Nusa Penida is the largest and most exotic of the three Nusa islands. It’s also arguably the most beautiful. For many years this gorgeous island was one of Bali’s best-kept secrets. But with the rapid rise that we’ve seen in “Influencers” over the last few years, places like this are becoming increasingly popular. All it takes is a few influencers to share their photos with hundreds of thousands of followers, and suddenly everyone wants to visit. Broken Beach Nusa Penida is one of the most popular places to visit on the island.
Nusa Penida island offers a mecca of adventures and attractions that make it one of the most exciting destinations to visit in Bali. From stunning cliff views and picturesque beaches to scenic drives and strenuous hikes, there are a surprising number of things to do on the island.
If you’re planning a Nusa Penida trip, there are a few “hot spots” that you should definitely add to your itinerary. Kelingking Beach, Crystal Bay, Angel’s Billabong, and Broken Beach are the most popular attractions on the west coast of the island.
Broken beach Nusa Penida is an incredible little cove, that has quickly become “Instagram famous”. It’s a natural archway in the cliffs that stretches over beautiful turquoise waters. The archway wraps around the bay allowing water to flow in and out from the ocean, hence the name broken beach.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Broken Beach in Nusa Penida.
How To Get To Broken Beach Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is quite a big island – it can take two hours to travel from one side to the other. Broken Beach, also known by its local name, Pasih Uug is located on the southwestern tip of the island. It will take approximately an hour to reach this corner from the main harbour area.
The journey to Broken Beach is by no means an easy one. The roads on Nusa Penida are notoriously bad, so getting around can be rather challenging. When making your way to Broken Beach, expect an overland adventure through the rugged limestone terrain of Nusa Penida.
Many tourists rent motorbikes to get around the island. But if you’re not very experienced or comfortable on a bike, it’s not a good idea. The roads are very narrow and not in good condition, making it quite a dangerous terrain to navigate around.
The other option (which we chose) is to hire a car with a driver for the day. There are quite a few sights to see on the west coast of the island, so having a driver is a great way to see more unique coastal features.
Hiring a car with a driver costs approximately 600,000 IDR. Renting a motorbike costs about 90,000 IDR – it’s definitely a much cheaper and better option if you’re comfortable driving a bike.
5 Things To Know About Visiting Broken Beach Nusa Penida
The Broken Beach landscape is out of this world. It’s such a breathtaking sight and definitely worth a visit if you’re on the island.
Here are the top things to know when visiting Broken Beach Nusa Penida
1. Despite the name, Broken Beach is NOT a Beach
In case you’re expecting to get here and hang out on the beach – Broken Beach is not a beach. Confusing, I know. But it is a stunning natural formation that makes for an unreal setting. The arch has been formed over many years and is now a true spectacle.
There is a very small beach-like area below, but it’s impossible to get to. It’s known as Uug Beach. But don’t come to this spot with your swimwear, expecting to take a dip.
The location is known as a drone heaven – the bird’s eye views are incredible. It’s a great place to sit down for a few moments and take in the breathtaking views all around. Most people just rush in, snap a few photos, and then leave. Be sure to stay a little longer to appreciate the scenery.
2. Angel’s Billabong is found right next to Broken Beach
Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong are kind of like a 2-in-1 package. They’re listed as two separate spots, but they share a parking area and are within a short walking distance of each other – about 500 metres.
Angel’s Billabong is the first spot once you enter from the car park. However, it’s best to head for Broken Beach first, and you can then stop by Angel’s Billabong on your way back.
Broken Beach Nusa Penida is purely a photo spot, so it’s a good idea to snap those shots early on before it gets too busy. You can take a panoramic walk all the way around Broken Beach, and you will find several different viewpoints along the way. Each spot offers incredible views of the hole in the cliff.
Once you’re done snapping away, make your way back to Angel’s Billabong. It’s a crystal clear tide pool that cascades into the ocean. Out in the sea, you might see Manta Rays cruising the coast. Angel’s Billabong is an incredible sight and also a very popular tourist attraction.
3. You May Spot Manta Rays in the Area
If you want to see Manta Rays in Bali, Penida Island is the place to go. They can be seen all across the island, and there is even a dive site southwest of Nusa Penida called Manta Point. Snorkelling with Manta Rays is actually one of the top things to do on the island.
But if you don’t have time for snorkelling, you may find some Manta Rays near Broken Beach Nusa Penida. Just a two-minute walk from Broken Beach and towards Angel’s Billabong, you will find an archway of trees. Head through it and up over the hill. Right over the edge here you may spot a few Manta Rays, if you’re lucky.
4. Best Time To visit Broken Beach Nusa Penida
Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong are becoming increasingly popular with tourists and locals. The two sights are probably the second most visited on the island. To experience the best of this stunning location it’s best to go early in the morning. If you visit between 07:30 and 08:00 AM you should miss the crowds.
The day tour boats start arriving at about 9 AM and this spot usually starts getting packed with big groups at around 9:30. It’s not quite the same when overcrowded, so if you can avoid the crowds, do!
Another reason to visit early morning is that high tide kicks in at about 9 AM. During this time the infinity pool at Angel’s Billabong fills up and you won’t be able to get the perfect shots.
The wet season on the Nusa islands is between December and February. It’s best to avoid this time of year since the rain could ruin everything.
5. Don’t Go Swimming At Broken Beach Nusa Penida
Although the beautiful turquoise water might look inviting, you can’t swim at Broken Beach. There is no way down into the cove, which means that there’s also no way to climb back out.
Even if you’re an adrenaline junkie and think that it looks like a great place for cliff jumping, you probably shouldn’t take the chance. The only way out would be to take a long swim around to Angel’s Billabong.
The other danger is the strong current. The sea here gets quite rough and if you’re not a strong swimmer, you will probably struggle.
Angel’s Billabong used to be a popular spot for swimming. But there were a few fatal incidents, and you can no longer swim here. They’ve closed off the stairs leading down into the water with a bit of tape and a sign saying “closed.” Technically you could get past the tape and go into the water if you wanted to. But you definitely shouldn’t.
The tides here are very wild. At high tide the waves come right over the edge of the natural infinity pool and may knock you over, sweeping you out to sea in the process.
Where To Stay On Nusa Penida
Many of the Nusa Penida attractions are on opposite sides of the island. Kelingking Beach and Broken Beach are on the west side, and Diamond Beach and the Penida Treehouse are on the east side. This makes choosing where to stay on the island a difficult task.
But if you have at least two days on Nusa Penida, it doesn’t really matter. You can spend one day exploring the east coast and the next day exploring the west coast.
There is a great selection of accommodation available in Nusa Penida. From guesthouses and homestays to beautiful bungalows, you can find something to suit your budget here.
We book almost all of our accommodations through Booking.com. If you haven’t yet signed up on Booking you can follow my link here and get £33 off your first home booking, and £12 to use towards an experience worth £40 or more.
How To Get To Nusa Penida
If you’re travelling from the Bali mainland, Sanur Beach is the most popular “port” to depart from. Most speed boats run on a travel schedule of between 7 AM – 10 AM and 2 PM – 5 PM for Nusa Penida.
There are three main fast boat operators running transfers between Nusa Penida and Bali mainland. They are; Angel’s Billabong Fast Cruise, Maruti Express, and Mola-Mola Express. Each of them offers the same thing and seems to have similar ticket prices. A roundtrip for foreigners costs 300,000 IDR.
You have the option to either book tickets online or directly at the port. As soon as you arrive here guys will start approaching you asking if you want boat tickets. They will then direct you to the relevant tour operator. It’s a bit crazy down here – as you can imagine – but it all seems to run very smoothly.
Nusa Penida Travel Tips
- Try to spend at least two days in Nusa Penida if you have time. While day trips are very popular, you will only get to explore one side of the island in a day.
- Get out early if you want to miss the crowds. Nusa Penida is becoming increasingly popular and therefore gets very busy. Kelingking Secret Point is the most popular attraction on the island.
- There are a few different tours available on the island, if you prefer to have a guide. They include an east-side tour, a West side tour, a Snorkeling safari, and a Temple & Culture tour.
- The wifi connection all across the island is really bad. Don’t come here expecting to get some fast free wifi
Have you visited Nusa Penida? Do you have any tips to add? Let me know in the comments below.
Like it? Be sure to Pin it for later
Hey Travel Babes. I’m Hayley a.k.a Ms Blissness – Adventurous dreamer and free spirit. I’m on a quest around the world with my husband, Peter. Join us on our journey for some travel inspiration and a lot of Love and Light xx. More about me…