Canggu (Echo Beach)

COMO Canggu

★★★★★

COMO Canggu, formerly known as COMO Uma Canggu, brings the polish of the Singapore-based COMO group to Bali's most fashionable stretch of coast. The resort stands on Jalan Pantai Batu Mejan at Echo Beach, facing one of the most consistent surf breaks on the island's south-west coast, and its clean-lined, contemporary architecture is a deliberate contrast to the thatch and carved wood of Ubud: white walls, timber, glass and greenery, with sea views from many of the rooms. Accommodation is varied, with rooms and suites for couples, larger residences for families and groups, and a penthouse at the top. The heart of the resort is the COMO Beach Club, an easy-going poolside space for all-day dining, drinks and sunset, which opens toward the beach and the surf; it is the kind of place where surfers come in from the water and families linger over lunch. Wellness is a COMO signature: COMO Shambhala offers treatments, yoga and fitness built around holistic principles, and healthy menus sit alongside more indulgent choices. The location is the other draw. Canggu has grown into the island's busiest creative scene, with cafes, restaurants, surf shops, yoga studios and beach bars spreading across what used to be rice fields, and Echo Beach and neighbouring Pererenan and Batu Bolong are all close. Tanah Lot is around twenty-five minutes away for sunset. Surfers of every level are well placed here: the reef break in front of the resort suits experienced riders, while gentler beginner waves and surf schools are found nearby along the coast. The resort makes a comfortable, stylish base for travellers who want to be part of Canggu without staying in a hostel-and-scooter bubble.

Choosing a room: sea-view rooms and suites are worth the premium for the sunsets over the surf. Families and groups should look at the residences, which have more space and separate living areas, and the penthouse is the special-occasion option. Ask which rooms are furthest from the beach club if you prefer quiet evenings.

Who it suits: couples and families who want a design-led beach resort with wellness built in, surfers and their non-surfing partners, and travellers who want to experience Canggu's food and cafe scene from a calm base. It is less suited to those seeking traditional Balinese architecture or the cultural immersion of Ubud, which is an hour or more away.

Practical notes: Canggu is about forty-five minutes to an hour from the airport depending on traffic, and the area's narrow roads are congested at peak times, so allow plenty of time. The sea at Echo Beach has strong currents and is better for surfing than swimming; use the pool, and swim at the beach only where lifeguards indicate. In the wet season, expect some washed-up debris on west-coast beaches, which is usually cleared quickly. Older Uma Canggu pages on the COMO website now point to the new name.