Nusa Penida is the largest of the islands of the Nusa group, located near Bali. You can get to it on a yacht, renting it for a while, or by ferry.
There are several places in Bali from where speedboats go to Penida: Padang bai, Kusamba, Tribuana and Sanur. Sea buses have their own schedule and cost.
The island of Nusa Penida will be interesting to those who want to take a break from the noisy and crowded Bali, admire the wild and untouched nature, beautiful coves and rocks. Diving and snorkeling enthusiasts will appreciate the numerous spots off the coast of the island.
For those who like hiking, swimming and lazy holidays on the beaches, we offer several particularly interesting places where you can enjoy both natural beauty and authentic atmosphere.
Crystal Bay Beach
Crystal Bay is one of the most famous beaches on the island. Here people gather to relax, make a barbecue, go snorkeling. The coastal waters are full of marine life, and there are several cozy cafes on the beach where you can get drinking water and snacks.
The beach is located in a picturesque place surrounded by soft moss-covered rocks, under which crabs hide. The shade is created by tall spreading palm trees, whose leaves hang almost to the water. Harsh rocks rise up directly from the water and sand.
Despite the beauty, the beach for swimming may not be too comfortable. The bottom here is littered with dead corals, pieces of which can hit your legs during strong currents, so walk on such a bottom with all caution.
Atuh and Diamond Beaches
To fully enjoy all the beauties of Nusa Penida, these two beaches are a must-visit. It is worth visiting the observation deck of Atuh Beach – a good road leads to it, and the view from there is such that it simply takes your breath away!
In addition, it will not be difficult for you to take great photos here – there is no descent to the water from the observation deck, so there are very rarely large groups of tourists here. No one will prevent you from building a beautiful frame for Instagram.
These beaches, like Crystal Bay, are quite peculiar. Atuh beach impresses with its beauty: white sand, rocks, greenery everywhere! However, the descent to it can be difficult, there may be sharp stones at the bottom. You can swim here. Knowledgeable people recommend climbing the beach cliff on the other side to admire the stunning views of the neighboring Diamond beach.
Diamond Beach can be considered the wildest and most charming holiday destination on the island. A narrow staircase carved into the rock leads to it, which breaks off and then the path follows either over huge boulders half hidden under water, or through a cliff where you have to cling to branches and roots, or through the water, but you need to go very carefully so that the current does not hit you on the rocks.
However, all these problems are worth it – after the descent, you will have at your disposal an almost pristine beach with snow-white clean sand, gray rocks and a blue ocean.
Kelingking Viewpoint
Kelingking is the most famous viewpoint on the island. Often the view from here is replicated in photos from the island of Bali. In front of you will be a T-shaped bay surrounded by lush green rocks, one of which resembles the torso of a dinosaur or dragon.
It’s really beautiful here. That is why this place attracts crowds of tourists, guides often take excursions here or independent travelers come. Be ready to stand in several queues: at the entrance to the observation deck, in the photo, on the descent to the water by a steep staircase.
It’s worth getting up a little earlier and coming here at 7-8 in the morning to enjoy nature to the fullest!
There are several cafes on the beach below, offering a variety of drinks, as well as a traditional temple near which monkeys are found.
Peguyangan Waterfall
Peguyangan Waterfall is not the usual vertical waterfall that we imagine when we hear this word. Rather, it is a series of cascading streams of water flowing down through a steep ravine to the sea.
Time has allowed the water to “knock out” natural baths in the rocks of the ravine, and now tourists can enjoy a natural spa, as well as a light massage from the fast-flowing water.
The waterfall in all its glory can be seen by descending a long narrow staircase located along the wall of the ravine.
This place is usually difficult to find, not even all the locals know about it. The easiest way to get here and take a dip in the natural baths will be with an organized tour or with the help of a private driver who knows where the waterfall is located.
Goa Giri Putri Temple
If the reviews of the beaches have tired you or you have had time to relax on each of them, we recommend going down to the Giri Putri cave temple complex. This is an authentic and interesting place where you can get to know the culture and traditions of Indonesia better. The temple is located on the east coast.
Of course, it’s not that easy to approach him. You will need to climb the hill, and then climb through a narrow passage into the cave. For a visit to the temple, you will need to make a “voluntary donation”, as the usual entrance ticket is usually called here.
Angel Billabong Natural Pool
This is a rather unique place – a large natural pool surrounded by rocks and an open edge facing the ocean. Swimming here is possible only at low tide, when the ocean recedes. And remember that during a high tide or even a storm, you should not go down into the water or even approach the pool. It can be very dangerous for health and life!
Angel’s Billabong is considered a very popular place among tourists, so there are always a lot of people here. In order to have time to take beautiful photos and not crowd, it is best to come here early in the morning or late in the evening, when the main flow of people subsides.
Abandoned beach
Broken Beach or Pasih Uwug is suitable for beautiful photos, admiring the pristine wildlife, but not suitable for swimming. A very bad and broken road leads to it, and in the coastal waters there is a very rocky bottom, walking on which is unpleasant.
However, the beach is called Abandoned or Broken not at all because of the poor condition of the roads and the bottom. Broken here is a rock in the ocean, which is a natural arch through which sunlight passes. Once upon a time, this arch was part of a cave, but ocean waves eroded the rock, and half of the cave collapsed.
Now this place is a unique attraction of the island, where hundreds of tourists come every year to see this beauty with their own eyes.