Bali guide › North and east Bali
Lovina: is the dolphin trip worth doing, and is it ethical?
Lovina is a quiet resort on the north coast, about 10 km (6 miles) from Singaraja. The beach is long and lined with palms, with dark volcanic sand and a calm sea. There are no waves for surfers and no beach clubs: people come for the dolphins, and for the peace.
The trip leaves at sunrise, when the dolphins (spinner dolphins) are most active at the surface. Small traditional boats set off from the beach around 6 am (anywhere from 5.30 to 7.30 am) and the outing lasts 2 to 3 hours, often with a snorkelling stop. Expect to pay 100,000 to 150,000 IDR ($6 to $8.50) a person if you negotiate directly with the fishermen the evening before, and noticeably more through an agency.
The question everyone asks: is it ethical? Not always. When more than fifty boats race to the same spot with engines at full throttle, the dolphins are stressed. Choose a small traditional boat rather than a speedboat, ask the boatman to keep his distance, and don't try to swim with them. And remember that no trip guarantees a sighting. Verdict: a sunrise at sea is worth the early start even if the dolphins don't show.
Nearby:
- The Banjar hot springs, 10 to 20 minutes away: stepped pools at about 38°C (100°F), with slightly sulphurous water.
- Brahmavihara-Arama, Bali's largest Buddhist monastery, with golden roofs, built in 1970 (about 25,000 IDR, or $1.50).
- Gitgit waterfall, 30 minutes away (about 20,000 IDR, or $1).
- Menjangan, for a day of snorkelling, at about $40 including the boat and equipment (plus the park fee).
One night is enough for the dolphins and a lunch of grilled fish by the sea; two nights if you add Gitgit and Banjar.
Tip: sleep near the beach, so you only have a few steps to walk at 5.30 am.
Prices checked in October 2026; confirm before you go.
More landmarks in this section
- What is there to see in north and east Bali, and for how long?
- What is there to do in Munduk?
- Amed and Tulamben: what to do, and can you snorkel the Liberty?
- Are Lempuyang's Gates of Heaven worth it, and when to go?
- Why stay in Sidemen instead of Ubud?
- How do you reach the Gili Islands from Bali?
- What is there to do in Candidasa, and should you stay?
- What to do in Pemuteran: snorkelling, Biorock and Menjangan?