Visiting Tibumana Waterfall: A Quick & Practical Guide
A curtain-type waterfall that falls elegantly into a small pool below, Tibumana Waterfall has the classic Bali waterfall look that makes people pin it to their Pinterest boards and dream up a trip around.
But Tibumana has also been victim to the color-grading mania that has taken over the brains of many an Instagrammer, so that the pool looks like a jewel-toned teal blue… but in both my visits, at two very different times of year, I found that that is just really not the case.
Beneath the falls, the water is somewhat shallow, so the pool the water tumbles into is a pale green in hue — not blue, like you may have expected based on the photos.
I’m also not going to tell you Tibumana Waterfall is a hidden gem because it’s not — it has several warungs that have popped up around it, and quite a few people visit the waterfalls here. If you really wanted hidden gem waterfalls, I would say to visit Campuhan Antapan or Yeh Mampeh.
However, Tibumana is much less crowded than Kanto Lampo, and you can enjoy the waterfall pool here, which is usually not too full of people swimming. In fact, the best thing about visiting this waterfall is that it’s so easy and pleasant to dip into the natural pool at Tibumana. The pebbly sandy shore quickly goes into the falls, basically kind of like a beach!
It’s perfect if you’re lacking some confidence in your swimming skills since you can slowly enter the water at your own pace and wade to your comfort level without worrying about slippery rocks, etc.
When I was there, two people on staff were there to ensure people enjoyed the waterfalls safely. They waved a warning flag at someone who swam too close to the waterfall tumbling down — so apparently, they don’t want you to swim or stand beneath the waterfall’s full power for safety reasons.
Part of that is the fact that this is the deeper area and there is some downcurrent from the water falling all in one localized spot; the other is the danger of falling rocks that may come loose from the stream above.
The lifeguards were also really friendly, and when they saw me snapping a few selfies, they offered to take my camera and take a few pictures of me since I was traveling solo.
Don’t expect them to take super high-quality pictures like the guides at Kanto Lampo, who practically have a degree in Instagrammology—these guys will take more ‘vacation style’ snaps as opposed to Instagram-style photoshoots, but that’s perfect fine!
I was still very grateful for their kind assistance but it’s just something to know so you set your expectations appropriately.
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How To Get to Tibumana Waterfall
Tibumana Waterfall is located in Gianyar, approximately 45 minutes from Ubud, making it a popular day trip.
However, it’s also in the same region as many other cool waterfalls, so it’s definitely worth clustering your trip here with trips to other nearby waterfalls — for example, Taman Sari is just 500 meters away, so you should at least visit the two together.
If you’re comfortable and confident riding a scooter, this is a great place to bring your scooter and explore for the day!
If, like me, you’re sure you’d crash and burn (almost literally) if you ever trusted your life with a scooter, you may want to hire a driver for the day. You can book a driver online here. This allows you to book a private car or van driven by a local and you can customize a tour to suit your group size and and location.
For example, you could take Tour Option A, which offers a 10-hour tour starting at 7 AM and unlimited tours in the Ubud area. If you want to go further afield, like to Amed, Pemuteran, Munduk, etc., you’ll want to pick Option B.
Best Time to Visit Tibumana
If you really want no one in your photos, it’s best to arrive here when it opens, at 7 AM. But realistically, you’re probably planning a full-day trip to the larger Ubud or Gianyar region, which has many different waterfalls.
Personally, I arrived around 1 p.m. after having lunch at the delicious on-site warung, and I didn’t find that it was too crowded at all. It was pretty easy to wait and get a photo at the waterfall without a bunch of people in it.
And since it’s not like Kanto Lampo where there’s only one spot where people queue to get that ‘signature’ photo, there’s much more flexibility and much less waiting. If you have to decide one waterfall to visit early in the morning, Tibumana is more flexible and can handle being postponed a bit.
Opening Hours, Prices, and Trail Conditions
I’ve visited Tibumana Waterfall twice in the past year. As of my last visit in October 2024 (and a previous visit in May 2024), here are the prices and opening hours.
Price: 25,000 IDR ($1.25 USD)
Opening Hours: 7 AM to 6 PM
The trail is quite easy, about 0.3 miles or 500 meters, with a number of stairs at the end and a few bamboo walkways. It takes about 10 minutes each way to make the trek and the trail is in relatively good condition. It is not wheelchair accessible, however.
Amenities & Other Things to Know
There’s a warung before you enter the main waterfall area with delicious food.
I stopped here and had a full meal (nasi goreng with sate chicken with peanut sauce) and it was absolutely delicious. It wasn’t too expensive either, at around 55,000 IDR (about $3.50 USD).
There are also several small vendors along the way selling coconuts, cold drinks, etc. As mentioned above, please avoid kopi luwak coffee here and elsewhere; it’s best not to support this industry if you care about animal welfare.
If needed, lockers are available for 5,000 IDR (about $0.25 USD).
Photo Spots at Tibumana
There are several great photo spots at Tibumana Waterfall beyond just the waterfall itself. Here are a few of my favorites:
- The Warung: The warung within the ticketed area for Tibumana has some bamboo platforms that are perfect for a picture, as well as a picturesque pond and a free-for-guests swing where you can take photos without the exorbitant price tag of your typical ‘Bali swing’.
- The Bamboo Walkways: These beautiful bamboo walkways are really aesthetically pleasing and make for an interesting photo spot before you reach the waterfall at Tibumana.
- The Smaller Waterfall (Seasonal): This smaller waterfall at Tibumana was flowing when I visited in May 2024 but it was not flowing on my more recent trip, in September 2024. I think it only flows during and immediately after the rainy season. By September, it had been dry season for a few months already and the flow had dried up and was almost totally gone.
- The Main Tibumana Waterfall: Of course, this is the #1 photo spot — there are a number of angles where you can easily get a good photo without too many people in your way with some creative angling.
I hope this guide helps you plan a wonderful trip to Tibumana Waterfall! Leave me a comment if anything has changed, as things do quite quickly in Bali.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
