situated on a small island just off the coast of Bali and it’s about a 20-minute drive from Canggu.
The best time to visit is at sunset when you get the light breaking over the temple.
FAQs
What Is The Prettiest Beach In Bali?
There are many candidates for the prettiest beach in Bali but we think Bias Tugel Beach is one of the most picture postcard-like beaches. Other candidates could include Kelingking Beach in the Nusa Islands and Nusa Dua Beach which is famous for being a long stretch of white sand surrounded by some of the best resorts on the island.
What Is The Most Popular Beach In Canggu?
The most popular beach in Canggu is Batu Bolong Beach. It’s because the road to Batu Bolong Beach is full of more shops, bars and restaurants than any other part of Canggu.
That’s why we always recommend that you visit Batu Bolong beach if you’re in Canggu but we’d recommend picking a Canggu resort that’s a bit further away if you want to stay in a hotel that’s guaranteed some peace and quiet.
Is Nelayan Beach Good For Beginners?
Nelayan Beach can be great for beginner surfers but you do need to consider the overall conditions, they can be very variable at this beach and some days, the conditions are definitely better for intermediate rather than beginner surfers.
Most beginners in this area tend to take lessons on Berawa Beach or Batu Bolong Beach before they tackle Nelayan Beach.
Is Nelayan Part Of Canggu?
Yes! Nelayan Beach is very much a part of Canggu. It’s between the two main beaches of Berawa and Batu Bolong. The other two Canggu beaches are Echo Beach and Pererenan Beach.
Canggu is the most popular location in Bali and that’s due to the availability of many attractions close to the beaches, great hotel rooms and villas for all budgets, excellent restaurants, bars and nightlife as well as its proximity to the ocean and the rice fields of the island.
What Is The Most Popular Beach In Bali?
There are no official figures on beach popularity in Bali but if we had to hazard a guess – Kuta Beach is probably the most popular beach on the island.
That’s because it was the first beach to be popular here on the island and there are a huge number of amenities such as shopping malls, restaurants and bars in this area.
However, you should be warned that Kuta Beach is often too busy for its own good and while it is beautiful at sunset, during the day the beach can suffer from trash problems.
Fewer people are choosing to stay in Kuta in recent years as the area around the beach is starting to look dated and is overdeveloped.
Can You Swim At Nelayan Beach?
Indonesia is a developing nation and there are no lifeguards posted at any of the beaches in Canggu, so the question isn’t so much “can you swim?” as “should you swim?”
And the answer is, no, you shouldn’t swim at Nelayan Beach. The currents along the shoreline are often very strong and treacherous.
Even the best swimmers can be dragged out to sea by a riptide and find themselves unable to get back to shore.
If you want to swim in Canggu, it’s best to stick to the pool at your Canggu resort or hotel, or to visit somewhere like FINNS Beach Club and jump in their infinity pool.
Which Is Better Seseh Or Canggu, Bali?
We love Canggu and we wouldn’t have built FINNS Bali Resort or FINNS Beach Club in the area if we didn’t believe it was the best spot on the island.
However, Seseh is fairly close to Canggu and you can visit both areas easily while you’re here on holiday.
Seseh is a village just up the coast and it’s a little more quiet and relaxed than Canggu. Of course, with the rate of development here in Bali, it’s only a matter of time before it starts to get much busier.
For now though, we’d say, “stay in Canggu and get a Grab out to Seseh for the day.” That way you have the best availability of facilities and things to do near your Canggu resort.
Can You Walk From Seseh To Canggu On The Beach?
In theory, you could walk from Seseh to Canggu along the beach but there are several spots along the way where you would have to ford river outlets. Some of these are quite wide and not easy to cross.
Given that the ocean can be a little dangerous in the Canggu area with strong currents that can pull even strong swimmers out to sea, we’d recommend that you opt for a walk from Seminyak down to Kuta or Jimbaran, instead where navigating the beach paths is much easier.
(Or, at least, in theory, it’s much easier – the path is not as well-maintained as it might be and often shifts if the tide has a severe impact on the beach).
Final Thoughts On Nelayan Beach Bali
Nelayan Beach is a charming part of Canggu and it’s a great place to visit while you’re in Bali.
There are plenty of attractions and places of interest near this area and you can find a nice Canggu resort here too.
It’s a little more quiet than some other beaches in Canggu but we think that’s part of its charm.