Over a thousand monkeys
Macaques roaming freely.
Merbabu — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Philip Nalangan — CC BY 4.0 · Philip Nalangan — CC BY 4.0 · Philip Nalangan — CC BY 4.0
A dense tropical forest in the heart of Ubud where more than twelve hundred Balinese long-tailed macaques roam freely among giant trees, stone paths and bridges, beside three old moss-covered temples. It is one of Bali's most visited places and one of its loveliest, with huge fig trees and hanging roots. The monkeys are used to people, so they come close, leap about and may climb on visitors, which makes the visit both fun and a little nerve-racking. Hide food and plastic bags, leave glasses, hats and dangling earrings behind, do not stare a monkey in the eye or reach out to it, and if one grabs something, do not pull it back but call a ranger. Entry is about one hundred and thirty thousand rupiah for foreign adults and less for children, and the forest opens daily from nine to six. The temples inside are for worship only. Bali's tourist levy is separate. Come in the morning, when it is cooler and quieter; an hour or two is enough. The forest sits at the end of Monkey Forest Road, so you can walk on to Ubud Market and Ubud Palace in a quarter of an hour.
Macaques roaming freely.
Hanging roots and stone paths.
Three old temples in the forest.
Jalan Monkey Forest, Padangtegal, Ubud
Safe if you follow the rules and keep children close, as monkeys may jump and grab things. Do not give children food inside, and keep them away from baby monkeys, whose mothers guard them.
