Bali beaches: Pantai Gado Gado in Seminyak

Name:
Gado Gado Beach (Pantai Gado Gado)

Where is it:
End of Jl. Dhyana Pura, Seminyak

Directions:
From Kuta drive north on Jl. Legian, turn left on Jl. Dhyana Pura, park at the beach.

Description of beach:
Medium color sand beach. Okay for walking, running and bathing.

Best times to go:
Low tide is best for running as you get a larger, flatter are of beach. I find the best time for running will be sunrise, as the temperature and UV are low. For walking midday can actually be good, if you wear a large hat with a brim, like I do. From 11am -3pm the sun is coming almost straight down, so your face gets plenty of shade. Best time for surfing in high tide, although this is not one of the best beaches to surf, due to the fact waves break rather flat.

Rental chairs / umbrellas?
Yes. 25,000rp per hour. 50,000 -80,000 per day.

Rental surfboards?
Yes. Prices range from 15,000rp per hour for body board, to 30,000rp per hour for short board, to 75,000rp per hour for long board. Of course these are ‘asking prices’ which are extremely negotiable.

Drinks vendors?
Yes. Coke 5,000, Bintang 10,000rp.

Massage?
Yes. Asking price 70.000rp per hour. Negotiable.

What’s nearby?
At the end of Jl. Dhyana Pura is Gado Gado restaurant. A high end place with a beach front patio. If you have money to spend and want an elegant environment, Gado Gado will work. For a cheaper option close by, go 100 meters back up Jl. Dhyana Pura to Cin Cin restaurant (part of Puri Cendana hotel). You can get a club sandwich for 35,000rp. Keep going down Jl. Dhyana Pura towards Jl. Legian and you’ll hit a slew of places to eat, including Santa Fe (western food), Warung Mimpi (Indonesian food) and C’Bo (Italian food), all cheap / mid range.

Transport from beach?
Yes. Taxis at end of Jl. Dhyana Pura.

Parking:
To park a motorbike at the end of Jl. Dhyana Pura costs 1,000rp, 2,000rp for cars. There is also parking at the end of Jl. Double Six, which they also charge for.

Review:
Seminyak Beach serves tourists staying in the large hotels nearby, which include Hotel Dhyana Pura, Pelangi, Mesari Beach Inn. Plenty of recliners and shades available. There are a few trees, at the back of the beach, but nothing that great. Most people come here to get a tan. The beach can be windy due its lack of trees. The sand is a mid brown color, the water is averagely clean. Watch out as there are small estuaries directly to the north and south. Steer clear of excessively brown water.

There are strolling beach vendors, but way less than on Kuta Beach and you should not get bothered once the first few have departed. To the north of Jl. Dhyana Pura the each activity gets less, to the south, it becomes more intense, with many drink and board rental places, finally reaching a peak at Blue Ocean beach, at the end of Jl. Double Six. There is a Tourist Police booth at Jl. Double Six across from the beach.

For beach supplies (sunscreen, drinks, snacks, camera film etc.) there is a Circle K on Jl. Dhyana Pura across from Santa Fe.

At the end of Jl. Dhyana Pura on the beach is a small local drink stand selling Coke, Bintang, water etc. and renting some old surfboards. If you have never surfed before, make sure you get someone to go out with you. Look for lifeguard warning flags, if you see a couple of flags in a ‘cross’ stay out of the water and if you see a lone red flag, marking a rip tide, stay clear of that.