Echo Reef

Surfing at Echo Reef / Echo Left Overview

Quick Info

Echo Beach and the Canggu region are the centre of surfing on the western coast with a range of breaks and open to more south swell than the beaches found further south. With plenty of places to stay, and even more great places to eat, it draws in the crowds of tourist and expats alike year round. Echo beach hosts a hot spot of quality waves, including Pererenan River-mouth, Echo Beach and Echo Reef.

About Echo Reef

Echo Reef is a left-hand reef break, breaking over jagged volcanic reef. It offers a barrelling left-hander that peels for 60m when the tide is high enough to cover the reef, with the lower tides leaving the reef exposed and not offering the same quality as the mid tide does. Be aware though, that a super high tide can bring back wash off the break wall.

The wave has a large take off zone; with waves breaking deep on the reef that wall up and peel to the end, and waves that break wider that will bend back on themselves, both offering barrels and performance walls. This does help a little to manage the inevitable hungry crowd that frequents this spot, but it can be a frustrating experience trying to get a good wave here, with surfers of all ability making their way into the water.
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Best Conditions for Echo Reef

Echo Reef is offshore from easterly winds through to the north, but prefers the light winds in the early mornings as the dry season trade winds are cross / onshore from the south and the wet season trade winds are cross onshore from the North. It will break from 1 ft to 1.5 over-head, but any bigger tends to close out.

Getting in and out at Echo Reef

Access this wave by paddling out in the rip in between the reef and the beach break. Coming back in it is best to paddle around the reef and back in through the channel, especially on lower tides. The rip can sometimes make this a little difficult.

Getting to Echo Reef

Get to Echo Reef by following Jalan Batu Mejan all the way to the end. You will pass through a ticket booth, with an Rp2000 entry fee per person, find a park anywhere along the road or in the car-park at the end. Be sure to hold on to your ticket, as it will give you entry all day. You will see Echo Reef in front of Mandira Café, just to the left of the stairs.

Hazards to look out for at Echo Reef

Crowds are a huge factor here, and it is very rare that you will be surfing here alone.

be aware of the rip in between the reef and Echo Beach, as it can run fast and will pull you out the back away from the beach. Be sure to ask if you are not confident.