The Tibumana waterfall belongs on your list of Bali waterfalls

As Bali waterfalls go, the Tibumana is an eyecatcher. Wonderfully relaxing: surrounded by green, tucked away in the jungle. Set near Ubud, this waterfall belongs on your list.

A remarkable waterfall on Bali

The graceful Tibumana is a remarkable waterfall on Bali. The heavenly little path towards the waterfall already promises a great deal. Once there you enjoy a calming setting. The nature is peaceful, serene.

In the pool at the foot of the waterfall you have an almost transcendent (far-reaching, out of the ordinary) feeling. The beauty lies in the subtlety. A perfectly streamlined waterfall in a heavenly setting. A modest picture of perfection.

The best time, from our own experience

You experience the waterfall at its best when there are few people about. Bali's wondrous waterfalls draw tourists, naturally enough. Late morning and early afternoon are usually busier.

You can head over early in the morning or, if you prefer, late in the afternoon. From eight or from four, say. For us it became the latter, because we had already been at Tegalalang early that morning. There were still a fair few tourists, but the mystique of the Tibumana came into its own all the same.

Swimming at the Tibumana waterfall

Lovely and refreshing: swimming at the waterfall. That is allowed, up to a point:

• For safety reasons you may not swim directly under the waterfall.
• The cave behind it is off limits as well.

Not everyone sticks to that. The odd person was called back as a result. Paddling alone is already a pleasure, in any case. As is going into the water up to your waist, or further.

Paying the entrance fee

As at Tegalalang, there are people at the entrance collecting the fee. For the Tibumana you paid 10,000 to 15,000 IDR before corona (0.60 to 0.90 euros). So it costs you a euro at most. Perfectly fine, of course, for a gem like this on Bali. You can optionally rent a locker for 5,000 IDR before corona, thirty euro cents.

Where the Tibumana waterfall is, and how to get there

De Air Terjun Tibumana/Tibumana Waterfall sits on the map below Bangli, to the right of Ubud. From Ubud the estimated journey time is half an hour to three quarters of an hour.

• Tip: ride this route on a rental scooter. On a scooter you have complete freedom.
• Before corona we paid 50,000 IDR (Indonesian rupiah) a day for a modern one. That is about 3 euros. Exploring Bali by scooter is well worth it.

A little less adventurous, but also an option: order a taxi. At the car park a walk of around 10 minutes begins. The waterfall is clearly signposted.