Tucked at the base of a cliff on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula is the beautiful Green Bowl Beach. Two rocky caves line this small stretch of sand and the great waves offshore make this a popular spot among surfers. The steps down the cliff to reach the shore may be steep, but we’d say it’s worth it to visit this pretty little beach! Here are the details to help you plan a visit.

Getting to Green Bowl Beach

Green Bowl Beach sits at the very south end of the Bukit Peninsula. It is located a ways away from Uluwatu’s town center and other towns on the peninsula, so unless your hotel is nearby, you’ll likely need to rent a car or motorbike, take a taxi or rideshare, or hire a driver.

If you hire a Grab or Gojek, note that they may have to drop you a short ways down the road from the upper parking area because the local taxi drivers and those running the beach toll booths generally don’t permit ride shares to access the area. Whether you take a taxi or rideshare, it may be best to organize a return time with the driver to come pick you up because service is a bit spotty and the beach is a ways out of town where there aren’t as many driving about.

If you drive a bike or car, park in the parking lot above the beach. If you hire a driver for the day, they will also wait for you here. We hired a driver for several hours because there were four of us planning to hit a couple beaches in the area. It’s a very affordable way to get around, especially if you’re in a group! Each of our drivers that drove us from the airport a couple days before had offered to drive us on any excursions, so we went with one of them. There are also various companies listed online that you can hire a driver through.

Once at the parking area, head towards the cliffside and take the stairs down to the beach. Be careful of the monkeys in the parking lot and along the trail! More on that below. The way down doesn’t take too long, but there are a few hundred steps running steeply down the cliff.

Visiting Green Bowl Beach

Fees

Beach Entry: Rp.5000 per person payable by cash only

Parking: Rp.2000 for a motorbike, Rp.5000 for a car payable by cash only

Amenities

There are no amenities actually on Green Bowl Beach. Any amenities are located near the parking area at the top of the cliff.

Restrooms: There are toilets and changing area near the parking area. We didn’t use them but we’d guess they charge a small fee as many public restrooms in Indonesia do.

Food & Drink: There are a couple warungs near the parking area where you can buy a coconut, cold beer, water, other drinks, and some snacks like chips, fruit, and ice cream. They also serve some local dishes, like nasi and mie goreng. Occasionally, there will be vendors selling drinks down on the beach.

Gear Rentals: There is no beach gear like umbrellas or chairs for rent here. The warung near the parking area may have some surf boards available to rent – it did not look like they had boards for beginners.

Beach Details

Green Bowl Beach is very small. During high tide, it can be very difficult to access as the sea covers most of the shore and crashes over the rocky area right at the bottom of the stairs. So, we’d recommend checking the tides before you go.

We’d generally recommend arriving early as permitted by the tides. This beach doesn’t get overly crowded because it is somewhat secluded and requires a steep hike down, but since the stretch of sand is small, space on the sand is limited. The small sandy area is surrounded by rugged cliffs covered in vegetation. It really is quite picturesque!

Two large caves sit on the beach, providing some shade. There are a few shrines further into one of the caves. Don’t enter unless you are appropriately covered and please be respectful of the area and any who come to visit and pray.

Monkeys are known to hang out around the beach. We only saw them in the parking area, but many people have had their phones, sunglasses, food, and other belongings snatched by monkeys on the stairs down to the beach and on the beach. So keep a careful eye on your belongings.

Green Bowl isn’t the best for taking a casual swim because there are many rocks and coral in the water and the currents can be strong. But, there can be some calmer moments and some sandy spots just by the shore for a dip, depending on the sea level. This beach is popular among surfers who you’ll likely see paddling a ways out to catch waves. During low tide, the offshore rocks become exposed and many little tidepools form.

One last thing we wanted to note is that there are a couple ladies selling bracelets, sarongs, and other goods on the beach. They are very pushy and will not easily leave you alone. Just firmly say no if you’re not interested. Even then, they may still persist for a while but will eventually move along.

What to Bring to Green Bowl Beach

Cash: You will have to pay the entry and parking fees in cash

Water

Food: If you want to bring snacks or a packed lunch to enjoy at the beach. Again, make sure all food is secured out of reach of the monkeys.

Water Shoes: The beach and surface under the water is rocky, so bring shoes you can wear in the water if you plan to take a dip.

Swimsuit & Towel: We’d recommend wearing your swimsuit. Bring a towel and/or beach blanket to lay out if desired.

Sun Protection: A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Beach Gear: If desired, bring your surf board, beach chair, and other misc. things you may want on the beach. Remember that you’ll have to carry it all back up the cliff!

Camera: If you’d like to capture the beauty of this beach.

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