.

TravelTips24 : Asia : Southeast Asia : Indonesia : Bali : Lovina

Lovina

Lovina Beach is a long narrow strech of black volcano sand on the north shore of Bali. Virtually empty most of the year, Lovina, like most of Bali, fills up with tourists from all over the world in August. It is a nice break from the bustle of Kuta.

Regions

Cities

  • Kalibukbuk — The largest and most developed part of the beach is just two streets of hotels, bars, restaurants, and dive shops running down to the beach.

Other destinations

Travel to Lovina & Visa Requirements

By Bus

Perama offers transportation all around Bali to all mayor tourist destinations. They use small mini buses without air conditioning and the prices are reasonable. Prices and timetables can be found on their website [1].

Bemo’s are the public transport buses. They are extremely cheap, however you need have some patience and Bemo’s can be crowded. They are a challenge for the experienced traveler.

By Car

You can hire a car and drive up from the South. Far better, given the relative costs and the roads/driving in Bali, hire a driver and car. You can travel from Kuta in less than 3hrs and from the airport or Sanur in about 2.30hrs. You will travel through (Pura Ulun Danau) Bedugul and could go the pretty way through Munduk if you are not in a hurry. So you could stop to take in the temple, lakes and rice paddies on your trip and make a day of it.

Tours & Getting around Lovina

By scooter

The easiest way to visit the surroundings of Lovina is by renting a scooter. The roads are pretty good and are not as crowded as the rest of Bali. You can rent them by just asking the boys on the street.

Lovina attractions and sightseeing

Your guesthouse can (and will offer repeatedly to) arrange day tours to the neaby sights including waterfalls, hot springs, and temples and the beautiful scenery of Munduk.

Itineraries

193.217.172.205 01:31, 16 August 2008 (EDT)==Do==

  • Air Panas/ Banjar Hot Springs — Located west of Lovina, Air Panas is an enchanting hot springs with stone carved mouths gushing water among a lush garden setting. A nominal entrance fee is charged.
  • Expect to be offered dolphin sighting trips every other minute. These trips leave each morning and have very mixed reviews as the boats tend to outnumber the dolphins, but it can still be an enjoyable ride. Prices are fixed by a dolphin cartel, they are around 50.000 (4 euro)
  • Snorkeling and scuba diving trips leave from Kalibukbuk for Deer Island and other north shore dive spots. There are several dive operators based out of Lovina that operate daily dive trips to Menjanan Island, Tulamben and Amed, as well as night dives from the local shore. Spice Divers [2] are based out of Lovina and offer day trips to all of the dive spots on the northern shore. Guides are available in a variety of languages and multi-day discounts are available.
  • Cockfights are held around lovina. You will see around Lovina many older people training the cocks, just ask them to bring you to a fight.

Spa

Lovina is lucky to have several spa facilities. While a little more low key than the spas to the south, the service is excellent and the prices, being much less than the opulent spas in the south, are an excellent value and well worth it.

  • Agung's Spa [3] — offers body scrubs, facials, massage, etc. It is also the nicest spa facility in Lovina, though by Balinese standards it is much smaller and basic than what you would find elsewhere on the island.
  • Bali Samadhi Spa [4] (Tel. 081 338 558 260) — in Lovina offers a variety of massages. One is called Rebalancing Massage a very nice mixture between therapeutic and well-being massage. Mandi Lulur scrubs are available including the yogurt mask.

Diving

Lovina Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

  • Kakatua in Kalibukbuk is one the most popular with tourists and not without reason. The menu is varied, the staff friendly and you can see the food being prepared and cooked from fresh ingredients.

Lovina nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

  • Vulcano Bar, is the only and best disco in town. If you are around on Saturday and want to make some moves with locals, you should go here. Entrance is around 25.000 (one free drink included)
  • Jax Bar,lovina main road (opp Warung Aria), [6]. Live band every night, karaoke, pool room,darts board ,live sports including football on the biggest screen in lovina, dance floor, Chinese food,and probably the most extensive cocktail list in lovina,..... watch the big game sing on the karaoke, enjoy the band or just simply relax in lovina's newest nightspot... we even have a bouncy castle to keep the kids amused !!
  • Waru Bali is a cool place to get get a beer and watch the sun go down. One of the oldest warung in Kalibukbuk and still very popular. Stay late and you might enjoy a singalong with some of the locals.
  • Zigiz Bar, Jalan Binaria (the road down to the Dolphin-Statue on the Beach), [7]. Live acoustic guitar nightly. Large cocktail selection.

Lovina cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Widest range of villas and hotels in Bali, especially in lovina and handled by local company in North Bali. They offer various place of accommodation and day activities in North Bali.

Budget

  • Suma was a cheap and clean hostel, however it's renovated and lost it's backpackers mentality. It’s still a good place to stay due it’s nice swimmingpool and location. Prices are around 10 dollar.
  • Sanders is situated in central Lovina just next to the beach side. Rooms are clean and prices are around 50.000 (4 euro) for 2 persons, no hot water. It’s one of the best backpackers places in town.
  • Gede Homestay Bungalow is situated right at the beach, 2 kilometer of the Lovina center. The rooms are clean and prices are around 7 euro for 2 persons, the rooms have airco and hot water. It is a small family run homestay with a good restaurant and nice seats in front of the bungalows. www.gede-homestay.com
  • Elsa II A small but excellent new option in Kalibukbuk! Near the "Angsoka", in the middle of the village. Opened in 06/2008 offer you nice rooms, hotwater in private bathrooms, with fan or aircon, breakfast included from 70.000 Rp. a night.

  • Rini Hotel Since it opened in 1989, the Rini Hotel has become a popular

choice for travelers who appreciate its standards and value for money. Right in the heart of Lovina, in a large garden setting and just a few steps from he beach, the Rini Hotel provides comfortable accommodation for every budget. Families with children will find it as a favorable place and the location peaceful and safe. http://www.rinihotel.com

Mid-range

  • Rambutan Beach Cottages,Tel: +62 362 41388, [8]. A fine family hotel near the beach at Kalibukbuk (the center of Lovina). It has two pools and a pleasant restaurant with a mix of excellent local and western food. This hotel has superb rooms and gardens and many amenities for children. It is suitable for families and couples alike. The owners and staff are extremely helpful and friendly and the hotel offers all the services you will need on your holiday. Room prices per night from the budget $15 per double up to luxury villas from $85 to $155.

Splurge

  • Villa Santhi [10] — A private luxury home available for weekly rentals starting at 1000 Euro / week.
  • Villa Insulinde [11] — A private villa with personel for weekly rentals starting at 650 Euro / week.

Stay safe

Get out

 * Munduk

This page was last edited at 02:20, on 10 October 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by www.rzr.online.fr, David, Jani Patokallio, peter turner and Johny Canal, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license