Fun Things to do in Lovina besides relaxing at the pool or beach...

There are various things to do in Lovina even though this beach village is more a place of spending a holiday relaxing at the pool while reading a book and eating fresh fish every day.

Unlike the other beach villages located south of Bali, Lovina beach does not have the action and crowds. Everything is found in low numbers and spread out.

 

Mountains waking up in Lovina, North Bali...

 

The only tourist hot spot is Kalibubuk, which has small streets with shops, restaurants, hotels and tourist centres that can organize great things to do in Lovina.

In the evening these streets can be busy with travelers who come together to watch the magnificent sunsets and enjoy dinner at one of the fine restaurants.

The beaches at Lovina are covered with black volcanic sand and the sea is calm due to the reef. This offers a great opportunity for swimming and learning how to scuba dive.

 

things to do in Lovina: swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving

 

The reef is pretty poor, but the calm waters are ideal for beginners. All over town you can find shops which offer introductory courses and PADI certificate courses.

The clear water is also good for snorkeling, except in the months February and March because of heavy rains.

Here is our list of favorite things to do in Lovina and around:

 

Snorkeling:
The quality of the coral at Lovina beach could be better. However in the morning the water is really calm which is good for spotting several species of bright colored fish.

If you plan on snorkeling, ask the boat man to take you further away from the shore and ask to pass the areas where the other boats usually stop. It is more likely that you will find a better reef there.

For just Rp. 50.000 you will get snorkeling gear and also a wonderful boat trip with magnificent views of the mountain range from the sea. The snorkeling gear and boat can be arranged at your hotel reception or at the beach.

If you want to see more colorful corals and fish than you should head to Menjangan island, a 40 minutes drive from Lovina. Here you can arrange boats to take you on diving or snorkeling trips.

Dolphin trip:
This the definitely one of the best things do to in Lovina. We had a great time during this tour.

Despite waking up early in the morning, we were all wide awake on the boat and were actively spotting for dolphins. It was exciting to see the dolphins jump out of the water or to see them swimming close to our boat.

Singsing Waterfalls:
This waterfall plunges in a small water pool where you can take a very cold refreshing swim.

The icy water might not be comfortable in the beginning, but trust me it's great to swim in.

Ideal for those who've always wanted to swim under a waterfall...

Banjar hot springs:
Another one of the great things to do in Lovina is paying a visit to the Banjar Hot Springs which are beautifully set along a river gorge and in a lush tropical garden. This makes bathing in a 38 degrees hot-spring even more special.

I thought the water would be too warm in the tropics, but once I was standing under the water spewing dragon statue I knew why hot springs attract so many people...

Singaraja City:
Even though the Dutch had to leave Singaraja there are still architectural reminders of their influence, especially near the former harbor.

Here you can still see the old coffee and tobacco warehouses, the antique bridge, the white colonial houses and the statue of freedom fighter I Longtong, who points with his finger to sea...

Visit Bali Northern Lakes:
One of the nice things to do in Lovina is to go for a day trip to the big lakes in northern Bali.

You can either go for a drive to Lake Batur or go for a round trip along Lake Bratan where you can visit the Temple Ulun Batur, the fruit market and Botanical garden.

From here you can then drive along the twin lakes Buyan and Tamblingan.

Cultural activities:
The local cultural group, Yayasan Budaya den Bukit Lovina organizes many cultural activities such as rice pounding, cooking and dancing.

There are also bull races which are held every Friday afternoon at 4 o’clock. Go to the tour agencies in town and they will be able to help you out on the cultural things to do in Lovina.

Lovina Bali Spa:
Like any other village in Bali you can enjoy a relaxing Bali spa. Most resorts offer all kinds of massages such as full body massage, head, neck and shoulder massage or reflexology.

But there are several independent spas in town as well especially in Kalibubuk. If you want to learn massage techniques Araminth Spa offers training courses.

Lovina Nightlife:
It may not come as a surprise that Lovina doesn't have the nightclubs such as Kuta, Legian and Seminyak. Nevertheless there is some entertainment going on once the sun as set.

In Kalibukbuk you can find a handful of bars which all offer live music every night. Some look like places where you can hang out and enjoy a beer while at others it seems that the main goal of being there is to find somebody of the opposite sex (no offense...;-)

Relax and stay at Pemuteran village to explore The National Park and Menjangan island

Pemuteran village:
This little village is an ideal get away for those who want to relax after a snorkeling or bali scuba diving trip.

From here it's just a short drive to Menjangan island where you can enjoy beautiful coral reefs.

There are many nice accommodations to choose from in Pemuteran, most of them located along the beach.

West Bali National Park:
This park is located on the western tip of Bali and is the most important conservation area of the island.

There are treks from 1 or 2 hours to 7 hours. You are not allowed to enter the park without a guide.

Guides can be arranged a day before at the headquarters at Cekik (North-West Bali). Many resorts in Pemuteran can arrange a tour to the park for you as well.