Looking for the ultimate beach destination in Bali?
Look no further than the stunning Suluban Beach in Uluwatu.
The breathtaking views, mesmerizing blue water and some of the best sunsets on the island make this beach a must-visit destination. While it is famously known as a surfer’s paradise…
…it has started to become popular for tourists to explore the hidden caves, float in the shallow water and enjoy the sunset at low tide.
Matthew and I spent a long weekend exploring the Uluwatu area. When asking our friends plus doing extensive research, Suluban Beach kept popping up – so we had to check it out for ourselves.
It’s kinda complicated to find this hidden beach, but don’t worry.
We’ve written our complete guide to Suluban Beach in Bali to help you easily find this hidden cave beach and we’ve added a secret spot we found below.
Is Suluban Beach Worth Visiting?
There are a lot of beautiful beaches in Uluwatu, such as the famous Padang Padang Beach, Bingin Beach, Dreamland Beach, Nyang Nyang Beach… the list goes on!
So…is Suluban Beach really worth checking out?
Yes! Suluban Beach is one of the best beaches in Uluwatu and should definitely make it onto your list of places to visit in the south of Bali.
Here’s what makes Suluban Beach unique:
The scenery is just incredible. It’s an adventure to get there, but once you’ve made the trek down some stairs, you’ll be met with limestone cliffs all around and hidden caves to explore. The clear waters are pretty shallow at first, making it perfect if you want to float or simply get your feet wet.
The most magical part about Suluban Beach? Visit during sunset and you’ll be mesmerized by the beautiful colors in the sky and gorgeous ocean waters. It’s the perfect place to take sunset photos!
Whether you’re an experienced surfer looking to catch some waves or you’re a beach-lover wanting to swim or lay around – Suluban Beach is a great destination for anyone!
Where In Bali Is Suluban Beach Located?
Pantai Suluban is located on the South West Coast of Bali in the Uluwatu region.
It takes around 1 hour to get there from Kuta or Seminyak (depending on traffic).
If you are coming from Canggu or Ubud, it will take 1.5 hours to 2 hours to get to Suluban Beach.
Staying in Uluwatu? It’s very easy to get to Suluban Beach – just a 10 to 15-minute scooter ride depending on where you are.
A Complete Guide To Visiting Suluban Beach
Wanting to visit Suluban Beach, Bali?
Matthew and I loved visiting this hidden cave beach because it felt like such a cool adventure – finding the stairs and then carefully walking all 100+ steps down to reach the beach.
Once you make it down, you’re surrounded by limestone rock formations, clear waters in all different shades of blue and gorgeous views.
Finding this hidden cave beach can be a little complicated, but here’s everything you need to know about visiting this spectacular beach and all the must-know tips before visiting.
How To Get To Suluban Beach
You can easily type ‘Suluban Beach’ into Google Maps and use the app to get there. However, it isn’t as straightforward as that…
Important: On Google Maps, it doesn’t show the exact point where you have to take the stairs down to the beach. Once you park your bike or car, walk towards Single Fin Uluwatu – stay to the left and follow the stairs down to the beach!
To make it easier, you might want to put the Maps location to Single Fin instead! Matthew and I ended up doing this because this was a more direct route to the stairs leading down.
Once you park, make your way down the steps to the beach. This might take around 5-10 minutes depending on your speed. You’ll pass a few surf shops, restaurants and bars on your way down. If you need to get water, any spot is good because there are only a few vendors at the beach.
Most people turn right (or go straight) when they arrive at the beach. Don’t do that – if you want a more secluded area, you actually want to turn left and go under some of the limestone rocks. This area has more shade, fewer people and there’s more photo opportunities.
After you’ve finished your time at the beach, the steep stairs are what you have to look forward to! To be honest, it’s a bit of an incline, but we got back up to the top within 6 minutes. If there are rails (which for most of the way there aren’t) just make sure to watch your steps!
Suluban Beach Entrance Fee
Is there an entrance fee to visit Suluban Beach?
No, there is no fee to enter Suluban Beach, however you do have to pay for parking. Whether you come by scooter or you have a car – you will have to pay for parking to enter the area.
The parking fee for a motorbike is Rp 5,000 ($0.32 USD)/ While the parking fee for cars is Rp 15,000 ($0.93 USD). If you take a Grab or Gojek car, make sure to stop before this hut to avoid paying for parking.
They only accept cash for parking fees. Make sure to get some small money out at any of the ATMs in Bali.
Before entering the parking area, you’ll need to slow down at a small hut. A guy will be there collecting payment and you can ask him how much it costs. It was only Rp 5,000 for parking when we went, but double-check and see what he says!
There’s a toilet at the beach but you will also need to pay Rp 10,000 (0.64 USD) to use it. Again, they will only accept cash.
Motorbike is the most convenient way to get around Uluwatu. You can take a Grab or Gojek car/bike but they may not always be able to pick you up in certain area (see photo below).
Some beaches like Padang Padang Beach will charge you both a parking fee and an entrance fee. That’s not the case for Suluban Beach. Simply pay for parking and you’re free to enjoy the beach.
Opening Hours Of Suluban Beach Bali
There are no official opening hours for this beach.
You can visit this beach from early morning to any time at night, however, we recommend only visiting when there’s daylight.
Suluban Beach is known for being dangerous when it’s high tide. The waves are strong and they crush against the cliffs – you don’t want to get swept away. It’s harder to see at night and be able to judge what the waves are doing, so it’s not a good idea to visit at night.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Suluban Beach?
The best time to visit Suluban Beach is during sunset.
You can also visit this beach during the morning or afternoon – the limestone cliffs offer visitors plenty of shade throughout the day if you don’t want to get burnt!
When the tide is low, there is more sand to walk around and the sunset views are simply breathtaking! However, when it’s high tide it can get pretty dangerous.
Make sure to check the tides first before you visit – you can click here for a website that updates the tides each day as shown below.
Check the tide times for Suluban Beach here
Our Experience Visiting Suluban Beach
When Matthew and I had our little Uluwatu getaway, we had tons of places to visit! And Suluban Beach was at the top of our list.
We visited Suluban Beach after having brunch at Suka Espresso. We’d heard it was good to visit the beach at sunset but couldn’t make it then, so we went around noon to check it out instead.
After visiting Padang Padang Beach and Dreamland Beach, we wondered how Suluban Beach would compare. And to be honest, it is now our favorite beach in the Uluwatu area!
Why?
Laying down on the sand and sunbathing is great, but it does get a little boring after a while – at least for us. That’s why we loved that you could walk around and explore the hidden caves at Suluban Beach. But the best part has to be that there’s plenty of shade around!
Matthew burns very easily and so always looks for the shade. The limestone cliffs offer plenty of shade for those wanting a break from the sun’s rays.
Things To Do At Suluban Beach
Visiting Suluban Beach is an adventure all on its own! From walking down the steep stairs to being surrounded by limestone cliffs – this is the perfect beach destination in Uluwatu.
Here’s some things you can also do at Pantai Suluban:
Surf
Are you a surfer? You’ve probably heard of Pantai Suluban! It’s a great spot for skilled surfers to head out, catch some big waves and enjoy the scenery.
The best months to surf at Suluban Beach are from May to October, during the dry season in Bali.
Want to try surfing for the first time? I don’t believe there are surf lessons held at Suluban Beach, but you can head to Padang Padang Beach instead and grab some surf lessons there.
Swim
You can swim at Suluban Beach, but it is known for its strong waves. Make sure to take the necessary precautions. Visiting at low tide is the best time to go to Pantai Suluban, anyway.
A lot of people make their way down for sunset because it’s simply stunning from the beach. If you don’t want to do that, you can also watch the sunset from the popular bar, Single Fin, where they have gorgeous cliff-hanging views. Arrive early to grab a spot though!
Restaurants & Drinks
Need some restaurant, bar or cafe suggestions?
Before arriving at a destination, we always research the best spots in the area to visit. And during our staycation in Uluwatu, you can bet we visited some of the best spots to share with you!
These are our top restaurant recommendations near Suluban Beach:
Single Fin Uluwatu (Must-visit):
Affordable beach club with cliff-hanging sunset views.
Suka Espresso (Our favorite brunch in Uluwatu):
Best coffee and brunch spot with delicious smoothies, sandwiches and all your favorite breakfast go-tos. They take reservations so you can book ahead here.
Looking for the surfer vibes? You’ll find them at Drifter! Delicious food and even better pastries! Highly recommend having a coffee and pastry break here. Nice (but expensive) store and gallery. I bought some cute stickers from here!
Here are more recommendations for food and drinks while staying in Uluwatu:
- La Terrazza Uluwatu: Beautiful views closer to the beach, decent food.
- Delpi Cafe: Unique spot on a rock formation with an infinity pool.
- La Baracca: Great Italian food like pizza and pasta (make sure you book ahead!).
- Lucky Fish Lounge: The best value-for-money seafood restaurant in the area.
Uluwatu is starting to grow in popularity and there are more and more places popping up every single day!
Top Tips To Visiting Suluban Beach Cave
There are a few things to know before visiting this hidden gem of a beach. After visiting ourselves, here’s our top tips to know:
Enter ‘Single Fin Uluwatu’ on Google Maps.
It’s easier to find the entrance and parking for Suluban Beach on Google Maps if you enter ‘Single Fin’ instead of ‘Suluban Beach’!
There’s a Rp 5,000 parking fee.
It’s Rp 5,000 (0.32 cents USD) to park your scooter or car and you can only pay with cash. Make sure you have some small change with you if you visit other beaches along Uluwatu too!
Go left for a secret entrance.
Once you reach the bottom of the stairs, go left in between some limestone rocks for a quieter, less-crowded area of the beach!
There’s plenty of shade during the day.
Unlike Dreamland Beach, the limestone rock formations offer shade throughout the day. If you don’t want to get sunburnt, this is the beach for you!
Visit during low tide.
The best time to visit is during low tide when the waves are pretty calm. You can check the Surf Forecast website to see the tides at Suluban Beach and plan your visit around them.
The best beach weather in Bali is during the dry season.
From May to October, Bali enters its dry season where you’ll be met with plenty of sunshine and very little rain. It’s the perfect time to visit the beaches around the island!
Travel Insurance For Bali
We hope these tips help you! Enjoy exploring this stunning cave beach that’s unlike any other in Bali.
Where To Stay Near Suluban Beach
Uluwatu is the spot for picturesque cliff-side accommodation.
You can find all kinds of hotels at different price ranges depending on your budget. Matthew and I decided to go with a mid-range hotel and we think we booked a decent spot that offers good value for money.
Best Budget Stays
Where We Stayed In Uluwatu (Mid-range)
1. Gatsby Hotel Hostel [Good Amenities, Nice Private Rooms]
We booked The Gatsby Hotel because it was the perfect mid-range stay. It’s cost effective but the room and bathroom are still very nice and private. We had a lovely stay for a weekend trip. I mean look at that pool!
The Gatsby Hotel was the perfect balance between affordable and comfortable. You can get private rooms which are decent and nicely decorated! There’s a nice pool, sun beds and even a billiard table at the Gatsby Hotel available for guests to use. 8.1 “Very Good” rating on Booking.com
2. Naturela Cafe and Homestay [Affordable With Nice Cafe]
Our friend stayed at the Naturela Homestay! Popular stay with a good cafe. Much cheaper but a pretty basic room. If you’re on the bottom floor, make sure to buy mosquito repellant! Unfortunately, you’ll need it!
Cool Luxury Stays:
Other Cool Beaches In Uluwatu
Want more awesome beach recommendations in Uluwatu?
You’ve come to the right place!
We spent 3 days exploring the area and discovering the different beaches. If you’ve been to Bali before, you’ll know that the beaches in Kuta, Seminyak or Canggu aren’t great.
The dark sand is sticky and let’s just say the ocean isn’t a blue color…But the beaches in Uluwatu are vastly different – in the best way!
Here you’ll find beautiful white sand, blue ocean waters and plenty of space to lay around! Here are more beaches we can recommend in Uluwatu if you’re in the area:
Padang Padang Beach
This is the most famous beach in Uluwatu. It has nice white sand, decent waves and blue waters. It’s a must-visit if you haven’t been before.
Padang Padang Beach is the perfect beach to swim, sunbathe and watch the professional surfers. You can easily buy food and drinks from the vendors at the beach. We were shocked that the prices were pretty reasonable, so that makes it convenient and easy to stay at the beach for longer!
Dreamland Beach
Want a beach with Gatorade-blue ocean waters?
You’ll find the most stunning shades of blue water at Dreamland Beach. We loved laying out, watching the waves crash and photographing that beautiful water. However, the waves were very big at Dreamland when we went (around 2:00pm). I’m not sure when the tide goes down but it was big enough that I didn’t want to swim.
It’s also hard to find shade at Dreamland Beach, so be prepared with an umbrella or get there early to secure a spot with shade. We had to sit at the very back below a huge rock and it wasn’t a great spot to lay out towels down.
Final Thoughts: Suluban Beach Review – Is It Worth It?
Suluban Beach is a hidden gem located in Uluwatu, Bali, offering a serene atmosphere, picturesque views and blue ocean waters.
If you love beach adventures, this is the beach for you! You do have to walk down some steep stairs to access this beach, but there’s a great reward for you at the bottom.
You’ll be surrounded by these natural limestone formations, hidden caves to explore and calm waters. This is the perfect destination for surfers and beach lovers to enjoy on the South West Coast of Bali.
Remember to bring at least Rp 5,000 in cash for parking and check the Surf Forecast before visiting. You want to aim for low tide so you can walk around the caves and lay down and relax on the sandy beach!
After Matthew and I visited other beaches in Uluwatu, Suluban Beach became our favorite. There’s plenty of shade (no sunburn here!), it’s unique with the rock formations and the water is very clean!
Have you visited Suluban Beach? What did you think of it?
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