Bali – Kuta Beach
Kuta, Bali, Indonesia
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: April–October
Kuta Beach is the long stretch of sand on Bali's south-west coast, between the airport and Legian, in the busiest tourist area of the island. Indian Ocean swells break on shifting sandbanks along the whole beach, giving peaky lefts and rights that are usually smaller and softer than on the reefs of the Bukit Peninsula. During the dry season, roughly April to October, the south-east trade winds blow offshore, especially in the mornings; in the wet season, from about November to March, westerly winds often make it messy.
The beach is the classic place in Bali to learn to surf, and the inside whitewater is full of beginners and surf lessons, while the outer banks suit intermediates on bigger days. Rip currents are common, especially near the river mouths and on bigger swells, so stay between the lifeguard flags if you are not confident and keep clear of swimmers. The water is warm all year, about 27–29 °C, so a rash vest and sun protection are all you need.
Spots near Bali – Kuta Beach
- Canggu – Batu Bolong (8 km)
- Bali – Balangan (9 km)
- Sanur (10 km)
- Bali – Bingin (11 km)
- Bali – Padang Padang (12 km)
- Uluwatu (14 km)
- Bali – Keramas (23 km)
- Nusa Lembongan – Shipwrecks (31 km)