Although southern Bali has more well-known holiday destinations, don't neglect Bali's northern coast. Lovina Beach, for example, is a beautiful stretch of black sand beach located in the north of Bali. Far less busy than hot-spots to the south, such as Kuta and Nusa Dua, Lovina is a great place to relax and soak in the sun. It's also a great place to start for anyone who wants to explore the northern and western sections of this friendly and fascinating island.
Dolphins, Roosters, and Underwater Adventures
The main attractions in Lovina are the dolphin watching, swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Dolphin watching, in particular, is a very popular activity in this part of Bali, and plenty of boats leave each morning at dawn to watch the amazing marine mammals. As it so happens, the local boatmen's association has agreed to one fixed price of Rp 75,000 per person (£5).
When it comes to diving, you can expect to pay an outfit like Bali Spice Dive (one of the largest and best-established dive operators in the area) about £30 to £45 for a day-long scuba diving trip. The same operators also offer snorkeling trips. Be careful: there are some illegitimate operators in the area who have realistic-looking licenses but who are not actually licensed dive operators.
If you want to get a taste of traditional Balinese culture, you could also go watch a cockfight. Cockfights are a big deal in Bali, and that's true in Lovina perhaps even more than in other places. Illegal gambling is common, and the stakes for the locals are high. But despite the popularity of cockfights, finding one isn't always easy; ask around at your hotel to find out when and where the next major fight will take place.
For a completely different type of Balinese activity, take a dip in the local hot springs. Banjar Hot Springs is located just west of Lovina, in the middle of a lush magical garden. From carved stone mouths, hot water gushes into an aqua-coloured pool. With a high sulphur content, the hot springs are said to be very healing and therapeutic. For just 20p, and a willingness to ride a motorcycle taxi (“ojek”) along some pretty rough paths, you can take a day trip to this lovely place. Despite the natural beauty, the difficulty in getting to Banjar Hot Springs keeps many holidaymakers away. You will be surprised at how peaceful and quiet the springs are.
Local Spas and Massage
Spas in the south of Bali tend to be extraordinarily expensive. While the spas in Lovina are much less expensive, they are still of very good quality. Besides the official spas, such as the Bali Samdahi Spa and the Aruna Spa, many traditional massage women roam Lovina's beaches offering to give massages. Don't be afraid to say yes to these women; they often come from families where massage skills have been passed down from generation to generation for many years. Additionally, the prices offered by these women will be even lower than those of the local spas.
Accommodations
Because northern Bali isn't the same sort of tourist hot-spot that southern Bali is, you won't find many internationally-acclaimed luxury resorts here. But that doesn't mean that Lovina doesn't have any luxury accommodations.
* Starting at only £98 per night, you can rent one of the Damai Lovina Villas. These fourteen villas are located up in the hills, just about 4 km from Lovina.
* The Puri Bagus Villa Resort and Spa starts at even less at £83 per night, which will get you a double occupancy “Superior Villa”. At the high end, you can rent a two-bedroom villa with its own private pool for about £225 per night.
* If you're into yoga, go to the Zen Resort Bali, where yoga lessons are available starting at sunrise each day with certified yoga instructors. Villas at the Zen Resort are luxurious, with Balinese-style stone carved front porches, private terraces, and walk-in wardrobes. You'll pay a minimum of £66 per night.
Lovina is a great place for anyone who wants the adventure, the beauty, and the luxury – but not the price or the crowds – of southern Bali. Between the black sand beaches and the frolicking dolphins, you'll definitely fall in love with Lovina.