Chart for each month
Bali waterfalls in the rainy season: full flow, brown water and care
The falls in brief
Bali's rainy season runs from November to March, when the waterfalls run fuller and browner, and Denpasar's long-term rain is 350.7 mm in January against 27.6 mm in July.
This season's forecast
A year of water
Twelve months of flow around Ubud
Choose a month to see its season, the usual warmth, the daylight and what the water does then.
Sunset
Jan
- Dusk comes near 18:45
- The day lasts about 12.6 h11
- Water and paths: Wet, fullest flow1
- Light for around 31°C, darkness near 25°C11
Denpasar's long-term rain is 350.7 mm, the highest of the year.2
Feb
- Dusk comes near 18:45
- The day lasts about 12.4 h11
- Water and paths: Wet, forecast peak1
- Light for around 31°C, darkness near 25°C11
BMKG forecast the 2027 peak for most of Bali.6
Mar
- Dusk comes near 18:33
- The day lasts about 12.2 h11
- Water and paths: Wet, easing1
- Light for around 31°C, darkness near 25°C11
The ministry's wet season ends this month.1
Apr
- Dusk comes near 18:17
- The day lasts about 11.9 h11
- Water and paths: Dry begins1
- Light for around 31°C, darkness near 25°C11
The ministry's dry season starts this month.1
May
Jun
Jul
- Dusk comes near 18:15
- The day lasts about 11.7 h11
- Water and paths: Driest1
- Light for around 29°C, darkness near 24°C11
The driest month at Denpasar, with 27.6 mm.2
Aug
- Dusk comes near 18:19
- The day lasts about 11.8 h11
- Water and paths: Dry1
- Light for around 29°C, darkness near 24°C11
Tibumana runs as a single column in the dry season.4
Sep
Oct
- Dusk comes near 18:13
- The day lasts about 12.3 h11
- Water and paths: Dry, rain returns1
- Light for around 31°C, darkness near 24°C11
Rain returns at 64.4 mm.2
Nov
- Dusk comes near 18:19
- The day lasts about 12.5 h11
- Water and paths: Wet begins1
- Light for around 32°C, darkness near 25°C11
Part of Bali was forecast to turn wet this month in 2026.6
Dec
- Dusk comes near 18:32
- The day lasts about 12.6 h11
- Water and paths: Wet, heavy rain1
- Light for around 31°C, darkness near 25°C11
Most of Bali was forecast to turn wet this month in 2026.6
Sunset is worked out for the 15th of each month on Bali time. Day length and temperatures: NOAA averages for the Ngurah Rai airport station at Denpasar, about 29 km from Ubud, 1991 to 2020; rainfall in the notes is the Japan Meteorological Agency's Denpasar normal.
The wet months fill the falls and cloud the water. This guide puts the rainfall figures, the official season dates and this year's forecast side by side, and says what changes at Tegenungan, Tibumana, Sekumpul and on a day tour.
Editorial team, ubudwaterfalltour.quest · Updated November 3, 2026 · About 6 minutes to read
Main points first
- Part of the yearBy the ministry's calendar Bali is dry from April through October and wet from November through March.1
- The measured dataDenpasar's long-term rain is 350.7 mm in January and 27.6 mm in July.2,3
- The flowTibumana runs as one column in the dry season and twin columns in the monsoon, and Tegenungan can overflow.4,5
- The shade of the waterOne listing warns that after rain the falls can look brown and some stops may change for safety.
- This yearBMKG forecast most of Bali entering the rainy season in December 2026, with the peak in February 2027.6,7
How rain changes a waterfall
A waterfall is a river falling, and a river follows the rain. Tibumana makes this easy to see: NOW! Bali describes a single column of water in the dry season and twin columns in the monsoon season.4 Tegenungan, in the lowlands, is said by a Bali cultural site to run stronger and overflow in the rainy season, with April to September given as the ideal time.5
Colour changes too. The national news site that describes Sekumpul says its water can look clear or slightly cloudy depending on the season and which flow dominates.8 A day tour that stops at three falls near Ubud warns that after rain the falls may appear brown and some stops may be changed for safety.
So the wet season trades clear pools for powerful ones. A fall in full flow in the rainy season is louder and wider, but a brown pool is a poor place to swim, and a fall in full flow is a poor place to stand under. Match what you want to the month you travel, and be honest about whether you came to swim or to look. A fall seen from a railing in full flow is a very different experience from one you wade into, and the wet season suits the first better than the second.
Across the months
What each part of the year does to a fall
| Months | Season | Flow | Water colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec to Mar | Wet | Strongest, can overflow | Often brown |
| Apr to Jun | Dry begins | Falling | Clearing |
| Jul to Sep | Dry | Lowest, one column at Tibumana | Clearest |
| Oct to Nov | Wet returns | Rising | Cloudier |
Season dates are the tourism ministry's; flow and colour notes come from the cited pages and listings.1,5,4,8
Denpasar's rainfall, month by month
The rainfall figures here are the Japan Meteorological Agency's long-term normals for Denpasar, on the south coast. They give 350.7 mm for January, 289.8 mm for February and 231.1 mm for March.2 April has 107.4 mm, May 94.7 mm and June 67.9 mm, and July is the driest at 27.6 mm, with August at 36.4 mm and September at 59.4 mm.3
The wet months return in October with 64.4 mm, then November with 131.2 mm and December with 327.4 mm.3,10 The long-term rain at this station is therefore many times larger in the wettest month than in the driest.2,3 Do not read the coastal figures as Ubud's or as a mountain village's: the station is on the coast, so the figures describe Denpasar, and this page does not claim a number for the falls themselves. Temperature hardly changes through the year: the station's average daily high is 29.2 °C in July and 30.9 °C in January.11,11
The ministry points the same way in words. Its calendar for Java and Bali is dry from April through October and wet from November through March, and it adds that the seasons are harder to predict now.1,12 A separate source, Wikipedia's page on Bali, puts the west monsoon at roughly October to April, with the heaviest rain between December and March.9
The forecast for the 2026 to 2027 season
BMKG, Indonesia's meteorological agency, forecast that part of Bali enters the 2026 and 2027 rainy season in November 2026 and that most of Bali enters it in December 2026.6 It expects most of Bali to see the peak in February 2027.7 It also expects the season to start later than average across 61.08% of Indonesia's land area.15
BMKG's Bali climatology station said in September that all 20 season zones of Bali would start the rainy season later than normal, and that central Bali would see a longer season of 16 to 18 ten-day periods than the coasts.16,17 The forecaster added that a shorter season than normal means the rain accumulates and a high chance of more intense rainfall.18
These are forecasts, and they move. Use them to see whether your dates fall in the early, quieter part of the wet season or the peak, and check the BMKG forecast again in the week you travel. A later start than usual does not mean a gentler season.
Which month do you travel
Which month for which result?
Choose the line that matches your wish and read the answer beside it.
If I want clear swimming pools
July to September
Denpasar's driest normals are 27.6 mm in July and 36.4 mm in August.3
If I want the fullest flow
December to February
Denpasar's wettest normals are 327.4, 350.7 and 289.8 mm.10,2
If I want a photograph of a roaring fall
Wet months, from a distance
Tegenungan can overflow in the rainy season.5
If I want to swim under the water
Check the house rules
Tibumana's rules say not to swim under the waterfall.13
If My dates are fixed in the wet months
Book free cancellation
The site's listing cancels free until 24 hours before.
If I am nervous on wet rock
Prefer dry months
Sekumpul's steps are slippery in the rainy season.14
Slippery stairs, landslides and what to watch
Wet paths are the main hazard at a waterfall. Sekumpul's concrete steps can be slippery in the rainy season, according to the national news site.14 Tibumana is described by a Bali cultural site as a place prone to potential landslides, and its house rules say not to swim too far, not to swim under the waterfall and to avoid standing near cliffs.19,13
Australia's travel advice for Indonesia says weather can change quickly during the wet season, usually around October to April, and that floods, landslides and mudslides occur regularly.20,21 Heavy rain can flood towns and cities, Bali's included, and disrupt transport, which can slow the road to a waterfall as much as the water itself.22
Leptospirosis and other waterborne illnesses can follow heavy rain and flooding, the same advice warns.23 Cover cuts before you wade, wash after you swim and avoid water that is visibly muddy or fast. If a guide says a pool is closed, the answer is no, whatever the photograph looked like.
A year of water
How the flow changes from month to month
July
Least rain of the year
27.6 mm of long-term rain at Denpasar.3
October
The rains come back
64.4 mm, the month the west monsoon begins on one account.3,9
November
The wet begins
131.2 mm, and BMKG forecast the first Bali zones to turn wet.10,6
December
Downpours
January
The wettest
350.7 mm in the long-term normal.2
February
The forecast peak
289.8 mm normally, and the 2027 peak forecast for most of Bali.2,7
Choosing a month for full flow or clear water
If you want the strongest flow and do not mind brown water, the rainy months from December to March are the choice, with the ministry's seasons as the guide.1 If you want to swim in clear pools, the dry months are safer, and July is the driest at Denpasar.3 The shoulder months, April to May and October to November, sit between the two.
A river's grade can shift with the season, which is a useful comparison: the tourism ministry grades the Ayung River II and III in the dry months and IV when the water level rises in the rains.24,25 A waterfall pool on a smaller stream moves in the same direction, with more water and less control.
If your dates are fixed, the forecast for the week outranks any seasonal rule, and a guide on the day outranks the forecast. Ask the guide which of the stops is running well and which is not, and be ready to swap a swimming stop for a viewpoint.
Video
Should you visit Bali in the rainy season?
Greta's Travels on YouTube · The film only loads after you press play.
However, global warming has made the seasons less predictable.
Wet-season kit
A to-do list for a rainy-season fall
On your person3
- Shoes with grip for wet steps and rocks
- Quick-dry clothes and a dry set to change into
- Cover cuts before wading in muddy water
Inside your bag3
- A light rain jacket for the walk in
- A dry pouch for phone and money
- Small cash for gate fees paid in rupiah
Before and afterwards3
- Check the BMKG forecast before the cancellation cutoff
- Start early, so a changed stop does not cost you the day
- Skip a fall if the guide closes the pool
Which tours still run in the rain
Most day tours keep running. A private Ubud waterfall day says the tour takes place rain or shine, as does a private four-fall day. The site's own listing adjusts stops after rain for safety and may change the order for traffic, weather and crowds.
A Munduk day says the hike goes ahead in light rain but may be moved in severe weather, and a Munduk trekking day says the tour runs rain or shine but heavy rain may affect the trekking, leaving paths wet and muddy. One full-day Ubud listing says that after rain the waterfall may not be suitable for swimming.
Free cancellation is the safety net: the site's own listing refunds in full when you cancel a day ahead of the start, and reserving now with payment later keeps the plan flexible. Look at the forecast the day before the cancellation cutoff, and carry a spare set of dry clothes either way. A guide who knows the paths will also tell you which falls hold up after rain and which are better left for another day, and that advice is worth more than any seasonal table.
FAQ
Short questions, straight replies.
Are Bali waterfalls better in the rainy season?
A tour listing warns of brown water after rain and of stops changed for safety.
When does Bali's rainy season begin?
In which month does it rain most?
Does the rain change how Tibumana looks?
NOW! Bali describes one column in the dry season and twin columns in the monsoon.4
Is it safe to swim in the rainy season?
When does the 2026 to 2027 rainy season start?
Do waterfall tours run in the rain?
Several listings say they run rain or shine and adjust stops.
Sources
- Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Weather, climate & season (source) ↩
- Japan Meteorological Agency · World Climate Normals [source]: Denpasar, Indonesia (monthly mean temperature and precipitation) ↩
- Japan Meteorological Agency · World Climate Normals [source]: Denpasar, Indonesia (monthly mean temperature and precipitation) ↩
- NOW! Bali magazine · Searching Solitude: Tibumana Waterfall ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tegenungan: Waterfall in the lowlands ↩
- BMKG (Indonesia's meteorological, climatological and geophysical agency) · BMKG: El Nino Sangat Kuat sedang Terjadi, Musim Hujan 2026/2027 Diprediksi Datang Lebih Lambat ↩
- BMKG (Indonesia's meteorological, climatological and geophysical agency) · BMKG: El Nino Sangat Kuat sedang Terjadi, Musim Hujan 2026/2027 Diprediksi Datang Lebih Lambat ↩
- Good News From Indonesia (national news-and-features platform) · Air Terjun Sekumpul Buleleng, Tujuh Air Terjun dalam Satu Destinasi ↩
- Wikipedia · Bali ↩
- Japan Meteorological Agency · World Climate Normals [source]: Denpasar, Indonesia (monthly mean temperature and precipitation) ↩
- NOAA GHCN-Daily archive hosted by NCEI GHCN-Daily archive hosted by NCEI · GHCN-Daily station record, daily maximum and minimum temperature, Station Denpasar Ngurah Rai airport (ID GHCN IDM00097230), 1991 to 2020 ↩
- Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Weather, climate & season (source) ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tibumana Waterfall, the Calming Natural Beauty of Bali ↩
- Good News From Indonesia (national news-and-features platform) · Air Terjun Sekumpul Buleleng, Tujuh Air Terjun dalam Satu Destinasi ↩
- BMKG (Indonesia's meteorological, climatological and geophysical agency) · BMKG: El Nino Sangat Kuat sedang Terjadi, Musim Hujan 2026/2027 Diprediksi Datang Lebih Lambat ↩
- ANTARA (Indonesian national news agency), quoting BMKG Bali · BMKG: Waspada cuaca ekstrem saat musim hujan di Bali mulai November ↩
- ANTARA (Indonesian national news agency), quoting BMKG Bali · BMKG: Waspada cuaca ekstrem saat musim hujan di Bali mulai November ↩
- ANTARA (Indonesian national news agency), quoting BMKG Bali · BMKG: Waspada cuaca ekstrem saat musim hujan di Bali mulai November ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tibumana Waterfall, the Calming Natural Beauty of Bali ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · 5 reasons travelers love water rafting at Ayung River in Ubud (source) ↩
- Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · 5 reasons travelers love water rafting at Ayung River in Ubud (source) ↩
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