Are you looking for tropical surf and a remote work lifestyle? Do you want to hang five on a three-foot wave on the beautiful island of Bali? If the answer is yes, you have come to the right place.
Bali offers year-round surf for longboarders, reliable internet, and a low cost of living – perfect for a digital nomad surfer. Let’s dive into the best places in Bali to go with your laptop and longboard.
Top Locations to Longboard and Work Remotely in Bali
1. Hang Ten in Canggu
Canggu’s Popularity with Digital Nomads
Canggu is the most popular place in Bali for digital nomad surfers, especially stylish longboarders. With the biggest digital nomad surf community on the island, if you are coming to Bali by yourself, Canggu is the place to go to connect and network with like-minded individuals!
Longboard Surf in Canggu
Batu Bolong (or Old Man’s) in Canggu is one of the best longboarding waves in Bali. It is a mellow sandy and rocky beach break with many banks to choose from. This wave is great for learning how to cross-step as you can get some super long rides. There are also board hires on the beach in case you didn’t travel with a board.
Cost of Living in Canggu for Remote Workers
As it is the most popular place to live in Bali at the moment, basic guesthouses within Canggu begin at a monthly rate of about $US 300-400.
Wi-Fi and Co-Working Spaces in Canggu
Fast Wi-Fi is readily available at all guesthouses in Canggu, as well as cafes, and co-working spaces. Canggu offers the best longboarding surf spots with co-working spaces in Bali. The ones that we highly recommend are Zin and Tribal as they are the most affordable, clean, and comfortable workspaces.
Is Canggu Safe for Digital Nomads?
Being the busiest part of Bali, Canggu can be slightly sketchy at night with bag snatchers and pickpockets. Being aware of your belongings and staying vigilant is key to avoiding these incidents.
-> Read our Top Tips for Staying Safe While Traveling as a Digital Nomad
Best Time of Year to Surf in Canggu
The best time of year to visit this amazing surf town is during the dry season months of April to September. The wind is offshore during this time of year, and bigger swells also come through more frequently.
Other Things to Do in Canggu Post Surf
Aside from amazing logging waves and an abundance of co-working spaces for digital nomads to choose from, Canggu is also famous for its nightlife. If you love to dance and have a party, this is the best place to stay in Bali! Some cool venues to check out during your time here include Black Sands Brewery and Old Man’s.
2. Cross-Step in Kuta
Kuta’s Popularity with Digital Nomads
Before Canggu became the hotspot for expats living in Bali, Kuta was the place to be. Even though it is not the most popular now, it is still one of the best remote work surf spots in Bali. Kuta has good waves, many co-working spaces, and has accommodations that are much more affordable than Canggu.
Longboard Surf in Kuta
Kuta is littered with beach breaks all along its coastline, perfect for anyone looking for easy rides or wanting to get comfortable doing tricks, as the bottom composition of all the waves is sand only.
If one bank is too busy, you can walk 5 minutes down the beach and find another one. Also, being sandy-bottom, the waves here change all the time, keeping it interesting, exciting, and always fresh.
The waves in Kuta work well with a swell up to about four feet, making it the perfect place for fun rides if you’re not after anything too hectic!
Cost of Living in Kuta for Remote Workers
Kuta is one of Bali’s most affordable surf destinations for digital nomad surfers. Simple guesthouses in Kuta can be rented monthly for about $US 200. There is also a very large local Indonesian population who live in and around Kuta, thus, there is a lot of local food on offer. This means affordable Indonesian meals of as much as $US 1.5 per plate if you choose! One of the best warungs (local food stall) in Kuta with lots of affordable Indonesian dishes is Warung Nikmat.
Wi-Fi and Co-Working Spaces in Kuta
Most guesthouses and cafes in Kuta will have high-speed internet. Since it is not as popular as Canggu, you will easily find a quiet and comfortable place to conduct your online work. The best co-working space close to the amazing waves of Kuta Beach is Bali Bustle.
Is Kuta Safe for Digital Nomads?
The safety in Kuta is similar to that of Canggu. Be aware of your belongings and surroundings at night and on the bike and you’ll be just fine.
Best Time of Year to Surf in Kuta
Being on the west coast of Bali, Kuta is also known to have the best waves during the dry season months of April to September.
Other Things to Do in Kuta Post Surf
A fun pastime activity in Kuta is Padel. A new and growing sport in Bali, it is a great way to meet new people and also stay fit for surfing when the waves aren’t working.
3. Logging in Sanur
Sanur’s Popularity with Digital Nomads
The surf town of Sanur is one of the best places to work remotely and surf in Bali. It is one of the more laid-back parts of the island, visited mostly by families and retirees. Since working and living in Bali as a digital nomad has become more popular, Sanur has become the top choice for those seeking a slower pace of living, and a less touristic version of Bali compared to Kuta and Canggu.
Longboard Surf in Sanur
There are a number of breaks in this tropical surf destination, however the best wave for longboarders is Baby Reef. Breaking over the reef, this wave is an A-frame when it’s small and a left-hander when it’s big.
If you are an intermediate longboarder and looking for something more challenging, there is also Serangan Surf Point. Only accessible by boat (which you can take for between $US 6 – 9 from Mertasari Beach), the waves here will generally be a foot or two bigger than Baby Reef and packed with more power.
Cost of Living in Sanur for Remote Workers
Guesthouse rentals close to Sanur Beach begin at about $US 300 per month. However, once you step across the highway, you can find guesthouses that charge a monthly fee starting at around $US 200.
There are also many local food places in Sanur, which can allow you to save your budget on food and immerse your taste buds in Indonesian cuisine. The best place to eat like this in Sanur is Warung Jawa Moroe Seneng; make sure to try their Cah Kang Kung.
Wi-Fi and Co-Working Spaces in Sanur
Sanur is an underrated spot for remote workers in Bali. Most cafes are extremely comfortable, not too noisy, and offer speedy Wi-Fi. The best co-working space in Sanur offering a semi-outdoor minimalist design is Livit.
Is Sanur Safe for Digital Nomads?
Sanur is a much safer place to live compared to Kuta and Canggu. As with traveling anywhere on your own, if you keep your wits about you, you’ll be sweet.
Best Time of Year to Surf in Sanur
Located on the east coast of Bali, Sanur has its best surf conditions during the wet season months of October to March.
Other Things to Do in Sanur Post Surf
Sanur Beach stretches out about 500m over an even surface of seagrass beds before jacking up into reef and spilling over into deep water. This means the coastline is perfect for other ocean activities such as paddle boarding when it’s glassy, or kite surfing when it’s windy.
There are plenty of places on Sanur Beach and Mertasari Beach to rent equipment and hire instructors. One of the best places for this is Froggy Kite Surf School.
4. Hang-Five in Medewi
Medewi’s Popularity with Digital Nomads
Medewi is a surf village for remote workers that is off the beaten path. It is lesser-known, however is gaining in popularity with digital nomad surfers who longboard and goofy foot twin fin riders.
Longboard Surf in Medewi
The main break at Medewi is the ultimate longboarding wave: A long, chunky, peeling left-hander that offers very long rides! It is an epic wave for beginner longboarders, and can also be fun and exhilarating for intermediates when the swell is bigger.
Cost of Living in Medewi for Remote Workers
There are limited options for long-term stays for nomads in Medewi as it is a very small surf town. The ones that do accept long-term tenants charge about $US 300 per month depending on the season (cheaper in the off-season – wet season).
Wi-Fi and Co-Working Spaces in Medewi
In Medewi, there are no co-working spaces… yet! Some restaurants have Wi-Fi, but not all, so make sure you ask first. Our best recommendations for places to conduct online work include Bombora and Inn Coffee and Restaurant.
Is Medewi Safe for Digital Nomads?
As a small and remote surf haven, Medewi holds a close-knit local and surfing community, and thus, is an extremely safe part of Bali to live in.
Best Time of Year to Surf in Medewi
Also located on the west coast of Bali, the best time to stay in Medewi is from April to September.
Other Things to Do in Medewi Post Surf
Since Medewi is such a small surf town, there is not much else going on apart from the surf. If you’re looking to get out of town for a bit, Balian is another awesome surf town 30 minutes south of Medewi. It’s a beautiful area with rice fields and hilltop views. Check the surf with a Bali coffee at Deki’s Warung and enjoy the magnificent view of all the waves Balian has to offer.
Conclusion
Now you know the best places in Bali for digital nomad longboarders. If you’re looking to combine warm water log sessions with remote work, then Bali is the ultimate destination for you!
Before going, prepare for your Bali adventure by reading about how to balance surf and remote work, and how to choose the right travel insurance for digital nomad surfers.
