Uluwatu hotels in Pecatu, Indonesia

Puru Uluwatu is a temple located at the top of a 70-metre high cliff in the far south of Bali. It faces southwest from the Bukit Headland to the Indian Ocean. The views from the temple are worth seeing, but Uluwatu’s chief attraction is the surfing. Uluwatu is on the opposite coast of Bukit and has a large collection of luxury holiday resorts.

Breaks at Uluwatu cater to surfers from beginners to those who practice the sport professionally. The five main breaks include the Bombie and Racetracks. Many professionals say the hollow walls at Uluwatu are perfect for surfing waves. Uluwatu is good for surfing almost any day of the year, but experts say the best waves are during the May to October dry season.

The Bukit Peninsula has other attractions—the best of these is the beaches. Pantai Geger stretches down the shoreline of Nusa Dua offers beautiful, golden sands. An offshore reef keeps waves low and the beach is ideal for youngsters and non-swimmers. The blow hole at the top end of the beach is one of Bali’s best-known natural draws. Pandawa is another excellent beach and the turtles at Serangan Island are another popular attraction.

Uluwatu and the rest of the Bukit Peninsula offer places to eat from simple shacks to plush restaurants at five-star resorts. Visitors can choose seafood barbecues, nasi campur, US-style sandwiches, and pies. Nightlife here is not for party-animals, but most of the cafés serve up ice-cold beers. Cocktails and wines are limited to guests at the resorts.

Uluwatu is not Bali’s finest shopping destination. Despite this, holidaymakers looking for souvenirs will find a fair amount. There are a few stalls near Puru Uluwatu Temple that sell statues, batik scarves, and other smaller items. Upmarket hotels often have in-house shops selling better quality products such as hand-made jewellery, ceramics, and the famous Balinese masks.