Best Surf Spots in Canggu for Beginners and Pros

For beginners, Batu Bolong (Old Man’s) is the absolute best surf spot in Canggu thanks to its long, gentle peelers and sandy-ish bottom. Pros and advanced intermediates should head straight to Echo Beach or Pererenan for faster, punchier waves and hollow sections that actually offer some barrel time. Whether you are just standing up or carving like a pro, Canggu’s coastline has a break that fits your skill level.

The Canggu Surf Vibe

Canggu has transformed from a sleepy coastal village into the epicentre of Bali’s surf and social scene. For Australians and New Zealanders, it is basically a second home. The vibe is a mix of salty hair, Bintang singlets, and high-end digital nomad cafes. But despite the trendy beach clubs, the heart of ‘The Gu’ is still the surf. The coastline is divided into several key breaks, each with its own personality. Before you paddle out, you need to know where you fit in the lineup. Pushing your limits is great, but dropping in on a pro at Echo Beach when you can barely pop up is a recipe for a bad time.

Best for Beginners: Batu Bolong (Old Man’s)

If you are looking for canggu surf for beginners, Batu Bolong is your mecca. This is the most famous longboard wave in Bali, and for good reason. The wave breaks over a deep volcanic reef, creating a slow, ‘fat’ wave that gives you plenty of time to find your feet.

Why Beginners Love It

• Long Rides: You can often ride a wave for 50 to 100 metres here.
• Forgiving Shape: The wave doesn’t ‘dump’ or close out quickly; it peels slowly.
• Social Atmosphere: It’s a busy lineup, but generally very friendly. You’ll see everyone from 5-year-old local groms to 70-year-old expats.

Pro Tip: Rent a 9-foot foamie or a hard longboard from the local vendors on the beach. It should cost you about 50,000 to 100,000 IDR for two hours. Just make sure to see plans for your data before you head down so you can message your mates when the sets start rolling in.

Intermediate Territory: Berawa Beach

Berawa is situated a bit further south and offers a bit more punch than Batu Bolong. It’s a great spot if you’ve mastered the basics and want to try shorter boards or work on your turns. It’s a shifting peak, meaning the waves break in different spots depending on the tide and sandbanks. This spreads the crowd out a bit more than the main Canggu breaks.

What to Expect at Berawa

• Mixed Peaks: Lefts and rights are both available.
• Power: It has more ‘push’ than Old Man’s, so you’ll need a bit more paddle strength.
• The Current: Be prepared for a bit of a sweep; you might find yourself 200 metres down the beach after ten minutes of paddling.

Where the Pros Play: Echo Beach and Pererenan

Once you move past the beginner stage, the waves at the northern end of Canggu get serious. Echo Beach is famous for its ‘Sandbar’ and ‘Echo Lefts.’ These waves are fast, hollow, and can be quite heavy when the swell picks up.

Echo Beach (The Sandbar)

This is a high-performance shortboard wave. It’s shallow, fast, and often crowded with incredibly talented local and international surfers. If you aren’t confident in your take-off, this isn’t the spot for you. However, watching the sunset from the sea wall while the pros tear this wave apart is a Canggu rite of passage.

Pererenan

Just across the river mouth from Echo Beach lies Pererenan. This is a powerful right-hand reef break that offers some of the best shape in the area. It’s consistent and can handle a larger swell better than the beach breaks. Expect a competitive lineup here; the locals know this wave intimately.

Staying Connected While You Search for Waves

Nothing ruins a surf trip like getting lost on your scooter in the backstreets of Canggu or being unable to call a Gojek because your ‘International Day Pass’ has run out of data. Most Aussie and Kiwi travellers are used to Telstra or Optus charging $10 a day for a measly amount of roaming data. That is a ‘lazy tax’ you don’t need to pay.

With AussieRoam, you can see plans that connect you directly to Indonesia’s top networks like Telkomsel (5G), XL (4G), and Indosat (5G). Telkomsel is generally considered the gold standard for coverage, especially if you decide to head into the hills of Ubud or the more remote spots in East Bali.

Our eSIMs are data-only, meaning you don’t get a local Balinese phone number, but you don’t need one. Everything in Bali runs on WhatsApp. You can call your surf guide, book a table at Mason, or order a Grab using your Aussie or Kiwi WhatsApp account over our data connection.

Comparison: AussieRoam vs. Home Carrier Roaming

Feature	AussieRoam eSIM	Telstra/Optus Roaming
Daily Cost	No daily fees; pay for a fixed plan	$5 - $10 per day
Network	Local Tier-1 (Telkomsel/XL)	Roaming partner (often throttled)
Setup	Digital download in seconds	Automatic (easy to overspend)
Flexibility	Top-up anytime	Hard to track usage
Local Speed	5G/4G local priority	Often deprioritised

How to Install Your Bali eSIM

Don't wait until you land at Denpasar (DPS) airport to find a SIM card. The queues are long, the prices are inflated for tourists, and you’ll be stuck in the heat while a guy tries to poke a paperclip into your phone. Instead, install your eSIM at the airport in Sydney, Melbourne, or Auckland before you board.

1. First, check if your phone is ready for eSIM technology. Most iPhones from the XS onwards and recent Samsung/Google Pixels are good to go.
2. Purchase your plan and receive your QR code via email.
3. Follow our easy setup guide to scan the code and add the data plan to your phone.
4. When you land in Bali, simply turn on the eSIM line and enable ‘Data Roaming’ for that specific line. You’ll have 5G signal before you even hit the immigration line.

Data Needs for Your Bali Trip

How much data do you actually need? If you are just using Google Maps and checking the Surfline forecast, a 3GB or 5GB plan might last you two weeks. But if you’re uploading 4K reels of your best waves to Instagram or TikTok, you’ll want to look at our 20GB or 50GB options. We also offer daily passes if you prefer a ‘set and forget’ approach. If you run out, topping up is easy through our site.

If your travels take you beyond Indonesia, perhaps to catch the cherry blossoms in Japan or to explore the islands in Thailand, we have you covered there too. If you're heading to Thailand next, check our Guide to Patong Beach Nightlife or the Best Rooftop Bars in Bangkok.

Surf Etiquette in Canggu

Because Canggu is so popular, the lineups can get frantic. To keep the vibes high and avoid a collision, follow these basic rules:

• Don't Drop In: The person closest to the peak has right of way.
• Paddle Wide: Don't paddle back out through the ‘impact zone’ where others are riding.
• Communicate: If you are going left or right, give a shout so others know your intent.
• Respect the Locals: Balinese surfers are some of the best and friendliest in the world. Give them respect, and they will usually share the stoke with you.

The bottom line

Canggu is a world-class surf destination that caters to every level. From the longboard heaven of Batu Bolong to the technical reef breaks of Pererenan, you are guaranteed to find a wave that makes your trip. Just remember to skip the expensive roaming charges from home. Grab an AussieRoam eSIM, install it before you fly, and spend the money you save on an extra round of Bintangs at sunset. Stay connected, stay safe, and enjoy the surf.