Seeing the cheeky monkeys of Bali should be at the top of your list of things to do in Indonesia, and Ubud Monkey Forest Sanctuary is the most popular place to do it.
Almost 1,000 monkeys live in the monkey forest of Bali! It is a 12-hectare jungle area that includes an ancient religious temple from the 14th century.
It’s fun, family-friendly and affordable, and you can interact with animals in a more natural environment than in a zoo. What does not have to please?
In this guide you will learn how to get to the Monkey Forest of Ubud, what entrance fees you currently have and what you need to know before you go!
What to Expect-Sanctuary Of The Sacred Forest Of Monkeys Of Ubud
It may sound strange, but Instagram’s famous monkey forest was one of the biggest inspirations for my first trip to Bali years ago.
I saw all the moss-covered statues in the jungle and the pictures of people posing with monkeys in Ubud, and it seemed really fun to me. Opinions about the monkey forest are everywhere. Some love it, others dislike it.
Many people are afraid of monkeys, so they prefer to stay away from this place. I love monkeys, so it seemed like a really fun and authentic experience that you can’t get anywhere else.
Now that my wife and I live in Bali, we have returned to the monkey forest several times with and without friends, and it’s always fun to watch the ridiculous monkey antics.
No matter who you are, you are guaranteed to have unforgettable experiences in this place!
Monkey Business – Interesting Facts
Bali’s monkey forest can be a bit wild. You have been warned!
I saw the monkeys crawling over people’s faces in Ubud, lowering women’s tops and pulling up their clothes, chewing people’s hair as a snack, drinking from water bottles, stealing sunglasses and just falling down and taking a nap in the middle of the hiking trail.
Somehow I miraculously escaped, although over the years I have had countless Bali monkeys climbing on my shoulders.
That is, it is a place where you have enough chances to be urinated, robbed or even bitten. If you don’t like naughty monkeys, stay away!
I’ve had a few bites, but nothing serious, and Bali monkeys don’t have any real health issues to worry about (see safety discussion after in this guide).
There are about 1,000 monkeys living in over 6 different groups here at the jungle Sanctuary, so it’s quite a party.
The monkey forest of Ubud is a little different from a zoo, because monkeys can come and go at will.
This is their natural habitat. Monkeys live here and sleep in banyan trees. You go to their cherished monkey living quarters. Your jungle palace, if you will.
Nevertheless, you can help feed the monkeys or take pictures with them. It is easy to interact with them, also thanks to the helpful staff at the sanctuary of the Sacred Monkey Forest of Ubud.
Ubud monkeys are fed three times a day, mainly with a combination of sweet potatoes and bananas, as well as occasional papaya leaves and seasonal fruits.
This species of monkeys is called the Balinese long-tailed macaque or crab-eating macaque. The scientific name is Macaca fascicularis.
Baby monkeys stay with their mothers until about 10 months of age, gradually learning jungle methods, and they are as cute as you might expect.
