Planning a Canggu surf trip? From waves and accomodation to beach bars and restaurants, here’s everything you’ll need to know!

This once sleepy, rice paddy covered slice of Bali has quickly grown into a pumping destination that attracts a huge array of surfers, hipsters, digital nomads and travellers from all over the world.

I’ve clocked up some serious beach time in Canggu over the last 8 years, with surfing being the main aim of the game – so if you’re planning your own Canggu surf trip this guide will definitely help you make the most of the surf and your budget!

Canggu Surf Guide – Everything You Need To Know

Where Is Canggu?

Canggu is situated on the West Coast of Bali, roughly 19km from the International Airport and north of spots like Kuta (15km away) and Seminyak (10km away).

If you’re flying into Bali and heading straight to Canggu, I’d recommend sorting an airport pickup in advance as the last thing you want to do after a long haul flight, is deal with the bombardment of the airport taxi setup!

Hit my buddy Buddah up on Whats App on +62 819 9785 1578 for an airport transfer of 250,000IDR (US$17/£13/AUD$25) and tell him I sent you his way! If you also need a SIM card on arrival, let him know and he can sort you out with that too.

Canggu Surf Season

When it comes to Canggu surf season, like the rest of the West Coast of Bali dry season is the go – which runs April through to October. Expect consistent, pumping swells throughout this period and good weather too!

Shoulder season is also pretty fun when it comes to surfing in Canggu too, with less people in the water as well.

The Waves

As Canggu as gained more and more popularity in the last 5 years, gone are the days of uncrowded lineups unfortunately – although if you’re lucky there’s still some mellow sessions to be had, espeically on a Saturday and Sunday morning when people are busy nursing their hangovers!

When it comes to waves in the area there’s something for everyone…

Batu Bolong

The main surf spot Canggu, this sits right in front of Old Mans Bar and is one of the most consistent waves. Can handle a huge range of swell size and is surfable on most tides. Beware of the crowds here though, and there’s also a lot of surf lessons going on!

Berawa

If you want to escape the crowds of the main part of Canggu, this punchy section down towards Finns Beach Club is good fun. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not going to be empty, but there are plenty of peaks to choose from.

Old Mans

Between Batu Balong and Echo Beach lies Old Mans (confusingly NOT in front of the bar with the same name!), which offers up slightly more punchier waves than Batu Bolong and is semi-reef. One of my personal favourites.

Echo Beach

Another of my favourites in the area, Echo Beach offers up both a reef and a beach break. The reef works best on a mid-tide and serves up some super fun lefts. There’s only one take off spot though so best to avoid it if it’s crowded. On the other hand, the beach break offers a variety of peaks and is heaps of fun too with heaps of punchy sections to play with.

…and if you really want to escape the crowds, the further north out of Canggu you get the more empty the waves!

 

Where To Stay

When it comes to places to stay in Canggu you can find something to fit all styles and budgets. Whether you want pumping backpacker hostels, great value guesthouses or full on 5* luxury surf hotels, there’s something for everyone.

Here are some of my top picks though…

Hotels

Click on the links to check the latest rates and availability.

• Frii Hotel – on the road parallel to Batu Balong so walking distance from everything. Great hotel option for 20-35’s as it attracts a younger crowd.
• Eastin Ashta – one of the newest hotels in Canggu. Lush pool and walking distance from the beach.
• Aston Canggu – a super popular option due to the fact that it’s only a 1 minute walk from Old Mans and the beach
• COMO Uma – this absolutely stunning hotel down towards Echo Beach is stylish and sustainable. A great option for those looking for chilled vibes right on the beach front. They’ve got an in-house surf school too.
• LV8 Resort – down towards Finns, LV8 is slap on the beachfront with an epic infinity pool, boasting some truly gorgeous suites, including some with private pools!
• Hotel Tugu – want something a little more traditional but with all the comforts of a high end hotel? Hotel Tugu is the place to book.

Expect to pay anything from 300,000IDR (USD$20/£16/AUD$30) upwards for a hotel in Canggu, with higher end options like Eastin Ashta setting you back around 1.4millionIDR (USD$97/£76/AUD$140)

As with most places in the world, there’s a huge spread of prices so use the map below to check out some of the options around Canggu.

Booking.com

 

Guesthouses

Click on the links to check the latest rates and availability.

• Hello Canggu Homestay
• Laksmi Guesthouse 
• Nari Homestay
• V&V Guesthouse 
• Putu Guesthouse
• Kayuri Guesthouse
• June Guesthouse
• Pondok Canggu Homestay

Guesthouses tend to work out cheaper than traditional hotels, but again there’s a huge range for all styles and budgets. Budget options around Canggu can be found for as little as $20AUD per night for a private double, just be aware the closer to the beach you get, and the nicer the setup (including pools!), the more pricey it gets.

If you’re staying long-term, guesthouses are the way to go though, and most will offer weekly and monthly rates.

Personally, I recommend booking a night or two to start with (to check it out!), and then hunt around whilst you’re here as you’ll get better rates negotiating in person. Just be aware that getting a room long term in peak season can involve a bit more effort and a higher price range though.
 

Hostels

Click on the links to check the latest rates and availability.

• The Farm
• Layday Surf Hostel
• Kosone Hostel
• Yana Guesthouse (they now have dorm rooms + privates)
• Mojo Surf Camp & Hostel
• 68 Rooms

Again, prices on hostels vary a lot, from budget dorms to luxurious boutique hostels – so no matter what your budget you’ll be well catered for.

Got any Canggu accomodation recommendations? Add them to the comments and I’ll check them out!
 

Canggu Surf Camps

Looking to learn to surf in and around Canggu? Well these Canggu surf camps are an epic option to meet heaps of new travel buddies and enjoy the waves.

Mojo

Based on the main strip, just a short walk from the beach in Mojo Canggu. With clean, comfortable A/C dorms and private rooms, as well as a refreshing pool it’s a great option for those who want to be within walking distance of everything. They also offer some epic island hopper surf trips too.

LaPoint

Full of Scandinavian hospitality. LaPoint surf camps always deliver high quality surf camp experiences and their Canggu base is no exception. Expect great guides, epic accomodation and a pretty lush pool too!

Kima Surf

A truly stunning surf camp – Kima Surf Canggu combines boho sheek with epic coaching and is perfect for those who want a bit more luxury with their surf camp experience, just 250m from the beach.

Canggu Surf Schools

As well as the above Canggu surf camps, there’s lots of surf school options as well. The best bet for this is to head to the beach front and chat to the surf hire guys who also offers lessons.

A great way to support the locals and it won’t break the bank either!
 

Board Hire

When it comes to surfboard hire in Canggu again the beach hire guys are the way to go – with a huge array of options to choose from. If you’re hiring for a few days (or longer) you can haggle a discounted rate too.

However, if you’re heading to Canggu for a while, I’d recommend brining your own board with you, or stopping in at one of the many surf shops and grabbing yourself a freshie.

Where To Eat In Canggu

Canggu is absolutely packed with epic places to eat and foodies will be in absolute heaven here! When it comes to a post surf refuel you’ve got everything from Warungs (great value, local restaurants) right through to high end fine dinning.

A couple of my personal favourite though:

• Crate
• Bettlenut
• Grass Terrace
• Luigis
• Nonii

 

Canggu Nightlife

When the sun sets, the party begins and Canggu is renowned for it’s epic party vibes! There are plenty of spots to choose from – whether you want to dance on the sand, sip cocktails by the pool or even watch the action from the side of a skate bowl.

Check out these awesome Canggu nights out:

• Old Mans
• Deus
• Luigis
• The Lawn
• Sandbar
• Pretty Poison

Check out my other Canggu Guide for a rundown of happy hours and drinks deals

 

How Much To Budget For Canggu

Accommodation – This is going to be a huge deciding factor in how much you need to budget for Canggu. There’s everything from huge luxury villas to quaint guesthouses, hotels and hostels. If you’re looking for a clean, comfortable and modern guest-house, budget around AUD$30-40 per night

If you’re staying long term (1 month +), the same guess house will drop to around 200,000IDR (USD$13/£10/AUD$20) per night for the monthly rate.

Food – much like accommodation, eating is going to have a big impact on your overall budget. Local warungs will provide a solid feed for under 35,000IDR (USD$2.5/£1.90/AUD$3.50) whereas restaurants will be anything from 70,000IDR (USD$4.80/£3.80/AUD$7) upwards. My advice – mix it up as the local food is incredible and will help keep your overall spend down.

Activities – the activities around Canggu (including day trips elsewhere in Bali) cover all price points. Here are some average costs of the main ones;

• Ubud day trip = 600,000IDR (USD$41/£32/AUD$60) up to 5 people
• Surf lesson (local) = 400,000IDR (USD$27/£21/AUD$40) per person
• Surf lesson (surf camp, fully certified instructor) = 720,000IDR (USD$50/£40/AUD$72) per person
• Mount Batur hike = 600,000pp (USD$41/£32/AUD$60) based on 3 people sharing or 400,000IDR (USD$27/£21/AUD$40) based on 6 sharing
• Tanah Lot day trip = 350,000IDR (USD$24/£19/AUD$35) up to 5 people
• Yoga class = around 130,000IDR (USD$9/£7/AUD$13) or discounted for bulk booking classes
• Nusa Penida day trip = 800,000IDR (USD$55/£43/AUD$80) per person
• Back Massage = 110,000IDR (USD$7.50/£6/AUD$11) for 60mins full body

Scooter hire – daily, you’ll be looking at paying around 50,000IDR (USD$3.50/£2.70/AUD$5), or if you hire for a month around 800,000IDR (USD$55/£43/AUD$80) which brings it down to 26,000IDR (USD$1.80/£1.40/AUD$2.60) per day. Rates are always negotiable so ask around, and if you’re there for a week plus always ask for a good chunk off.

 

Want more info on where to stay and non surfing fun in Canggu?

Check out my full Canggu Guide!