This journey starts with a significant hike from the parking area at the end of a dirt road off the highway. Opting for the hike from the highway's shoulder might be shorter, but you'll miss out on the scenic route.
Starting from the parking near the turnabout, the path leads to the beach, following the shoreline straight to the cove. Along the way, you'll walk over black pebbled beaches, passing by grand mansions, including the notable Bali House (which is worth a quick lookup on Wikipedia), and several private residences at the bay's entrance. The trek continues across a vast expanse of lava, especially as you venture further into the cove. I was curious to see if the water at the cove's end was shallow enough to allow a clear view of the bottom, but unfortunately, the soot from the brackish water rendered snorkeling almost useless. While you can spot plenty of fish and turtles, snorkeling here isn't recommended.
The bay area and along the beach hike is a haven for turtles. We spotted about 20 of them feeding in the waves, in water as shallow as six inches, making them easy to see and photograph. However, snorkeling in such shallow waters doesn't make much sense.
The hike itself is an adventure, mostly flat but akin to walking on sand due to the pebbled terrain. I suggest wearing at least closed-toed shoes for comfort. We even saw some elderly folks on the trail, though they seemed quite exhausted from the walk. Flip-flops are a definite no for this trek. Near the beach entrance, to the right, there's a flooded lava tube, but it's important to note that entering lava tubes is now illegal.
If you're up for a bit more adventure, I highly recommend heading into the cove's greenish-blue waters to enjoy some rock jumping off the lava formations. It's a thrilling addition to the hike!