8 Places in Nusa Penida You Need to See

A trip to Bali, Indonesia should be on everyone’s travel bucket list! Bali has everything from beautiful scenery to amazing cultural practices and the best part of traveling here is you get to experience it all. Nusa Penida is a small island off the mainland and also has so many great experiences to offer. Here is a guide to the 8 places in Nusa Penida you need to see.  

1. Goa Giri Putri Temple 

Description

Goa Giri Putri is a temple located in one of the largest caves in Nusa Penida. This is an experience you don’t want to miss. 

Location

Goa Giri Putri Temple is located on the northeast side of Nusa Penida island. It is around a 20-minute drive from Buyuk Harbour, which is the harbour you will be dropped off at if you take a boat from Sanur.  

What You Should Know Before You Go

There are a few things to know before you go. The first thing is you need to wear a sarong, like every other temple in Bali. There is a place to rent one if you don’t have one, at the base of the stairs before you walk up to get to the temple entrance. Once you are all suited up you have to walk up some stairs to get to the cave entrance. The entrance fee is by donation so there is no set cost. And to enter the cave you have to crawl through a small entrance. It is only tight for a few seconds and once you get through the initial entrance it opens up to a huge cave.  

2. Diamond Beach 

Description

Diamond Beach is a beautiful lookout over the picturesque blue water and white sand beaches of Nusa Penida. 

Location

Diamond Beach is located on the east side of the island. It is around a 53-minute drive from Buyuk Harbour, which is most likely the port you will be coming into when you travel to Nusa Penida. And it is 35 minutes away from Goa Giri Putri Temple if you wanted to see both locations in one day.  

What You Should Know Before You Go

Diamond Beach is a beautiful lookout and is very popular with tourists. Plan for it to be pretty busy if you travel in peak seasons. The entrance fee is 10,000 IDR per person (which is less than $1 CAD) and there is an additional 5,000 IDR parking fee. When I went I just went to the lookout to see the amazing view and took a couple of pictures so we didn’t stay long. You can walk down to the beach if you want, there is a staircase that leads down to the beach. It’s around a 20-minute walk each way. If you do hike down to the beach make sure not to go swimming. It’s highly recommended you don’t swim at Dimond Beach because it’s really dangerous with the waves and currents.  

3. Kelingking Beach 

Description

I’m sure almost everyone has seen the iconic photo of the T-Rex Peninsula but did you know the actual name for this location, it’s Kelingking Beach.  

Location

Kelingking Beach is located on the west side of Nusa Penida Island. It is located pretty close (around a 25-minute drive between each location) to the Tembeling Pools and Broken Beach/ Angels Billabong if you wanted to do a day trip to see lots of amazing places on the island.  

What You Should Know Before You Go

When visiting Kelingking Beach there is an entrance fee of 10,000 IDR per person (which is less than $1 CAD) and a parking fee of 5,000 IDR. When you go to Kelingking Beach you can just go to the lookout, see the amazing view of the peninsula, maybe grab something to eat at the many restaurants there, and call it a day. Or you can hike all the way down to the beach. I personally didn’t do the hike down but I heard it was difficult and it takes people about an hour each way. Like diamond beach, it’s highly recommended that you don’t swim due to the water conditions being extremely dangerous but I heard the beach is beautiful. 

4. Tembeling Natural Pools 

Description

Tembeling offers everything from an amazing forest, to beautiful beaches, and natural swimming pools that overlook the ocean.

Location

Tembeling Beach, Forest, and Natural Pools are located on the west side of the island. It is around a 25-minute drive from Kelingking Beach if you wanted to visit both places in one day.

What You Should Know Before You Go

The only way to get to Tembeling Beach and the Natural Pools is either on foot or by scooter. If you get a taxi ride to Tembeling the driver will have to park and drop you off and you will either have to walk 45 minutes down the scooter path or one of the locals will give you a ride on their scooters for around 50,000 IDR (around $5 CAD). I personally got a ride, I had not ridden on a scooter and wanted to experience it since it’s such a big part of Balinese culture. The ride was a lot of fun and definitely a lot faster than walking. It takes only a few minutes by bike to the stairs that lead to the pools and the beach.

5. Guyangan Waterfall 

Description

Don’t be confused by its name Guyangan Waterfall is not a huge cascading waterfall. This place is known for its blue staircase along the side of the cliffs overlooking the beautiful blue water. At the bottom is a Balinese temple, natural pools, and a small waterfall.

Location

Guyangan Waterfall is located on the west side of the island. And it’s around a 40-minute drive from Tembeling Beach.

What You Should Know Before You Go

There is no entrance fee for Guyangan Waterfall but before you start your walk down these many blue stairs you first have to be dressed for a temple. You have to wear a sarong and if you don’t have one you can rent one at the entrance. Then you will start your walk down. There are around 700 stairs to get to the bottom and many of the stairs are very steep. Make sure you are very careful when you are walking up and down these stairs and be prepared to sweat. Once you get to the bottom you might be very ready for a dip in the natural pools. The pools are hidden behind the temple so you have to walk up the stairs to enter the temple and then walk down the other side to get to the pools. Guyangan Waterfall really has it all, wonderful views, a beautiful temple, and natural pools, it really is a must-see if you are in Nusa Penida.

6. Angel’s Billabong 

Description

Angel’s Billabong is a natural pool on Nusa Penida. You can go for a swim in these beautiful clear waters and look out at the ocean view.

Location

Angel’s Billabong is on the west side of the island. It is only a few minute walk away from Broken Beach which is another very popular stop on the island.

What You Should Know Before You Go

There is a 5,000 IDR entrance fee (which is less than $1 CAD). To get down to the pools you have to climb down a few rocks but it’s not very difficult. Make sure you are only swimming when it is low tide because it is not safe otherwise. Also, be careful about getting too close to the edge of the pool looking over the ocean. It’s unsafe to get too close because if a wave came in it could pull you out to sea. All of the negative stuff aside this natural pool is beautiful and a great place to get a swim in.

7. Broken Beach 

Description

Broken Beach is a beautiful lookout of a rock arch leading to the ocean. It gets its name because the rock looks broken due to the hole through it. Definitely, a must-see when you visit Nusa Penida.

Location

Broken Beach is located on the west side of the island. As I mentioned before it’s also just a few minute walk from Angel’s Billabong.

What You Should Know Before You Go

Since Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach are so close you park in the parking lot and can walk to both. Because of that you only have to pay one entrance fee which is 5,000 IDR (less than $1 CAD) for both locations. Also on your walk from Angels Billabong to Broken Beach keep an eye out for manta rays there are lots spotted there.

8. Gamat Bay 

Description

Gamat Bay is a beautiful bay that is great for snorkeling. There are so many beautiful and colourful fish and other sea creatures to see.

Location

Gamat Bay is located on the Northwest side of Nusa Penida. And it is not accessible by car it’s only accessible by boat or by foot.

What You Should Know Before You Go

Gamat Bay is a popular boat tour stop because of its beautiful coral and thousands of fish. If you don’t want to pay for a boat tour but still want to see this great beach it’s a bit of a trek but it is possible to get to it by land. You will get dropped off by car around Gamat Garden Homestay and you will have to walk the rest. It is a pretty steep climb down to the beach but if you are careful it’s will be well worth the walk.

Nusa Penida is a very popular tourist spot in Bali and for good reason. The island has breathtaking views all over. After traveling to Nusa Penida I can definitely say these 8 locations are must-see spots that first-time travelers shouldn’t miss. If you do end up adding these spots to your travel bucket list I would love to hear all about what you thought of them. Hope this sneak peek into these 8 locations was helpful and happy traveling! If you are planning on traveling to Ubud, Bali read all about the Top 5 Destinations in Ubud, Bali You Must See.