Tibumana Waterfall Bali – The Ultimate Guide to Visiting
Are you planning to visit Tibumana Waterfall Bali?
Tibumana Waterfall is one of my favourite waterfalls in Bali, due to its beautiful location in a lush jungle surrounded by endless rice fields and an epic palm tree road leading to the waterfall. It is also one of the few waterfalls when you are allowed to swim, which makes the experience truly special.
This post is the ultimate guide to everything you need to know before visiting Tibumana Waterfall Bali.
Where Is Tibumana Waterfall Located?
Tibumana Waterfall is located 30 minutes’ drive east from Ubud and about 1.5 hours from Canggu, Kuta and Seminyak in an area called Bangli. You can find it on Google Maps by typing Air Terjun Tibumana (local name for the waterfall).
Where To Stay Near Tibumana Waterfall
Luxury
Alila is a secluded luxury hotel situated amongst lush nature 15 minutes away from Ubud town. The pool has stunning views over Ayung River valley, and you can see wild monkeys, squirrels and birds in the forest. The rooms are very spacious with big windows over the lush greenery. They’re equipped with all modern comforts with a hint of traditional Balinese style. All room come with outdoor bathroom and outdoor area; some include a private pool.
The hotel offers a free shuttle service to Ubud town and a complimentary afternoon tea for their guests. There is a restaurant serving excellent home-cooked Balinese food and also a spa for even more relaxation.
Unique
Ubud has some many special and unique accommodation, and this place is one of them! The hotel is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Ubud. 7 stylish wooden villas are overlooking the lush greenery of rice paddies and a lagoon-styled swimming pool. Would you like to try the Bali specials like floating breakfast, flower bath or a massage? The hotel will make it happen for you!
Mid-range
This hotel has a great central location, perfect for exploring all the best things Ubud has on offer. It is situated a walking distance from a wide choice of restaurants, bars and Ubud cafes. The sacred monkey forest is also only a 5 minutes’ walk and equal distance to Yoga Barn. The rooms are simply decorated and very well equipped, and some come with direct access to the pool.
Budget
Puri Garden Hotel and Hostel Ubud
This hostel has a great location as is situated right in Ubud, close to all Ubud points of interest. It’s a luxury hostel with a nice pool, free yoga classes and different type of entertainment every evening including live music, BBQ and movie nights.
How To Get To Tibumana Waterfall?
Rent a scooter
The most convenient way to get around Canggu and Bali is to rent a scooter. There are usually two types on offer a Scoopy which is a lighter bike, and it looks more like moppet and a bigger scooter than a motorbike. The rental costs 50k to 80k IDR per day. If you don’t have much experience, I recommend getting the lighter and slower Scoopy style motorbike. Petrol is widely available in Bali. Vendors sell it in glass bottles on the side of the road. If you ever wondered why they sell vodka on the side of the road everywhere, that’s not vodka but petrol in vodka bottles. Petrol currently costs 10k IDR per bottle, and a scooter holds about three bottles.
Hire a driver
In Bali, there is no public transport, and most people just ride scooters. When it comes to a longer trip, you can hire a driver for a full day that will go with you to all the locations on your itinerary, wait for you and take you back to your hotel. The rates start at 500k IDR for 8 hours. If you’re interested, just ask the reception staff at your hotel to recommend someone. Many people in Bali earn a living by taking visitors around the island so you will find a driver easily.
With a Tour
Another great and convenient way to explore Bali is to book a tour. A tour is an excellent option if you want to tick off a lot of places but don’t have much time and don’t want to plan the logistics of the trip.
Visit Tibumana as part of the Ubud’s Spectacular Waterfalls organised by Get Your Guide.
Tibumana Waterfall Entrance Fee
The entrance fee is 15,000 IDR. You can find the ticket office right by the parking area. There is no extra charge for parking.
Best Time To Visit Tibumana Waterfall
Best time to visit Tibumana Waterfall is early in the morning. Try arriving before 9 am, and you most likely have the place almost entirely to yourself, and if you’re into photography, then you will also get some nice, morning light for your fantastic shots.
What to expect
When you arrive at Tibumana Waterfall, leave your motorbike at the car park, right next to the ticket office.
Just before the car park, you will drive passed a scenic road surrounded by stunning palm trees. We actually stopped on this road to take photos because it was so beautiful!
After purchasing your ticket, walk along the road that turns right. There is a warung there where you can buy a drink or have something to eat on your way back and free washrooms.
Go pass the warung and continue down the path. The hike down is easy. It only takes about 10 minutes long through a well-maintained track and a couple of wooden bridges. It is suitable for families and small kids because the trail down is not too strenuous and the waterfall is very accessible from the car park. There will be a smaller waterfall on the way, just keep walking until you reach the main fall.
Swimming at Tibumana waterfall
Once you arrived at the waterfall, there is an area where you can leave your belonging. Make sure you take your swimsuit as Tibumana Waterfall has a large, deep pool and taking a dip in the cool water is a very refreshing experience.
A local man overlooks the swimmers’ safety, and you are allowed into the pool as long as you are nowhere near the falling water where the current is powerful and being close is unsafe.
Photography Tips
The light for photography at Tibumana Waterfall is suitable all day long because the area is partially in the jungle so even at midday, you can take some good shots.
However, after 10 am, the waterfall may get busy, and it will be hard to take photos without unwanted people in the background.
To achieve, smooth, creamy waterfall effect, set your shutter speed low at around 100. Make sure that people on the photo don’t move. At low shutter speed, even the slowest movement can result in blurriness.
Have fun with it and try different angles of the waterfall. It is also pretty to use wildlife for framing, things like leaves, stones and greenery.
If you have a drone, then use it here. The footage that I managed to create here is just breath-taking. For some reason, some drones may have connectivity issues here, and my drone was actually the only one that worked, out of our group of friends. Always, fly with caution, far away from the waterfall and trees.
What to take with you
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“.
Other waterfalls and points of interest nearby
Kanto Lampo is a little less known waterfall. During my visit, I mostly met local people enjoying it on a hot afternoon. The pool around the waterfall is not deep enough to have a proper swim, but instead, you can actually go under the fall and let the freshwater shower your body, because the stream is not that powerful.
Suwat Waterfall
You can reach Suwat Waterfall within 30 minutes’ drive from Ubud. The pool at the waterfall is deep enough for a refreshing plunge. This is the waterfall where you can climb the rocks and jump into the pool if you have the guts to do it (I didn’t).
Tukad Cepung is a very famous waterfall that is hidden away in a cave. If you visit in the morning, the cave is lit by beautiful sun rays creating a stunning spectacle of lights and a perfect opportunity for an epic photo. Tukad Cepung is a little further away from Ubud, about an hour drive.
Tegalalang Rice Field
Tegalalang is situated just 30 minutes’ drive from Ubud. It is one of the most famous and busy tourist spots, but there is a good reason for that. Tegalalang rice paddy is the most beautiful rice field in Bali, and it’s certainly worth a visit.
For more awesome things to do in Ubud visit “The Ultimate Ubud Itinerary“
Tibumana Waterfall: Final Word
Tibumana Waterfall is one of my favourite waterfalls near Ubud. I love the fact that the pool is deep enough for a refreshing swim, and I love the epic drone shots that I have taken here.
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