Kerobokan Beach, Sawan (Buleleng): Parking, Snorkelling, Rubbish

Kerobokan Beach in Sawan district, Buleleng, charges no entrance fee; you only pay parking, IDR 2,000 for a motorbike and IDR 5,000 for a car according to Bali Post (November 2025). Do not confuse it with Kerobokan in Badung: this is a locals' black-sand beach on the north coast, about 20 minutes' drive east of central Singaraja.

What you get here

The waves are small and the water fairly calm, so there is no point bringing a surfboard. Big trees shade the sand, the village has landscaped a park along the beach, and a few warungs sell grilled fish. The official Kerobokan village website says that underwater there are clustered coral patches, blue sea stars (Linckia laevigata) and a hexadome artificial fish house on the east side. We could not verify any snorkel rental, so bring your own mask.

The downsides

Rubbish is a real problem. The beach sits between two river mouths, so washed-down rubbish piles up every rainy season. On Umanis Galungan in November 2025 more than 1,000 people came and several visitors complained the beach was dirty; the manager admitted the volume is very high even though students and village officials clean it daily. Read about Bali's washed-up rubbish season before planning a visit between November and March.

The beach also fills with local families on holidays and weekend afternoons, and facilities are basic. Sawan Festival was held here on 22 May 2026, so when the district has an event, parking fills fast. There is no information about Balawista lifeguards on site, so swim close to shore and read our beach safety guide.

When to go

Weekday mornings in the dry season (roughly April-October) for snorkelling, when there is least rubbish and the beach is quiet. Late afternoon works for sunset when the sky is clear, but that is the busiest time.

Access and quick facts

• Location: View on Google Maps
• Distance: about 20 minutes from Singaraja, 35-45 minutes from Lovina, 2.5-3 hours from Ubud or Denpasar via Bedugul
• Hours: open area with no gate, accessible any time; warungs usually open from midday to late afternoon
• Cost: parking IDR 2,000 (motorbike), IDR 5,000 (car), checked October 2026
• Instagram: search on Instagram
• Same route: Pura Beji Sangsit is in the neighbouring village, under 10 minutes away

Our verdict: worth a 1-2 hour stop if you are already in Singaraja or Lovina and want a quiet locals' beach for grilled fish. Not worth a dedicated trip from south Bali.