Old Man’s Beach Canggu

Old Man’s Beach at the end of Jalan Batu Bolong is famous for three things; its beach, the surf and watching the sunset at Old Man’s Bar.

But if you are into your surfing and love escaping the crowds and enjoying sun baking and relaxing then Old Man’s Beach is perfect.

Most people who are holidaying in the Canggu area will at one point in time make their way down to Old Man’s to see what all the talk is about. The place has gained some notoriety in the last couple of years as the popularity of Canggu increased. We have all noticed what’s going on in the area with the massive explosion (for want of a better word) of villas, eateries, pharmacies, shops and homestays catering for those backpackers. Guess what? They all head on over to Old Man’s for a drink and to party/. Whilst it’s not necessarily a nite club it does have a reputation as a party venue.

Obviously, the location, festive holiday vibe, cheap alcohol as food all lend themselves to make this one of the fashionable and trendy bars north of Seminyak. Everyone knows about it and the crowds are a testament to this.

For those who like their surfing or are a beginner and are keen to learn the sport Old Man’s just happens to be one of the best places to hire a board and instructor and hit the waves. It’s more of a gentle protected wave which means that you can easily paddle out on a longboard and catch some waves. There are also many restaurants and cafes along the Old Man’s stretch of beach where you can have lunch or a quick feed after your surf. For those of you that are less sporty and want to relax, then Old Man’s Beach has areas where you can put your towel down, read a book and enjoy the peace and quiet.

It is really family-friendly and most tourists will find they keep on coming back, spending the day here because the ambience and atmosphere are so chilled out. If you happen to be staying in other areas like Seminyak, Batubelig or Legian, you will find that getting to Old man’s is really easy and a quick taxi ride (obviously depending on the traffic).

The beach is really quiet but there are still local vendors plying their trade up and down the beach so if you are in the mood for a bit of haggling and want to buy that holiday sarong then you have the perfect opportunity here. Most beachgoers tend to hang right outside Old Man’s bar but you can if you like take a walk to the other side past the main restaurant area and make your way to Echo & Pererenan Beach – both are within 10 minutes walking distance.

Echo is the more popular area with tons of beachside cafes and chairs with umbrellas to sit. If you are into your surfing then the break at Echo (right beside the river mouth) is a famous right-hander. There are rocks here so surfing at low tide is somewhat risky.