Here’s Exactly How We Spent Three Full Days In Canggu, Bali

Exactly how we spent three full days in Canggu, Bali, including where we stayed, cute vegan cafes, yoga classes, tourist sites, & more!

Bali has been on my travel bucket list for quite some time now. I shared on my IG stories, that I felt like I manifested this trip 100%. I remember this past summer, chatting with Devin’s sister about wanting to go to Bali & hoping to maybe go within the next year or so. Fast forward to the winter, Devin got a job opportunity playing basketball in Jogjakarta, Indonesia, of course I was planning on going, & OF COURSE, I wasn’t leaving Indonesia without going to Bali!

Leading up to the trip, honestly was stressful.

We almost had to cancel the trip three separate times, which resulted in a few tears LOL but ultimately, everything ended up working out seamlessly. I’ve been thinking about my Bali trip for some time now & definitely did my research about what I wanted to do, where I wanted to stay, & the places I wanted to go eat at. There’s SO much to do in Bali, so many different places to stay, areas to stay in, cute cafes, countless activities, etc. so I knew I had to go in with a plan, so I made sure to do my research!

When I first booked the trip, I had us there for 4 days, 4 nights, but after a few things came up, we couldn’t make the initial flight I booked, so I had to book another flight for later that first day, which kinda stunk at the time, but I can’t complain with how everything turned out. Since we were already in Indonesia, I enjoyed flying Asia Air because the prices were very doable, so we took an afternoon flight & arrived at the Denspar International Airport around 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. I’ve recently became obsessed with Airbnb, so I booked our stay at a bed & breakfast that I found on Airbnb a few days prior. We stayed at The Bed By The Sea, which was about an hour away from the airport we flew into. But if I’m correct, I believe that is the only big airport in Canggu, so we didn’t have too many options.

The Bed By The Sea offered airport pickup, which was also really nice & convenient.

In total, we spent 3 full days in Bali…I’m not really counting the first night just because it was dark & we didn’t do anything except get dinner, but for the next 3 days, I wanted to make sure I checked everything off of my list. And now that the trip is over, I can say that I’m BEYOND pleased with what we were able to pack within those three days. Everything was perfect…I loved where we stayed, the weather was wonderful, I was really happy that I decided to go with Canggu, Bali, & I was thrilled with what we were able to see within such a short period of time.

So here’s exactly what we did, where we ate, & where we stayed!!

Where To Stay In Canggu, Bali:

Canggu is a hotspot when it comes to gorgeous places to stay. I decided to go with an Airbnb because we booked the trip pretty last minute, just a few days before we went, & I wanted it to be within reason regarding the price. After searching through the many, many listings, I found a place called The Bed By The Sea. I was able to reserve the booking the day before & we totally lucked out, because it ended up being perfect!

The main selling point, if I’m being honest, was the complimentary gluten free & vegan breakfast offered each morning. That was truly a game changer & SO delicious. Breakfast consisted of fresh fruit, fresh juice, coconut yogurt, gluten free granola, gluten free toast, & a gluten free banana crepe – all vegan too!

The Bed By The Sea was extremely reasonably priced. I’m not sure if their prices fluctuate based on the season but I was very happy with what I paid (just under $200 for 4 nights – breakfast included).

We had walking access to the nearby beach, a few restaurants, a gorgeous pool was a few steps away from our room, the room was air conditioned, we had a gorgeous outdoor bathroom & shower, the place was spotless, the staff was extremely kind, the decor was beautiful, the location was tucked away on a private street & the other guests were very quiet.

Highly recommend staying at The Bed By The Sea… I would 100% stay there again! Also, if you’re new to Airbnb, use this code to get $55 off your first booking!

Nearby Activities in Canggu, Bali:

Echo Beach Club

Echo Beach was a dark sand, rocky beach that was mere minutes away from our bed & breakfast. We were able to enter the beach from a private alleyway, which wasn’t aesthetically pleasing by any means, but once we were on the beach, it was beautiful. We rented 2 beach chairs, complete with an umbrella for 50,000 rupiah, which is about $3.50 USD – can’t beat it. Devin & I had a lot of fun at the beach. The waves were enormous, the water was a perfect temperature, a little rough, but still beautiful.

Honestly the beach made me wish I could surf lol! There were so many surfers out in the water throughout all hours of the day. Devin & I just hung out in the water though, jumping through waves…it was a ton of fun & a little exhausting because the waves were that powerful! There were some beach clubs & restaurants along the shore, but we didn’t explore them at all.

Ecosfera – Yoga Class

One of the main things on my Bali bucket list was to attend a yoga class. I read everywhere that you MUST take a yoga class in Bali for the complete “yogi experience.” Our Airbnb provided us with a packet of helpful info & places nearby, including yoga studios!

I went to a Hatha yoga class at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, which was our last day, & I’m SO happy I was able to make it happen. I was already familiar with the hotel where the class took place, from seeing it on IG (crazy right?!), so it was cool to see & experience it in person, I was just shocked with how close it ended up being to where I stayed. It took me about 10 minutes to walk to class in the morning sun. The walk was so peaceful, especially on my way back after class, because I was already so relaxed.

The class was great too…it took place on an outdoor terrace overlooking the pool of the hotel, it was beautiful & cost 130,000 rupiah for a drop in class, which is about $9 USD!

Sakti Healing

Due to my deep love of healing crystals, I knew I couldn’t leave Bali without a new one. I researched crystal shops nearby & this specific one was about a mile away. I made the walk through an afternoon rainstorm & was SO glad I did because I was able to explore a little more, saw some really cute places, went to an outdoor market, bartered for some gorgeous wooden bowls, & got my new crystal of course! Also, I really wanted to get a little piece of jewelry as well from Bali. I had seen some different pieces at a few pretty boutique shops, but nothing really jumped out at me. I ended up finding (& buying) a gorgeous pair of gold/brass chunky hoop drop down earrings at Sakti Healing as well, so I was thrilled that I decided to venture out in search of the crystal shop – rainstorm & all!

Tonic Day Spa

This was something that was on my list of things to do, but unfortunately just ran out of time. It’s an adorable day spa in Canggu that gives off total Palm Springs vibes, pink flamingos & all! Bali in general, has really incredible spas & their flower baths are widely popular, especially on Instagram. I really wanted to do one too, but like I said, just didn’t have enough time!

Thanks to my research, I already knew what Tonic looked like, but thought it was a little further away from where we were staying. I ended up stumbling upon it on my walk to Sakti Healing, which was a nice surprise! If we were to drive to Tonic, it was close to 30 minutes away because I guess there isn’t a road that goes directly to that area, so you have to go out of your way & circle back, but when walking, I was able to get to the specific street from Echo Beach, which saved a lot of time. The entire walk, 1 mile there & back, only took me about an hour, & that hour also included a bit of shopping!

But how cute!!

Popular Tourist Sites To See in Bali:

Tourism in Bali is insane. No matter where you go, there’s bound to be someone there dying to get that perfect IG shot, myself included, I’m not going to lie haha! There’s quite a few tourist attractions that take front & center, including the famous Gates of Heaven, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, Taman Tirtagangga, which is Bali’s water castle, the Monkey Forest, Rice Terraces, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan (a picturesque temple), Tirta Empul, which became famous after the movie “Eat, Pray, Love,” the Banyumala Twin Waterfall, & The Bali Swing. ALL beautiful, all amazing, you’re going to get incredible photos at all of the above, but obviously there was NO way to see everything in just three days.

My top priority was getting to see the Gates of Heaven, which is located in the mountain region of Lempuyang, 1,175m above sea level. The famous Gates of Heaven is a part of the Pura Lempuyang Luhur Temple, which is known as one of the most sacred points in Bali. It’s an incredible temple, overlooking Mount Batur. Proper clothing is required…knees & shoulders must be covered at all times…Devin loved wearing his sarong, which they gave both him & I upon entering.

The Gates of Heaven was 2 hours away from Canggu. I had originally planned to book a tour that would have taken us around to see a few different tourist sites, Heaven’s Gate included…but we actually stumbled upon the sweetest Balinese man, who worked as a driver & he offered to take us. He told us that work was slow since March isn’t a busy season in Bali, due to rain, so we were happy to give him the business, even though he was the craziest driver…ever! It was hysterical & thankfully we made it everywhere safe & sound.

We left at 4:00 a.m. so we were able to make it to the gates in time for the sunrise. The sunrise wasn’t anything spectacular  because it was a little cloudy but I’m glad we got there when we did, especially because of the photo lines, which were insane. The Gates of Heaven is a widely popular IG photo op & although beautiful, it’s 100% an illusion. In the photo, you can see what appears to be a lake mirroring the gates & us, but actually it’s a mirrored piece of glass placed under the camera lens. It matches up insanely good…the people who take the photos have it down to a science…you get 4 poses per person & it’s on to the next! We waited close to 2 hours upon arriving at the temple to get the photos that I wanted – Devin was such a trooper haha!

Overall, it was incredible to see & witness in person & I’m beyond thrilled with how our photos turned out, which made the difficult drive & early rise 100% worth it!

We kind of did a circle back to Canggu once seeing Heaven’s Gate, on the way back, we stopped at the ancient Bali water castle, called Taman Tirtagangga, which is another Instagram hot spot due to the pathway through the water, complete with huge coy fish. The gardens & fountains were beautiful & we lucked out because we had a perfect day weather wise too!

Continuing our drive back, we were able to see the rice paddies, which are famous to Bali AND the monkeys, which Devin LOVED. They were hysterical & we both were so happy that we got to see them even though we didn’t go to the Monkey Forest. The last stop on my list was the famous Bali swing, but by the time we got there, both Devin & I were exhausted from our 3:30am wakeup call, no breakfast, & the swing ended up being a little too overpriced for me. Knowing that it was most likely a tourist trap, I wasn’t in the mood to pay so we decided to skip the swing & head to lunch!

Where to Eat in Canggu:

Canggu, Bali totally caters towards tourists. No matter your diet, Canggu has something for you. It has an incredible array of Instagram worthy cafes & the food scene is next level. I found so many amazing cafes that catered to exactly what I needed with great vegan & gluten free options.

I had quite the list of cafes I wanted to eat at & we were actually able to get to almost all of them! We ate a TON of food during our time spent in Bali haha! The food was absolutely delicious & reasonably priced, on average, our bill came out to 300,000 rupiah, which is equivalent to about $21 USD.

So here’s where we ate!

Human Bean

This cafe was in walking distance from our Airbnb. We ate dinner there twice. They had a few vegan options, as well as, meat too. Devin got a burger both nights. I got ‘The Update’ Burger, which was a pulled BBQ jackfruit burger, minus the bun. It was delicious, complete with creamy slaw, red onions, & of course, french fries – banana “nice” cream for dessert! The second night, I got their Roasted Veg Salad with Tofu Feta & a maple dressing…it was absolutley amazing!!!

Kynd Community

This cafe was at the TOP of my list…it’s the cutest ever. Think pink everything, a gorgeous outdoor & indoor space to eat, plenty of photo opportunities, & an amazing plant based menu, complete with picture-perfect smoothie bowls. Kynd Community also has an adorable gift shop, plus a vegan creamery, with the best ice cream! They even had gluten free cones, which is always a win in my book! We had the best lunch at Kynd. The atmosphere was so enjoyable, & the food was delicious! We both got a Bali smoothie bowl & rice paper rainbow rolls dipped in peanut sauce. Kynd isn’t located directly in Canggu. It’s actually in Seminyak, which ended up being about a 27 minute car ride from Canggu, but SO worth it!

Kinoa Clean Eating Bar

Kinoa Clean Eating Bar was about a five minute walk from our Airbnb & it specialized in breakfast & lunch. We went there for lunch twice because it was really convenient to walk to & we really enjoyed the menu. They had fresh gluten free & vegan baked goods every morning, delicious matcha lattes, & really tasty brunch-style dishes. The first time we went to Kinoa, I got an incredible quinoa brûlée dish with warm quinoa, coconut milk, brewed apples, & homemade gluten free granola – it was amazing! I’m so excited to attempt to recreate this recipe, because it was so different & SO good!

The Loft

After our journey to Heaven’s Gate, we decided to go to a cafe called The Loft. I originally thought that they’d have more vegan & gluten free options, but none the less, they still had a pretty good menu. They do have vegan & gluten free options individually…but not a ton for the two combined. Even though I went back & forth on what to get, I was obsessed with what I ended up ordering. I got the Vegan Breakie which was a tofu scramble with quinoa, steamed sweet potato, pickled red cabbage, sautéed mushrooms & kale, beet root hummus, smashed avocado, & crispy gluten free bread! UNREAL. For dessert, Devin & I shared one of their raw cheesecakes, which of course was gluten free & vegan. I originally wanted to order the raw Snickers cake, because I had read amazing reviews about it. But they didn’t have it available when we were there. Instead, we went with the salted caramel cheesecake, which I’m sure was equally delicious. Really cute overall vibe too at The Loft…half of the seating was inside, half outside, & a upstairs loft area!

MAD POPS Ice Cream

I was dying to try MAD POPS ice cream! I had heard it was the best dairy free ice cream in Bali. Coincidentally, it ended up being right next to The Loft Cafe where we had lunch. After lunch, I walked over, because of course, I had to try it. It was an adorable little shop with all coconut & soy milk based ice cream. And believe me when I tell you it lived up to the hype! It was incredible! I got mint chocolate chip in a cup!

The Shady Shack

On our third evening, we decided to go to The Shady Shack for dinner. Yet another restaurant that I had previously scouted out. The Shady Shack was incredible. Devin & I had such an enjoyable evening, sitting outside on the cozy little porch. Amazing menu too…plenty of great options if you’re gluten free or vegan. I particularly wanted to go here because I heard their vegan nachos were outstanding. They were LOL. Absolutley delicious. Devin & I shared the nachos, Devin got a vegan burrito, & I got a vegan veggie lasagna with grilled vegetables, a little tomato sauce, & vegan ricotta. Another recipe that I can’t wait to recreate! The Shady Shack also had great raw desserts & dairy free smoothie options!

nüde

For our last night in Bali, we went to a cafe called nüde. Both Devin & I agreed that it was our favorite meal of the trip. I got an incredible spiraled zucchini dish, complete with mushrooms, & a cashew, coconut cream sauce. It was cold dish, so I didn’t know what quite to expect, but it was amazing. They also had an option to add nut & seed “meat” balls for a vegan option, which I did add, & it was perfect. Devin got a tuna poke bowl, which he always really enjoys. Another adorable cafe atmosphere on a great street with a lot of cute little shops nearby. It was a perfect last night.

If I could give advice to anyone who is considering going to Bali, it’d be to GO! It’s a once in a lifetime type of trip & I’m so fortunate that I was able to go & experience it all, especially because it’s somewhere I’ve wanted to go for at least a few years. I would love to go back & spend 2 weeks there…there’s just so much to do, so much to see & experience, that it’s hard to fit it all in in just a few days time.

Although we did just spend three days, I was so happy with our trip & what we were able to see & do. I was also really happy with my decision to stay in Canggu for our first time in Bali. Like I said, there’s a ton to do & so many options to consider when looking for a region & place to stay. I felt like Canggu was a great neutral point in the middle of everything. It was relatively close to everything I had planned on seeing, about 2-3 hours away from the other regions, & really was comfortable for tourists, which I appreciated, especially the food scene.

Interested in more travel posts!? Be sure to check out these!

• 10 Tips for Staying Sane When Traveling Abroad
• My International In-flight Skincare Routine
• 14 Healthy Gluten Free & Vegan Travel Snacks
• St. Lucia Photo Diary – A Week in Paradise

From Bali, we returned to our apartment in Jogjakarta, where we had been living & were only there for two full days before we left to head back home to the states. Bali was an amazing end to our time in Indonesia. Like I said, I hope to make it back there some day, & I hope you do too.

Have you ever been to Bali? Let me know in the comments below!