Looking for gems off the beaten path? Then head to Northern Bali, because it is filled with ecotourism that will surely BLOW YOUR MIND. Bali’s ecotourism is one of the reasons why I chose it as my travel destination. The northern region is lush, green, and bubbling with agriculture. There are so many areas that looks untouched.
The one thing I looked forward to the most in Northern Bali were the waterfalls. There’s is an abundance of beautiful waterfalls located in the Bueleleng regency. You’ll find several Airbnbs and resorts located in Singaraja and Lovina, two towns located in the Bueleleng regency. The most popular waterfall in this area is GitGit waterfall and is known to be saturated with tourists. But if you’re looking for something more rural and less saturated with tourists, I recommend going to Banyumala Twin Waterfalls. I chose to see Banyumala Twin Waterfalls over GitGit and it’s a decision I don’t regret.
Banyumala Twin Waterfalls is about an hour drive south of Lovina and Singaraja. Even though the waterfalls is less than 20 miles away, it takes a while to travel to any destination due to traffic and road conditions. So make sure to start your day early and plan wisely if you want to accomplish a lot in one day.
The road to Bunyumala is both treacherous and difficult to find, so finding a local driver with an AWD is A MUST. Much to our surprise, hiring a driver is very affordable. Hiring a driver for a day tour can be as low as 450,000 rupiah, which is equivalent to $30 USD. Traveling to the waterfalls by moped or motorcycle is also another option. To rent a moped for the day can range from 30,000 to 50,000 rupiah, which is equivalent to $2.00 to $3.50 USD.
The road that leads to Bunyumala is an unnamed road located right off Jl. Raya Winigiri, which is along the northern perimeter of Danau Buyan Lake. This unnamed road can be found next to Wisata “Selfie” Puncak Wanagiri, which is a tourist park for photo ops. The exact address for the selfie park is Jl. Raya Wanagiri, Pancasari, Sukasada, Kabupaten Buleleng, Bali 81161, Indonesia. Right before heading to Bunyumala Falls, I suggest dropping by here for some IG worthy photos. For 5,000 rupiahs ($0.35 USD), you can take photos in human nests and swings, with the beautiful lake as your backdrop. The unnamed road to Bunyumala Falls is less than 200 meters from the from the selfie park. The token sign to look for is a yellow sign with a blue arrow that says “Villa Wana.” Once you’re on this road, travel 2.3 kilometers down the road until you reach a parking lot on your right side. If you see a restaurant in the parking lot, then you’ve arrived at the right place.
The exact coordinates for the waterfalls is (-8.2171309,115.1019039).
Once you’re parked, the rest is traveling by foot. You’ll travel further down the road and take a left on a cemented path. Travel down this path for about 10 minutes and you’ll reach a bamboo hut with a local who will charge you 5,000 rupiah ($0.35 USD) to enter the trail. The trip down to the waterfall can take another 10 and 15 minutes. During the trek down, take in the beautiful scenery. As I was walking down the trail I noticed the foggy mist settling in the jungle. It is such an alluring experience. Aside from the exotic scenery, what really took struck me was the miles of hydrangea fields surrounding the trail. The climate in the north Bali is ideal for growing hydrangeas, so they’re grown in abundance. Once you get to the the end of the trail be very careful. It is very steep and slippery.
Once you finally reach the waterfall, the view is astounding. Emerging through the greenery are two waterfalls crashing into a pool of water. If you’re a poor swimmer, don’t worry, the pool isn’t deep at all. To my surprise, there was less than 20 people there and most were locals. I honestly wouldn’t of wanted it any other way. The small crowd made the experience more intimate and authentic. The twin waterfalls are the main attraction, but if you take a short 5 minute walk down the riverbank, you’ll find three more small waterfalls. This place is truly a gem and I suggest not missing out on it. If you have time, GitGit Waterfall, Aling-Aling Waterfall, and Sekumpal Waterfall are other amazing gems that are in the area.
Banyumala Waterfalls are amazing twin waterfalls in Bali. The approach road to these waterfalls is through a dense forest and painstaking but the moment you reach the waterfalls, you will forget all the pain taken to reach them. They are worth every drop of your sweat. The water is clean which makes swimming easy and the views are also splendid. You will never feel like leaving the place. The place also has public conveniences like washrooms and changing rooms so you don’t have to worry about anything. Definitely recommended..
I have to agree, it is definitely worth the hike! Thanks for reading!