Things to Do & Places to Visit — Near Coco Garden Villas

Welcome to North Bali — the quieter, more authentic side of the island. Far from the crowds and traffic of the south, this region unfolds like a living postcard: misty waterfalls hidden in lush jungle, ancient temples carved from stone, serene black-sand beaches, and terraced rice fields stretching to the horizon. Everything listed below is just a short, scenic drive from Coco Garden Villas — making us the perfect base for exploring the very best of Northern Bali.

🍽️ Warung Pesisi — Local Flavors Near You

📍 Location: Just a short walking distance from Coco Garden Villas — step out and you’re there!

✨ Family-Run Charm

Warm, welcoming, and proudly family-operated — Warung Pesisi serves home-cooked Balinese meals made with love and generations of recipes. Step in and feel like you’re dining with friends: genuine hospitality, friendly faces, and that wonderful homely atmosphere only a family-run place can offer.

🍽️ Warung Pesanggrahan

📍 Distance: Only 2 km from Coco Garden Villas — a short 5–10 minute drive or easy bike ride away.

🍛 Authentic Home-Style Flavors

Serving delicious, home-cooked Balinese and Indonesian dishes prepared from family recipes passed down through the years. Fresh ingredients, rich spices, and honest portions — enjoy grilled seafood, aromatic curries, fragrant rice dishes, and daily specialties bursting with authentic North Bali taste. Simple, flavorful, and made with care.

🧜‍♀️ GalleryCookery Mermaid — Fine Dining, Skylodge & Art Museum

📍 Location: Bukti, Kubutambahan — approx. 15–20 minutes drive from Coco Garden Villas

✨ Where Art, Nature & Fine Dining Meet

GalleryCookery Mermaid is far more than just a restaurant — it’s a one-of-a-kind cultural destination tucked in the lush jungle of North Bali. Combining an exquisite fine dining rooftop restaurant, boutique Skylodge B&B, and an on-site art museum & tearoom, it offers an immersive experience you won’t find anywhere else on the island.

🍽️ Fine Dining Restaurant

Helmed by Chef Gordon, a third-generation chef, the kitchen crafts Hindu Fusion / Holistic cuisine — blending Balinese and Mediterranean flavors using fresh, locally sourced produce from Buleleng farms. Choose from à la carte dishes, indulgent 8-course tasting menus, elegant afternoon High Tea paired with a museum tour, or monthly themed culinary dinners. Every meal is a feast for the eyes as much as the palate.

💦 Air Sanih Natural Springs

Just 5–10 minutes drive — Right here in Air Sanih! These fresh water springs bubble up naturally and flow into swimming pools surrounded by gardens. Cool, crystal-clear mountain water with a gentle flow — perfect for a refreshing dip any time of day. Relax like a local and enjoy the simple beauty.

🌿 Sekumpul Waterfall

~40–45 minutes drive — Often called Bali’s most beautiful waterfall, Sekumpul is a breathtaking cluster of 6–7 cascades tumbling 70–80 meters down mossy cliffs into a lush jungle gorge. Hike down through clove plantations and rice fields, cross a clear river, and feel the mist rise as the water crashes below. Arrive early to beat crowds!

🐬 Lovina Beach & Dolphin Watching

~45 minutes from Coco Garden Villas. Rise early and head to Lovina Beach to spot playful wild dolphins leaping at sunrise across calm blue waters — one of North Bali's most magical experiences! Afterward, enjoy a peaceful boat ride and stunning ocean views before returning to your villa.

🛕 Pura Beji Sangsit

~15–20 minutes drive — A stunning 15th-century temple and North Bali hidden gem, dedicated to Dewi Sri, Goddess of Rice and Fertility. Every wall is covered in incredibly detailed stone carvings — swirling flowers, winding serpents, and two rare Dutch musician statues found nowhere else in Bali. Quiet, uncrowded, and wonderfully authentic.

💧 Gitgit Waterfall — North Bali’s Iconic Natural Wonder

📍 Location: Gitgit Village, Sukasada, Buleleng — approx. 25–30 minutes drive from Coco Garden Villas

✨ About Gitgit Waterfall

Standing approximately 35 meters tall, Gitgit is North Bali’s most famous and accessible waterfall — beloved by travelers for decades. A majestic ribbon of crystal-clear water plunges into a cool rock pool, surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, moss-covered rocks, and the rich scent of clove and coffee plantations. The air feels wonderfully fresh, and the constant roar of falling water creates a wonderfully peaceful, calming atmosphere.

🚶‍♀️ Easy & Scenic Walk

From the parking area, a well-maintained paved path with steps leads gently downhill — about a 10–15 minute easy walk through dense green jungle. Along the way you’ll pass small local stalls offering fresh tropical produce, warm Balinese coffee, and handmade crafts. The trail is family-friendly and suitable for most fitness levels — no strenuous climbing needed!

💧 Aling-Aling Waterfalls — Nature's Adventure Playground

📍 Location: Sambangan Village, Sukasada, Buleleng — approx. 30–40 minutes drive from Coco Garden Villas

✨ About Aling-Aling Waterfalls

More than just one waterfall — Aling-Aling is a stunning complex of four cascades hidden in the lush green ravines of Sambangan, also known as Bali's "Secret Garden." The main waterfall plunges 35 meters in a powerful twin stream into a crystal-clear jade pool, surrounded by dense rainforest, rice terraces, and dramatic rock cliffs — truly a hidden gem far less crowded than southern Bali falls.

🌊 Four Waterfalls in One Trek

A single scenic trail takes you past four beautiful falls:

  • Aling-Aling Fall — the majestic 35m main cascade (sacred, swimming not allowed)

  • Kroya Fall — famous natural rock slide + ~5m jump into a deep pool

  • Kembar Fall — beautiful twin cascade with a ~10m jump

  • Pucuk Fall — the highest thrill spot, with jumps up to 12–15m

🛕 Pura Beji Sangsit

~15–20 minutes drive — A stunning 15th-century temple and North Bali hidden gem, dedicated to Dewi Sri, Goddess of Rice and Fertility. Every wall is covered in incredibly detailed stone carvings — swirling flowers, winding serpents, and two rare Dutch musician statues found nowhere else in Bali. Quiet, uncrowded, and wonderfully authentic.

🌊 Banyumala Twin Waterfall

~50 minutes drive — A gorgeous multi-tiered waterfall flowing into a wide, shallow natural pool surrounded by rainforest. Less crowded than Sekumpul, with an easy scenic walk down. Great for swimming, picnicking, and simply enjoying the sound of falling water amid green jungle.

🌋 Gitgit & Aling-Aling Waterfalls

~45–55 minutes drive — Gitgit is one of North Bali’s most famous falls: a powerful cascade surrounded by dense rainforest. A little further, Aling-Aling offers a series of falls with natural rock slides — fun for the adventurous! Both lie along a scenic drive through mountains and plantations.

🚙 Mount Batur Jeep Sunrise & Trekking

📍 Distance from Coco Garden Villas: Approximately 1–1.5 hours drive south to Kintamani / Mount Batur area

✨ About the Experience

Ride a rugged 4WD jeep up Mount Batur — Bali's iconic active volcano — and catch one of the most spectacular sunrises on the island without the exhausting all-night hike! Drive off-road across historic black lava fields from the 1963 eruption, through pine forests and volcanic terrain, reaching around 1,400 meters elevation in time for dawn. Watch the sun paint the sky gold above Lake Batur, Mount Agung, and the entire caldera below.

♨️ Banjar Hot Spring (Air Panas Banjar)

📍 Distance from Coco Garden Pool Villas: Approx. ~32 km | 40–50 min drive along the coastal road — very easy trip!

✨ About Banjar Hot Spring

Banjar Hot Spring is North Bali's most famous natural sulfur hot spring, nestled in lush tropical jungle near Lovina Beach. Warm mineral water (~38°C) flows from carved dragon-head spouts into three tiered stone pools — believed to soothe skin conditions, joint aches, and stress.

🛕 Pura Ulun Danu Bratan (Bedugul)

~1 hour drive — The iconic floating temple on Lake Bratan. Set against misty mountains and surrounded by gardens, this is one of Bali’s most photographed landmarks. On the way back, stop at Bedugul’s fruit markets, botanical gardens, or buy fresh strawberries.