Located 30 mi/45 km northeast of Denpasar, Candidasa had a beach when its first hotels were built. Unfortunately, further construction led to the mining of the reef offshore to make concrete, which allowed the waves to come in and wash away the beach.
What good is a beach resort without a beach, you might ask? Well, besides being a cautionary tale for the other Bali resorts, Candidasa also provides a rather overdeveloped yet relaxed atmosphere and a good base for diving and tours of the sites of eastern Bali.
If you're staying in a resort area, take an excursion to some of the following traditional villages: Pejeng (elaborate Hindu temples), Yeh Pulu (ancient rock carvings), Tenganan (pre-Hindu Bali Aga village), Bangli (former capital of an ancient Bali kingdom) and Kusamba (a fishing and salt-producing village with brightly painted outrigger boats).
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