As Bali’s traffic congestion becomes more intense and widespread, leaders are on the lookout for new and impactful solutions to this ongoing problem.
In July 2024, the Regent of Badung, I Nyoman Giri Prasta, who is now the new Deputy Governor of Bali, announced plans to create a new ‘sea toll road’ for tourists to travel between Canggu and the Bukit Peninsula. His new project just got the final green light and will be brought to life in early 2025.
The project, confusingly referred to as a ‘sea toll road,’ is not a road at all, but rather a new ocean taxi route that will connect tourists from Canggu’s Berawa with Nusa Due and even I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
This project is set to be developed alongside and support the new Bali Urban Railway Network, referred to as the MRT and LRT, to help improve public transport and Bali’s congested road network.
Speaking from Berawa in Canggu on Friday, 13th December, Regent Prasta told reporters, “God willing, between January or February, we will build a sea toll road so that tourists on the coast (Canggu-Berawa) will no longer use the main road but sea transportation.”
He confirmed that the project would not require the construction of a new port or harbor in the Berawa area.
Regent Prasta noted that the Badung Regency Government is working in collaboration with the Bali-Penida River Basin Office to design what they are calling a ‘ship transit point’.’ According to the officials, the current priority is to open a sea toll stopover from the airport to the Canggu and Nusa Dua areas.
Regent Prasta told reporters, “There will be a ship docked at the airport (coast). Guests who arrive will be escorted to the front of their hotel (on the coast of Canggu-Berawa). The current priority is from the airport to Canggu and to Nusa Dua.”
He added, “The specific type of ship will be announced later. Maybe a large boat with cooperation from a third party.”
Regent Prasta said that the program is similar to sea taxi services that are already on offer from Canggu, such as the GoBoat service from Canggu to Uluwatu.
In fact, GoBoat offers two main sea taxi services, in addition to dozens of fast boat transfer routes between Bali’s biggest ports and the outlying islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan, as well as the Gili Islands and Lombok.
Sea taxi services already on offer by GoBoat are the Canggu-Jimbaran, which operates between Nelayan Beach in Canggu and Kedonganan Beach in Jimbaran.
The second is the Canggu-Uluwatu route, which operates between Canggu’s Nelayan Beach and Uluwatu’s Padang Padang Beach.
The crossings take between 20-35 minutes, cutting travel time down significantly. While GoogleMaps often says the drive between central Canggu and central Uluwatu takes 1 hour and 20 minutes, in reality, this journey takes upwards of 2 hours by car, even if there is no significant traffic congestion.
This festive season, Bali’s fast boats are set to be as busy as ever, and tourists are encouraged to book their tickets as far in advance as possible.
Even for those who do not have concrete plans just yet, operators like GoBoat offer a flexible ticket option, which accounts for changing plans.
Tourists who are unable to find tickets for their chosen crossing should look for crossings later in the afternoons these boats tend to be less busy than the early morning crossings filled with day trippers.
It is also worth looking for crossings departing from different ports in Bali.
Sanur Port is by far the biggest and busiest departure and arrival point for Bali’s fast boats. Operators also offer departures from Padangbai in East Bali and Serangan, which is just a short drive from Sanur and a great alternative for those already staying in the central south of Bali.
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Spearfishermans
Sunday 22nd of December 2024
To make this route happen must also to consider/understand/to keep distance route for the diver/spearfishermans in the area, cus i had been almost hit by a boat before when i did a spearfishing around thomas beach just around after the reef breaks, i do spearfishing also around bingin beach, so does the other spearfishermans around these areas most of times. The boat driver must to understand the sign/flag by a diver, or better way to put the route not to close to reef break unless the boat needs to turn into the destination beach but still needs to slow it down somehow and see around in case of some divers/swimmers.
Shorty
Sunday 22nd of December 2024
Seems flying elephants and pink pigs have taken swimming lessons.
Exp
Tuesday 17th of December 2024
GoBoat Canggu have record number of 1 star reviews on google and tripadvisor with main complaints being too small boat (people and luggage get wet, feeling unsafe) and often last minute cancellations offering no refund, only vouchers. No surprise considering rainy season here and that traversing the huge reef breaking waves need a sizeable boat.
From info online the goboat appears to be a small traditional outrigger "fishing boat" which I have used in sheltered waters myself outside Lombok -- However, I have a hard time understanding how this boat could be certified for ocean transport of passengers and their luggage along the rough southern coast line?
So how is this new operation ("sea toll road") going to operate boats safely and in a comfortable manner out of Berawa and Uluwatu without sheltered ports?
Peter
Tuesday 17th of December 2024
Regent prasta is heading back to bed to dream up a boat and other routes people can take