Green Bowl Beach Bali – The Ultimate Guide to Visiting
Visiting Green Bowl Beach is a great idea for a day trip if you’re staying in Uluwatu, Kuta or even Canggu. It’s much quieter than any other beaches and has lovely white sand and amazingly clear water with a beautiful turquoise shade of blue.
This post is a comprehensive guide on how to find it, what to expect and much more.
Where is Green Bowl Beach?
Green Bowl Beach is located on the southern part of the Bukit Peninsula. It’s neighbouring with Pandawa beach to the east and Melasti beach to the west. It will take around 30 minutes to get here from Denpasar where Bali’s international airport is located and about similar time to get here from Uluwatu main area.
Where to stay in Uluwatu
Luxury– Suarga Padang Padang
Suarga Padang Padang is a sustainable boutique hotel featuring 36 villas built with a minimal impact on the environment using recycled wood and solar panels. It’s located on a clifftop boasting some epic views over the ocean, an infinity pool, and it’s only a five-minute walk to Padang Padang beach and a seven-minute drive to Bingin beach.
Midrange– Dreamsea
This boho boutique hotel is located right on the cliff, where you can feel and hear the ferocious waves crashing against the shore. The location is also great for some of the best Uluwatu cafes as well as it is within walking distance to Padang Padang Beach.
Budget – Sal Secret Spot
Sal Secret Spot is situated within walking distance to Bingin Beach, a white sanded beach excellent for swimming with a calmer sea. Rooms are small but comfortable, and there is a beautiful boho-style pool area to enjoy.
How to get to Green Bow Beach Bali?
By motorbike
Scooter rental can be found in various locations in Uluwatu and normally cost 50k IDR per day, and you’re expected to fill up the petrol yourself. If you prefer to book it in advance, you can also pre-book your scooter which includes delivery to your hotel. Alternatively, you can email your hotel, and they may be willing to arrange it for you or advise on the nearest motorbike rental.
Always check the scooter before you embark on your ride. Check breaks and make sure you are given a helmet. Also, check the lights which are super important, especially if you’re planning to embark on a sunset mission and will be coming back to your accommodation in the dark!
You can find Green Bowl Beach Uluwatu easy by typing the name in the Google Maps. I recommend you use earplugs for voice directions instead of looking at your phone.
TIP: Use an Indonesian SIM card for the cheapest internet while you’re in Bali.
By car
If you prefer not to use a motorbike, you can either book a driver for a whole day or download a Go Jek or Grab app on your smartphone (they are Asian equivalents to Uber Drive) and get a lift with them. I don’t have the experience getting back from this location, it’s a little remote, and you may have to go back onto the main road to catch Go Jek back to your accommodation.
My personal experience using Go Jek and Grab is very good. They are reliable and efficient and so much cheaper than a Taxi which charges typically more if you’re a tourist!
Getting there and parking
On the way to the beach don’t be surprised to see small monkeys on the road as you’re getting closer to the beach car park at the top of the hill. There is plenty of them on the car park, so mind your belongings because those cheeky little creatures are ready to snatch things of you and disappear into the jungle!
There is no parking fee here (which is rare amongst Uluwatu beaches), just leave your scooter by the small Warung on the cliff, preferably in the shade. Having said that always have some small change (10k IDR) in case this changes and locals decide to show up to collect some money.
If you haven’t got any snacks or drinks, this is the place to buy it. The beach is small, and there are no cafes or vendors, so make sure you at least have enough water with you.
Walk to the left from the Warung until you find a path down. Follow it down until you find the beach. The descent is not too bad, the track is decent, most of the way made up of concrete stairs, and it takes about 10-15 min.
What to expect
The beach is small and relatively quiet. There is a small cave where you can sit if you prefer to be in the shade.
Expect to find alluring turquoise water so clear that you won’t be able to resist it!
The sea is much calmer here so you can have a peaceful swim, but at low tied it’s also shallow for a long time before it gets deep enough to have a proper dip.
The sun gets behind the cliff in the afternoon covering the beach in the shade almost entirely so that’s something to have in mind if you would rather sunbathe.
There is no shops or restaurants, so don’t forget to take your snacks and water.
Best time to visit
Any time is good to visit Green Bowl beach which doesn’t get crowdy like other more popular Uluwatu beaches. If you want to sunbathe, I recommend going in the morning or early afternoon. Also, the beach is great to hang out in the evening at the golden hour. The stairs back are in pretty good shape, so it’s safe to walk back up in the dark.
Other nearby beaches in Uluwatu
Read my other Bali Beach guides:
Bali essentials
Day Backpack – for this adventure and many other ones, you’ll need a day pack. My favourite one is the stylish and minimalistic Kanken. It is made of durable materials and it’s super simple and super comfortable.
Mirrorless camera – I love Sony cameras! If you’re looking for an entry-level, compact camera that takes awesome photos, go for Sony Alpha 6400, I’ve used it for years and took some excellent pictures with it. For a more advanced selection, I recommend Sony A7iii, I can’t be more happy with it, and I know lots of professional photographers and creators who use it too.
Power bank – power bank to charge my mobile phone saved my life a few times, no kidding. It is handy if you’re using Google maps which is a drain on the phone’s battery. I recommend choosing a lightweight one
Raincoat – I know you’re probably thinking I’m crazy, but trust me, the raincoat is essential, especially if you’re scootering your way through the island. When it’s rainy, it actually gets cold on the scooter, and during the rainy season, which is between November and April, it rains buckets!
Reusable water bottle – water flask, especially thermal ones, is so practical here in Bali. Many hotels and restaurants let their guests refill the bottles for free in an effort to reduce plastic use on the island.
Sun cream – this is another essential to carry with you and frequently reapply. Choose an eco-friendly and vegan one to do your part for the environment.
Adventure sandals – sports sandals with straps are the best type of footwear for any Bali adventure. They dry quickly and are sturdy enough to keep you safe on your hikes. I use North Face sandals, I’ve had them for years and they never let me down.
For more tips on what to pack, visit “Bali Packing List“.
