Pemuteran is a fishing village on the northern coast of West Bali.

Understand

This fishing village has become very popular with visitors. Waterfront resorts, its proximity to Lovina and West Bali National Park, and the extreme natural beauty of the area have fuelled rapid growth in tourism infrastructure in the area. There are countless diving centers, bike rentals, art shops and guest houses, but they are concentrated alongside the main road and the beaches. As soon as you leave the main road, you can see traditional village life, with small farms, temples and schools.

Pemuteran is home to the largest artificial Biorock reef project in the world and there is a real spirit of marine conservation effort in this area.

Get in

Visitors usually arrive in Pemuteran on the north coast road from Lovina or Singaraja, aproximately 50 km or 1 hr 15 min, or from the west at Gilimanuk. Regular bemos ply the north coast road but they are very slow and get extremely crowded. You can easly grab one of them almost everywhere on the road.

You will have no problem renting a car with driver to take you from Lovina to Pemuteran - fix the price in advance and make sure petrol is included. A direct ride to Pemuteran from tourist centres in the south will take about four hours depending on traffic on the coast roads.The ride from Amed takes between 3-3½ hours depending on the traffic and will set you back between Rp 500,000-600,000 depending on your bargaining skills (2013).

Get around

The traffic on the main road easily competes with the one in Ubud. There are no sidewalks and motorbikes sometimes drive on the opposite side of the road as well.

See

Early morning dolphin watching, as in Lovina, boat trips can be arranged through any hotel. By no means guaranteed, but you have a decent chance of finding a pod here.

The beaches are especially nice in this area and consist of a particularly fine grained black sand. Reefs located to the east of the beach emerge at low tide, and are teaming with marine life including sea urchins and small crabs. Not far off from the beach on the west side of the village one can swim to the Biorock, a local coral restoration project which started in 2000. As can be seen when swimming off Menjangan Island, corals are fast perishing in the area. The beaches and the Biorock can easily be accessed on foot from Pemuteran.

Menjangan Island and West Bali National Park are easily reached from here. The Menjangan Island boats depart from Labuhan Lalang which is a 15 minute ride west from Pemuteran. Obligatory permits can be purchased from the national park office at the back of the Labuhan Lalang car park and you can also arrange a guide here. It is quite common for groups of visitors to congregate in this car park and join together to charter a boat. Most local hotels will make any arrangements you need for activities related to the national park.

Proyek Penyu (turtle project) is a turtle breeding and release program run by one of the dive operators in co-operation with local villagers. Very much worth a visit and certainly worth your support.

The area around Pulaki village just east of Pemuteran is full of vineyards and is the centre of the grape growing industry in Bali. The local Hatten winery produces a variety of white and red wines. A visitor and tasting centre is open between 09:00 and 16:00 daily (as of June 2017). Pulaki village is around 10 km east of Pemuteran, about a 20-minute motorcycle ride.

• 1 Pearl farm (Atlas pearl farm), Jl. Nelayan, Penyabangan Singaraja, Bali (a 15-minute motorbike ride east of Pemuteran), ☏ +62 361 284 455. The main farm of Atlas Pearls is on the coast in Penyabangan, east of Pemuteran. While there is a show room and sales area, one can visit the oyster hatchery and watch an interesting video explaining the pearl farming process. One can also observe the hatching process. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Vineyards around Pulaki (Hatten winery), Jl. Raya Seririt-Gilimanuk, Desa Sanggalangit (around 10 km east of Pemuteran, about a 20-minute motorcycle ride.), ☏ +62 81 239 645 077, welcome@hattenwines.com. 9am and 4pm daily (as of June 2017). The area around Pulaki village just east of Pemuteran is full of vineyards and is the centre of the grape growing industry in Bali. The local Hatten winery produces a variety of white and red wines. A visitor and tasting centre is open between 09:00 and 16:00 daily (as of June 2017). (updated Jun 2017)

Do

Diving and snorkelling is excellent both here and at nearby Menjangan Island inside the West Bali National Park. Visibility is excellent and there is a profusion of reef fishes, turtles, and hard and soft corals.

• Easy Divers (contact@easy-divers.eu), Pemuteran, ☏ +62 362 94736. A PADI dive resort with more than 10 years history in Pemuteran. 
• Reef Seen Aquatics, Pemuteran village, ☏ +62 8123 894051, dive@reefseenbali.com. First established dive operator in Pemuteran, offering guided dives and PADI courses from absolute beginner upwards. Very active in marine conservation who run their own turtle breeding and release programme for example. Attractive beach-side divers' accommodation. 
• Ocean Dreams Pemuteran Pemuteran village (next to ATM) info@oceandreams.asia . The only SSI instructor training center in North's Bali. organize snorkeling and diving to Pemuteran and Menjangan, and courses from beginner to instructor
• Sea Rovers (at Hotel Adi Assri, Pemuteran), ☏ +62 812 3859167, dive@searovers.net. Offer a full range of fun dives and courses. PADI accredited. All dive prices in euros. 

Fishing is good in calm waters and you can charter a boat easily from the beach.

The hills and mountains that form the southern backdrop to Pemuteran offer many opportunities for interesting hiking or cycling. Ask at your hotel for directions and/or a guide.

Eat

There are several simple roadside warungs serving typical Balinese food. All of the hotels in the area have restaurants open to the general public. As might be imagined in a traditional fishing village, the seafood options are highly recommended.

Sleep

Pemuteran is quite expensive by Balinese standards. There are more budget options opening and it is possible to stay cheaply with local people in their houses if you ask around once you arrive. Staying near the main road guarantees a never-ending stream of motorbike engine noise (especially as Balinese youth find it amusing to remove their exhaust mufflers).

Budget

• 1 Bukit House Pemuteran, Jl. Seririt-Gilimanuk, Pemuteran, Gerokgak, Kabupaten Buleleng, ☏ +62 852-3907-7981. Check-in: From 14:00, check-out: Until 12:00. Around US$8. (updated Nov 2019)

Mid-range

• Jubawa Homestay, ☏ +62 362 94745. Nice bungalows starting next to the main road (noisy) going far back (much quiter). Huge swimming pool. Prices for low season start at Rp 350,000 (fan), Rp 400,000 (AC), and include tax, breakfast and one main meal from the menu. Slow wifi available in the restaurant and at the swimming pool. The restaurant prices are reasonable but do not include tax. 
• Double You (Off the main road next to Kubuku (see sign)), ☏ +62 81338427000, doubleyoupemuteran@gmail.com. New large rooms. Quieter than other budget options as set back from the road. Low season ~US$30, High season ~$50. 
• Kubuku Ecolodge (Kubuku Bed & Breakfast), Jl. Singaraja – Gilimanuk, ☏ +62-362-3437303, info@kubukubali.com. Four clean, quiet, and air-conditioned rooms (more are under construction) away from the main road. Free internet and wifi available, they can also arrange snorkeling trips, dolphin sighting or transport. From Rp 330 000. 
• Rare Angon, ☏ +62 362 94747. Budget air-conditioned bungalows with nice outdoor bathrooms. About Rp 350,000. 
• Taruna Homestay, ☏ +62 81338536318, +62 85237117763, taruna.kadek@yahoo.com. Nice garden. Free wifi. Excellent service, very clean. From $37-$55. 

Splurge

• 2 Matahari Beach Resort & Spa, Jalan Raya Seririt Gilimanuk (to the east of the village, just outside the main arch over the road), ☏ +62 362 92312, info@matahari-beach-resort.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. A beachfront resort in a very quiet and beautiful natural setting. It has two restaurants, an in-house spa, a large swimming pool, a golf putting green and other facilities. Has 32 rooms in a traditional Balinese style. from US$280. 
• 3 Hotel Adi Assri, Pemuteran, ☏ +62 362 94838, sales@adiassri.com. Individual bungalows on the beachfront. Offers lots of national park based activities and has a dive centre attached to the hotel. In house spa and restaurant and a good sized swimming pool. From US$37. 
• Puri Ganesha (diana@puriganesha.com), ☏ +62 36294766. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. A laid-back luxury resort comprising four large beachfront villas each with private pools for 2-6 guests on 300 m of peaceful beach in Pemuteran. The food is all organic. from US$550. 
• Taman Sari Bali Cottages, Pemuteran village, ☏ +62 362 93264, sales@balitamansari.com. Charming traditional Balinese style beachfront complex with accommodation ranging from double rooms at US$42 to two-bedroom suites at US$175. 
• Villa Semadhi, Jalan Seririt-Gilimanuk, Pemuteran, ☏ +62 85 237126191, villasemadhi@gmail.com. Beachfront villa for two to ten people. Lovely swimming pool and jacuzzi. The villa stands in a large 3000-m² garden. €100-320, depending on how much of the villa you use, and the time of year. 

Go next

You can easily continue your journey around Bali eastwards to Lovina or 32 km westwards to Gilimanuk.