Lovina is the name given to a string of beach villages — Kaliasem, Kalibukbuk, Anturan and others — along the north coast west of Singaraja, about an hour east of Pemuteran. It is North Bali’s main resort area: relaxed, with black-sand beaches, calm water and plenty of simple restaurants.
Lovina is best known for its dolphins. Every morning at first light, traditional outrigger boats (jukung) head out to find the pods of spinner dolphins that feed a few kilometres offshore. The sight of dolphins leaping at sunrise is memorable, though on busy days dozens of boats chase the same pod — choose an operator that keeps its distance.
Top things to do at Lovina & the Dolphins
See the dolphins at sunrise
Boats leave at around 6am and return by 8–9am, often with a snorkel stop. Book a well-reviewed trip with a small boat.
Combine with the highlands
Many tours add the lake temple of Ulun Danu Bratan and a waterfall after the dolphins — a full day that ends back in Pemuteran.
Soak at Banjar
The Banjar hot springs and the Brahma Vihara Arama monastery are a few kilometres inland.
How to get to Lovina & the Dolphins
- From Pemuteran: about 50 km east along the coast road — an hour or so by car.
- For the sunrise trip: leave Pemuteran around 4.30–5am, or stay a night in Lovina.
- Tours with pickup: several North Bali day trips start with the dolphins.
Insider tips
- Choose a boat whose captain does not chase or crowd the dolphins; ask before you book.
- Bring a light jacket for the early start and a hat for the way back.
- Seas are calmest in the dry season; trips are sometimes cancelled in rough weather.
- Dolphin sightings are very likely but never guaranteed — they are wild animals.
Best tours & tickets for Lovina & the Dolphins
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Lovina & the Dolphins from Pemuteran:
Boat trip from $14 Lovina: Sunrise Dolphin Watching, Swimming & Snorkeling
The classic North Bali experience: a traditional jukung outrigger heads out at dawn to find the dolphin pods off Lovina, followed by a snorkel. Lovina is about an hour east of Pemuteran, so do it on the way in or out, or stay a night in Lovina.
- Wild spinner dolphins at sunrise
- Snorkel stop over a coral reef
- More than 3,000 reviews
Day trip from $49 North Bali: Dolphins, Ulun Danu Temple & Banyumala Waterfall
A well-paced full day combining the three highlights of the north: dolphins at dawn, the lake temple in the cool highlands and one of Bali’s prettiest waterfalls. Rated 4.9 by nearly 500 travellers.
- Sunrise dolphin watching off Lovina
- Pura Ulun Danu Bratan on its mountain lake
- Swim at the twin Banyumala waterfall
