A shot of the previous construction at Uluwatu. Photo: Save the Waves
Is there another surf spot in the world being so radically altered before our eyes as what’s happening in Uluwatu?
In 2024, a portion of the Uluwatu cliff was destroyed to build a breakwater to protect a temple. In 2025, dozens of buildings were demolished at Bingin Beach – rubble left to flow into the ocean. Now, in 2026, a new project built on the edge of the cave entrance to the Uluwatu surf spot has locals agitated once again.
Local environmental and social activist Piter Panjaitan says the O’laya Magnifique construction project is worrisome.
Panjaitan questions whether a proper environmental impact study was conducted and has asked the hotel to provide documentation. The Inertia also reached out to O’laya Magnifique to request the documentation, but did not receive a response by the time of publication. They did, however, claim that all the plants removed from the site were relocated.
He is concerned that the project is being built too close to the cliff edge and that drilling could alter the two natural caves beneath the construction. He also questions how runoff will be managed now that vegetation and trees – which naturally hold and filter water while stabilizing the cliff – have been removed.
The company created its Instagram account about a year ago. The development will feature a wedding venue, though it is unclear whether it will also include lodging accommodations.
In a response to Panjaitan, O’laya Magnifique said the project was carefully planned and thoughtfully considered long before construction began.
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“Our sincere commitment is to protect, preserve, and honor the natural beauty of this island,” said a company spokesperson.
Panjaitan took offense to those claims.
“You didn’t preserve, you didn’t honor, and you didn’t protect the beauty of the cliffs,” said Panjaitan. “Your design sucks. Your architecture sucks. Your project sucks. I do not welcome you in Uluwatu.”
Local elected official I Made Tomy Martana Putra also criticized the project in a press release, calling it dangerous and a threat to local livelihoods.
“The big question is whether the permits are complete,” said Tomy. “There are caves underneath, and the beach is commonly used for surfing. Has there been a geological assessment? If they are drilling into the cliff, does it disrupt activities and conditions in the area?”
“We are not anti-investment,” he added. “But it must guarantee the safety of the local environment. At the very least, there should be prior socialization with the village. The lowest levels of local government must be informed if a project like this is taking place.”
We’ll continue reporting on the development as more information emerges.
