Lovina

Lovina is a group of seven traditional villages along the north coast to the west of Singaraja. The whole stretch of coastline in the north is fringed by quite narrow black sand beaches, which are accessed by a multitude of small lanes. The beaches are generally safe for swimming, and the waters of Bali’s north coast, in direct contrast to the crashing surf of the south, are relatively calm. From a distance, the water does not look too clean due to the colour of the sand but it is in fact almost always crystal clear.

Diving, snorkelling, fishing, dolphin watching, are the main activities, but perhaps above all else, this is an area in which to relax and take in a very slow, traditional pace of life. Lovina is ideal for family groups with young children or older adventurers who want to kick back and quickly become part of the community. It can get a little crowded in July and August, but outside that peak season, this is a quiet part of the island.

Lovina also has a large number of tourist stalls which are limited to the area of beach between the dolphin statue and the main restaurant road. The stall holders are not as aggresive as those in other parts of Bali. Open air bars often provide loud, live music in which patrons can participate and it’s not unusual to see foreigners jamming with locals. Many foreigners have made this locality home and the place gets busy at sundown when both locals and foreigners come down to the beach for ‘happy hour’ and a good meal. There is a nightly game of beach volleyball happening in the car park in front of the main bars too.

This is a good area for walking as the roads are relatively quiet and the beaches long and easily passable. Renting a bicycle is popular. Local bemos ply the north coast road between Singaraja and West Bali, stopping at all points on the Lovina stretch. You will need some patience and they can be very crowded indeed. As there is only one main road it is though hard to get lost.