Published
The reefs below the cliffs, when they work, and where to start if you are new to the water.
Uluwatu is one of the great surfing coasts, and the reefs that draw people here have done so for decades. The waves break along the base of the cliffs, left-handers for the most part, fast and dependable through the dry season.
The main break sits below the temple, with several sections that suit different tides and swells. Racetrack and the Peak are the names you will hear. On a clean morning the walls line up a long way down the reef.
May to September is the heart of the season, when the offshore wind holds and the swell is most consistent. The wet months are quieter and can still bring good days, though the wind is less reliable.
This is expert water for the most part. The reef is shallow and the current runs hard on a big day. Padang Padang, Bingin and Impossibles sit close by and give a range of options, and Bingin in particular has gentler corners on a smaller swell.
If you are learning, the beach breaks further north around Kuta are the sensible place to start, then bring what you find back to the Bukit. We can point you to a local guide who knows which reef is working on the day.
You do not have to surf to enjoy it. The cliff above the temple is one of the best seats in Bali for watching the sets roll in, especially late in the afternoon as the light drops.
