The Rise and Fall of Bali’s Infamous Canggu Shortcut

In the first seven months of 2024 alone, 3.89 million travellers visited Bali. As one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, the island has had to develop and adjust to the ever-growing number of visitors, especially in the post-pandemic era. 

Over the years, traffic in Bali has increased, especially in the popular area of Canggu. Driving here can be a hassle whether you’re on a motorbike or car, and there have been many instances of terrible congestion that have gone viral. To keep up with the tourism boom, the Canggu shortcut was made.  

What is the Canggu shortcut?

The Canggu shortcut is a narrow path of road that runs through the rice fields in Bali’s Canggu area. The shortcut was initially paved and opened to curb congestion issues in the growing tourist spot. 

Why was the shortcut made?

Before the tourism boom, Canggu was one of Bali’s more hidden gems. While located near the beach, this sleepy town was better known for being an agrarian location, with sprawling rice fields across three small villages. Each village was connected to a nearby beach by its own road. 

Some fifteen years ago, Kuta and Seminyak were the more popular and bustling tourist areas. However, as the number of visitors increased, so did the demand for accommodation and entertainment. The crowd moved further south, meaning Canggu had to adjust and develop in order to host more tourists. 

Instagram-worthy restaurants, brunch spots, bars, as well as digital nomad-friendly hubs began to open up around the area. Soon, Canggu became Bali’s newest “it” destination and traffic became a problem. The Canggu shortcut was a solution to curb the increasing congestion in the area. 

For a period of time, the shortcut became the go-to route for locals and tourists alike. Going through the narrow roads saved time and allowed for easier exploration of the area. However, this infrastructure was not prepared for the crowd that would overwhelm Canggu, especially after the pandemic. 

Where exactly is the Canggu shortcut located?

As of today, there are actually two shortcuts in Canggu. 

The original one runs from Jalan Subak Canggu to Jalan Anggrek, linking the Berawa area to Batu Bolong, which is the main street in Canggu. This shortcut is a narrow road and only accommodates cars from the west side. It takes about 15 minutes without traffic to travel through this entire stretch. 

The newer shortcut opened in 2024 and connects Jalan Raya Canggu to Jalan Raya Kerobokan. This shortcut was made to curtail the increasing traffic on this part of the island. However, it has made congestion worse so far as it creates a bottleneck for cars and motorbikes. 

How has the Canggu shortcut made a difference?

Although created to minimise traffic, congestion on the shortcut itself has gotten worse over time as it has become a daily route for many. Both shortcuts will often come to a standstill, costing more travel time instead of saving it. 

Additionally, miles of rice fields have been flattened out to make these roads possible. In the beginning, the Canggu shortcut was a one-way street flanked by rice fields and only accessible by motorbike. Today, there are only buildings and development on either side of the road. This affects the subak irrigation system in the area, ridding Canggu of what it was originally known for. 

Despite this impact, many still choose to frequent the shortcut as it is still a more viable option than going the long way to explore Canggu’s streets and shores. 

Located in Petitenget, away from the Canggu area, Merah Putih restaurant offers a quiet haven from Bali’s bustling roads. Here, you can spoil your tastebuds with delicious Indonesian fine dining accompanied by your choice of international wines. Dine in a gorgeous restaurant space complete with high ceilings and large windows letting in natural light.

Book a table and make use of exclusive gift vouchers on your visit. 

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