Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Legend
Jl Raya Candidasa 0363 41636.
A popular rock café along the main road with
live music several times a week, a pool table, and Indonesian and international food.
Daily
9am-midnight.
New Queen
Jl Raya Candidasa 0812 3653 1832.
A popular tourist bar and restaurant with
live music on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. On the last Friday of each month visit-
ing musicians are invited to jam with the in-house band.
Daily 9am-midnight.
DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange
There are several ATMs in the central area, as well as a few
moneychangers.
Doctor
The Pentamedica clinic (Jl Raya Manggis 88 0363 41909,
pentamedica.com
)
is open 24hr. English-speaking Dr Nisa ( 0811 380645) does hotel visits. The nearest hos-
pitals are in Amlapura, Semarapura and Denpasar.
Pura Gumang
Daily 7am-7pm • Donation • Bemos between Candidasa and Amlapura drive by the stalls at the temple staircase
At the top of the pass about 3km northeast out of Candidasa, on the way to Pasir Putih, mon-
keys crowd around roadside stalls at the point where worshippers begin their hour-long walk
up to hilltop
Pura Gumang
. This is one of the most important temples in the area and affords
a fine panorama inland to Gunung Agung, down to the coast and across to Gunung Rinjani
on Lombok. Every two years, usually at full moon in October, four of the local villages -
Bugbug, Bebandem, Jasri and Ngis - participate in a huge ceremony, complete with trance
dances, that begins with a procession up to Pura Gumang. It attracts up to eight thousand
people, especially new parents, who bring along hundreds of roast suckling pigs.
Pasir Putih
Everyone in Candidasa bemoans the loss of the beach, but there is a highly satisfying al-
ternative, 9km northeast at the famously beautiful
Pasir Putih
(White Sand Bay). The less
than straightforward access, via a steep and rutted track, is part of the appeal: the black-and-
whitish-sand bay feels wild and remote, backed by palms and forest remnants, and sheltered
by rocky headlands. The aquamarine water is perfect for swimming and the reef just offshore
offers decent snorkelling. The beach is lined along part of its course with a dozen shacks
providing meals and massage plus snorkel and sunlounger rental (Rp15,000/day).
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: PASIR PUTIH
By car or ojek
Access is from the village of Perasi, immediately east of Bugbug on the road
to Amlapura, about 6km from Candidasa. There are two routes from here: the first (unsigned)
is immediately opposite a temple; the second is a few hundred metres further east and has a
tiny sign for White Sand Beach, Jl Pasir Putih. Both lead 3km to the coast via a ticket office
