Tibumana Waterfall Bali | Photography Guide

 

Price / Costs involved - 15,000 IDR, entry fee

Drone friendly - You can fly your drone at Tibumana Waterfall but I would strongly recommend not to. Tibumana Waterfall is covered by foliage and there are a lot of small branches and leaves at waterfall level.

Tripod - Definitely bring your tripod. Tibumana Waterfall has such a clean flow of water it is perfect for long exposures.

Crowds - Yes, during the day and during peak season, Tibumana Waterfall gets very busy. They also host weddings here from time to time and close off the waterfall to the public. There is no way to know when these are booked in so keep that in mind.

Best time to visit - 1 hour after sunrise. You will probably be the first one to arrive and on the walk down to Tibumana Waterfall if you get the right conditions you will see some pretty incredible light rays. If the gate is closed like it is in the picture below, you will either have a local already on the way down or jsut head back up the top and ask one of the locals to open the gate, they are very helpful here!

Time of year - just after the wet season. I have never seen this place without a flow but, to ensure you are getting the best flow, head to Tibumana Waterfall just after wet season.

 

 

What gear to bring - When planning a shoot at Tibumana Waterfall I would recommend bringing close to your whole kit. The walk down to Tibumana Waterfall is quite short and not very steep so having a heavy backpack won’t be an issue. Bring your tripod along with a medium to wide lens setup. There is a large, dry area to leave your gear and usually there is a general guide with you looking out for anyone snooping around. While Tibumana Waterfall has quite a serious flow of water, you are very far away from the waterfall for any water to reach your gear. Some waterfalls in Bali I recommend bringing weatherproofed gear but Tibumana Waterfall is fine!

  

Shooting Suggestions - There is a large brown, ugly, dirt patch right before the water starts. It looks horrible in photos so I would recommend to shoot through the small plants and rocks to cover that up. This way you will also improve the composition of your shot. Break out the tripod and try your hand at some long exposures here, the water flows perfectly and I couldn’t recommend it more.

Things to keep in mind - Tibumana Waterfall has a pretty serious ant infestation. The huge dirt patch is full of small ants that bite on occasion. This makes things tricky when shooting as the ants get very annoying, very quickly. If you stay on top of the rocks you should be good but there is no way of avoiding the ants while on the dirt.

 

The walk down - The walk down to Tibumana Waterfall is very easy. It starts off quite flat and transitions into a long staircase which isn’t too steep. Once you reach a fork, you can go left to Tibumana waterfall and after a few more steps you will be back on flat ground and only need to cross 2 bridges before you get to the waterfall. There are a lot of spiders, especially early in the morning on the walk down. I have always seen atleast one large spider on it's web. Just be mindful!

Facilities - There are a few small local cafes and restaurants at Tibumana Waterfall. They do not open early but by the time I was finished shooting a few had opened with very basic supplies, water, snacks, coconuts, and so on. There are also toilet facilities both at the top near the parking lot and down at Tibumana Waterfall.

 

 

Tibumana Waterfall is a must visit if you are visiting Bali for photography. It is one of the photography spots on Bali that is a staple in everyone’s to-do list. With the easy of access, relatively cheap entry price and friendly locals, Tibumana Waterfall is a great place to take photos on Bali!