The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary lies near the southern end of Jalan Monkey Forest, in Padangtegal village in central Ubud. Riviera Boutique Hotel is on Jalan Raya Pengosekan, south-east of the sanctuary and a short walk or scooter ride from it, with 28 rooms, a spa, a cafe and lounge, and Kumo dining in the same building.
The sanctuary's formal name is Mandala Suci Wenara Wana. It sits in Padangtegal, one of the villages that make up Ubud district, near the southern end of Jalan Monkey Forest. That road runs south from Jalan Raya Ubud, starting at Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung), so you can walk from the palace to the forest along a single street.
Jalan Raya Pengosekan lies south of the forest. Measured between the sanctuary's mapped position and Riviera's Google Maps pin, the hotel is roughly 600 metres away in a straight line, to the south-east. The route along the roads is longer than that, so check it on a map before you set out on foot.
What is inside the Sacred Monkey Forest?
The forest covers about 10 hectares and holds at least 115 species of trees. About 1,260 Balinese long-tailed macaques lived there as of 2023, living in groups that each keep to their own part of the grounds. Three Hindu temples stand inside, all thought to date from around 1350, and the main one, Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, is in the south-west of the park.
The village of Padangtegal owns the forest, and village members sit on the council that runs it. About 1.3 million people visited it in 2017.
Can you touch the monkeys at the Monkey Forest?
No. Park staff advise visitors never to touch a monkey, and never to offer food and then pull it back, because either can provoke a bite. Visitors may not feed the monkeys snacks such as peanuts, biscuits or bread. The staff feed them sweet potato three times a day, along with papaya leaf, maize, cucumber, coconut and other local fruit.
The monkeys have lost their fear of people. They often come up in groups, grab bags that hold food, and reach into bags and trouser pockets, so leave snacks at the hotel and keep bags closed before you walk in.
When are the monkeys most active?
The macaques rest at night and are active through the day, the hours when the sanctuary is open, so a daytime visit will find them out along the paths. Check the current opening hours and entry fee on the sanctuary's official site, monkeyforestubud.com, before you go.
From about November to March, rain tends to come in heavy afternoon bursts, so plan the visit for the morning in the wet season. Our guide to Ubud on a rainy day has ideas for the afternoons.
Where can you stay near the Monkey Forest?
Riviera Boutique Hotel has 28 rooms on Jalan Raya Pengosekan, south of the forest. Every room is 23 square metres and sleeps two in a king bed of 180 by 200 cm. The Garden View and Urban View rooms have private balconies, and the two Cocoon rooms are interior rooms without outside windows.
The spa and massage room is open from 9am to 9pm every day, the Riviera Lounge serves coffee by day and wine in the evening, and Kumo serves dinner from 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday. The Agung Rai Museum of Art is on Jalan Raya Pengosekan too, so a morning with the monkeys and an afternoon among Ubud's art museums both start from the same road.
What else can you see on foot from the Monkey Forest?
Walk north up Jalan Monkey Forest and you reach Ubud Palace, where the road meets Jalan Raya Ubud, with the Ubud Art Market across the street. Dance performances and ceremonies are held in the palace courtyard, so the forest and the palace pair up easily on one walk.
For us, this hotel was an absolute oasis of well-being and definitely one of the most beautiful hotels we stayed in in Bali. We would return in a heartbeat and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a special, stylish, and relaxing stay in Ubud. Thank you so much to the entire team for this wonderful time! ❤️🌴 We would love to come back again!
A beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Ubud with stylish interiors and great attention to detail. I stayed in a Garden View room, which was very comfortable, spotless and peaceful. The staff were incredibly warm, attentive and helpful. I originally booked two nights but loved it so much that I extended my stay by another three. I would definitely return!
A Beautiful modern hotel in the heart of Ubud, very centrally and conveniently located and close to the best shops and restaurants. The hotel has a very beautiful colonial atmosphere, the rooms are clean, modern and stylish. The staff is kind and responsive. It's a great place for a couple or single travellers, it's not really fit for families as it has no infrastructure and special spaces for kids. It's a great place for adult travellers wanting to stay in the very heart of Ubud and enjoy the walking distance to the evening events in Ubud or just visiting the town without the need to use a car or a bike. We will be back!
How far is Riviera Boutique Hotel from the Monkey Forest?
Riviera is on Jalan Raya Pengosekan in central Ubud, south-east of the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary and roughly 600 metres from it in a straight line between the two map pins. The route along the roads is longer, a short walk or scooter ride.
Can you touch the monkeys at the Monkey Forest?
No. Staff at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud advise visitors never to touch a monkey or to offer food and pull it back, because either can provoke a bite. Feeding the monkeys snacks is not allowed.
Is there a dress code for the Monkey Forest?
Only for the temples. The sacred inner areas of the three temples in Ubud's Monkey Forest are closed to everyone except people who come to pray in Balinese temple dress, so visitors on the paths see the temples from outside.
