Waterfalling In Love With Ubud
Heading to Bali but want to skip the party scene? Ubud is the place for you. Relax into its sweet zen-like atmosphere that has attracted Yogis for years and soak up its natural beauty, including a slew of stellar waterfalls.
Ubud, unlike its tourist-heavy cousin Kuta, is tucked in the central highlands of Bali. Visiting this area is a very welcome breath of fresh air after the bustling chaos of southwestern Bali. This isn’t to say that Ubud isn’t a bustling place itself, because it is (thanks Julia Roberts…). You’ll still be asked if you want a taxi or massage every few minutes, though the calm atmosphere and laid back attitude makes it easier to settle in and relax.
Hidden among Ubud’s lush greenery are several waterfalls, some more popular than others. Most are east of Ubud’s city center and renting a scooter and scoot-scooting around to find them makes for a very fun (and semi-sweaty) day. Each has an entrance fee of about about 10,000 IDR ($0.75 USD), so it’s best to have small bills with you before you begin your waterfall scavenger hunt. And bug spray, you’ll want that too. Along the way, stop by rice fields, admire the flowers and gawk at the larger than life leafs.
Waterfalls of Ubud
01.
TIBUMANA
As far as waterfalls go, this one is your average looker and if I asked ten people to draw a picture of a waterfall - any waterfall - their artistic masterpieces would come out looking something similar to Tibumana.
To reach this waterfall, enjoy a quick walk through a little jungle oasis until you find yourself in an open area.
02.
DUSUN KUNING
You will do a fair amount of huffing and puffing to get to this waterfall as it is a steep climb down (and back up, of course). At one point there is even a 90 degree wall of rocks. It’s also slippery. So, all that is to say…. good luck!
Despite the awkward climbing, flailing, slipping and close calls of falling, Dusun Kuning is well worth the trek. This waterfall quietly goes about its day without a care in the world, with water gracefully running down the rocks and falling quietly into a warm pool below. (How’s that for poetic?)
03.
KANTO LAMPO
This one is tricky to find and may require several stops to ask for directions from locals. These “directions” will mostly be arbitrary hand gestures, but you’ll get there eventually.
This is best saved for last as there is a 110% chance of getting wet. To see the waterfall properly you must wade into the water and climb up rocks. Seeing as waterfalls are, in fact, watery, you will surely be drenched afterwards. Driving back in wet clothes isn’t so bad though because it cools you down from the toasty sun and makes for a nice breeze, which is the closest you’ll get to AC on a motorbike.
04.
TUKAD CEPUNG
Getting to this waterfall is pretty sweet as it involves a walk through a small, lush canyon. Along the way there are ginormous boulders, which you will wade under and past. I love that they block the view ahead so it’s feels as if your entering a mysterious unknown area, like the secret garden of waterfalls, if you will.
Past the boulders is a beautiful jungle area and at the end of that is a large opening to a cave. The waterfall is inside the cave and is quite a sight. I loved the remoteness of this one and the short adventure to get to it that made me feel like a little explorer.
waterfall map
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