Nusa Penida Tour + Snorkeling

Destination 1

Kelingking Beach is one of the most famous spot of Nusa Penida. Major travel sites use its photo to advertise Bali and even sometimes Indonesia. The place is indeed very spectacular and really amazing. The rock of Kelingking Beach looks a little like the backbone of a dinosaur that would drink in the sea. And by the way, on Google Map the bay is called T-Rex Bay. If you are lucky you may even see Manta rays from the top of the cliff.

The esplanade overlooking the rock is now very popular with tourists and drone pilots. This is one of the places that contributed to the tourist development of Nusa Penida island, especially through social networks. Kelingking also means pinky finger in Indonesian. But it’s a little more complicated to understand why. Or it takes a lot of imagination.

The main attraction at Kelingking Beach is the viewpoint from the top of the cliff. The cliffs of this part of the coast of Nusa Penida island are very spectacular, but this one is special ! The selfie in front of the T-Rex is a must. But you won’t be the only one posting your photo on Instagram. At the end of January 2018, there were already more than 13,000 photos posted with the hashtag #Kelingking and more than 25,000 with #kelingkingbeach. In September 2020 there are now more than 110,000 photos with #kelingking and more than 310,000 with #kelingkingbeach !

Everyone is looking for the best photo. For example by climbing on the dead tree (well, you will not be the only one either …). The locals compete in imagination to build bamboo platforms that offer a different point of view and a different background for the best photo.

Tourists are not lacking in creativity to try to think out the box to make THE different picture. Be careful though, some have pushed the adventure too far. A press article reported in 2019 the accident at Kelingking Beach of a young Russian girl riding a scooter along the cliff, who fell down from the cliff. The article even mentioned that the scooter remained intact at the top of the cliff… The last accident occurred on December 22nd 2020.

If you decide to go down to the beach (and I encourage you to do it !) be careful hiking down the cliff. Take some water to avoid getting dehydrated. Wear a hat to avoid sunstroke. And above all, take good shoes. The first time I went down, I wore flip flops. It was not a good idea. There are now proper stairs for the first part of the path so it really much easier than it was a few years ago.

Once down, you will discover a very beautiful beach. It is tempting to swim but watch out for the waves which can be very powerful. And also to the currents that can drag you offshore in the ocean. Kelingking Beach has had several deaths by drowning, so the warning is for real. It may be better to stay in shallow water if you are not a good swimmer.

I hope I did not discourage you with all these warnings, because it is really worth taking the time to go down to the beach and have this experience.

Destination 2

Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong are on the South-West coast of Nusa Penida, not far from Crystal Bay. However, to go there by scooter or car you have to make quite a big detour. The road to go there used to be the worst one in all of Nusa Penida. Nowadays only the last hundred meters are a remainder of that terrible road ! You can also walk from Crystal Bay to Broken Beach, but the trail is not easy to find and it is a 2 hour hike.

The local name of Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong is Pasih Uug, which means broken beach in the Balinese language. Together with Kelingking Beach and Crystal Bay, Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong are some of Nusa Penida’s most iconic destinations. If you visit the island for the first time, they are a must. It would be a shame to miss these beautiful spots. During covid, there are very few tourists on the island, so you can choose to visit these spots at any time of the day.

The spot was named Broken Beach as a result of the collapse of a part of the cliff. The collapsed part has a circular shape, forming an arch that borders the sea. Hence, the entire spot looks like a circular bay with an arch overlooking the sea. The photos are much better than the description though!

At Broken Beach, you will probably spend some time walking around the bay and taking plenty of pictures. But take care with selfies! Some careless tourists have gone too far in their effort to take the perfect selfie and have fallen from the cliff. Since then, signs have been put up that warn visitors about the risk of selfies!

If you’re lucky you may see some Manta rays from the cliff. The cliff is, namely, located on top of the so called Manta Bay where fishing boats bring guests for snorkeling.

If you’re lucky you may see some Manta rays from the arch. The bay in front of Broken Beach is indeed called Manta Bay. This is where fishing boats bring you when you book a snorkeling tour.

To get a great photo with a drone, I would recommend you to fly around 150 meters high and take a vertical shot from there. However, do not try to fly under the arch to shoot a video. Many people have tried and were unsuccessful, given the number of drones that were found in the sea at the foot of this arch. When I asked a specialist why this happens, he explained to me that the pilots lose contact when they fly too slow under the arch. So when the drone tries to reach its planned altitude for recovery, and it is still under the arch, it will hit the top of the arch, fall and sink.

Therefore, you either have to fly at full speed below the arch and bet that the inertia of the movement will recover the drone on the other side. The other alternative is to stop the video before the arch, restart the video on the other side, and edit your video afterwards!

A billabong is an Australian term which normally refers to an isolated pond that is left behind after a river changes course. At Angel’s Billabong, it is more like a natural pool embedded in the cliff. During high tide it is filled with clear water, and during low tide the natural pool appears. The water is very clear and it is quite fun to go for a swim at low tide. However, don’t try to swim there during high tide, or when the waves are big. Make sure to get out as soon as the first wave enters the pool, because I saw tourists who lost their balance by a wave. They were lucky the wave didn’t sweep them out of the pool, because when that happens, it’s almost impossible to come back. Believe me, it happened. The two following photos were taken within 5 minutes.

Destination 3

Crystal Bay is an amazing beach on the island of Nusa Penida in Bali. The beach is easily accessible by scooter with a brand new road all the way from Toyapakeh harbour. You can spend your day enjoying the beach and the sea, or just relax in the shade under a parasol. If you’re very lucky you might even see dolphins here. The sunset from this beach is probably among the most spectacular in Nusa Penida. For all the above reasons Crystal Bay is among the top 5 places to visit on Nusa Penida island.

Crystal Bay is, together with Gamat Bay, one of the best sites to go snorkeling in Nusa Penida. You can rent your snorkeling gear at one of the beach warungs to discover the coral and marine life of this beautiful spot. You can see turtles quite regularly, as well as a lot of different fish and very colorful coral. However, be careful as the current can be very strong here, as well as everywhere else in Nusa Penida.

Don’t forget to bring your fins when you go into the water and don’t go too far out. You can use the mooring points of the boats that are parked in the bay as a reference point. I recommend you not to go past these points. Also, don’t try to reach the rock in the middle of the bay, even though it’s tempting to check out the small temple that is built on top of this rock.

Lastly, try to avoid swimming too close to the right side of the bay, as the waves might drag you onto the corals here at low tide. If you stick to these instructions, Crystal Bay is a great spot to discover the underwater world of Nusa Penida!

The beach is, furthermore, also a good starting point for a boat trip to see Manta Rays at Manta Bay. You can book the trip directly with your hotel or try to ask any captain at Crystal Bay in the early morning.

The beach is very nice to enjoy all day long, for example on a deck chair in the shade under a parasol. Crystal Bay is the most accessible beach in Nusa Penida. You can also get a drink, a coconut or some basic snacks at one of the beach warungs.

In 2016 it was still possible to have dinner here, but after, the government operated a commando operation with the army, police and bulldozers. All illegally installed buildings were razed and burned. The local population was rather shocked. At the time, two interpretations prevailed: some saw it as a sign of law enforcement to preserve the authentic character of the island. Others interpreted it as a desire to clear space for the building of a luxury hotel.

The second interpretation seems most likely as the construction of a huge resort started in 2020. For now, the beach is still preserved, so let’s enjoy it while we can!

Destination 4

Paluang Cliff is a tourism site that is no less beautiful than other tourist objects on the island of Nusa Penida, where from Paluang Cliff you can see the beauty of the Kelingking Beach from different view point, where the view is quite amazing, so that many tourists visit the Kelingking. also took the time just to take pictures here. From the cliffs we can see the beautiful view of the ocean, with the wind blowing from the ocean making the atmosphere cooler. This Paluang Cliff tourist attraction is a hidden spot to be able to see the beauty of the rocky hills in Kelingking Beach from a different point of view, from an east to west point of view. A very different experience and sensation in visiting Kelingking beach which is very famous for its rock views that we usually see from the front, here on Paluang cliff you can see the view of the kelingking rock from behind and the view from Paluang cliff is no less beautiful than the scenery on the beach. front, with a stretch of blue sea will complete the atmosphere of visiting Paluang cliff.

Paluang cliff is located in Karang Dawa village, Nusa Penida, and is located 100 meters from Kelingking beach which is famous for its rock that resembles a kelingking or often called T-rex rock. The charm of views of the sea and rocks is now increasingly in demand because it provides stunning views and the photos produced with this background are very enchanting and can be said to be very instagrammable, so many tourists come here just to take pictures with the kelingking beach background. from behind. Although Paluang Cliff is located at the end of a hill which is exactly on a rock cliff, the safety standards have been met where the managers come here every time to check the condition of the selfie photo area and make sure everything is safe and under control and also given a guardrail to limit tourists from take too many pictures from the space provided. The location is very perfect to see the beauty of the rock that is shaped like a dinosaur from a different point of view, an experience that you may never forget while spending time visiting the phenomenally beautiful island of Nusa Penida.

Paluang Cliff has always been an alternative tourist destination for those of you who want to feel a different sensation when you see this phenomenal, famous and beautiful view of the rock, if you travel as usual you will visit kelingking beach from the front, and here you can see the view of kelingking beach from behind. you can see the kelingking rock which is very beautiful. It is called Paluang Cliff, because near this place there is temple with name Paluang Temple and location about 50 meters from Paluang cliff, the temple which is sacred by local residents, so this why this places called with name Paluang Cliff. As for some of the uniqueness of this Paluang cliff which makes this tourist destination very often visited by tourists who visit Kelingking Beach, they will take a moment to visit Paluang Cliff which is so beautiful and enchanting.

Destination 5

Snorkeling with Manta Rays at Manta Point on Nusa Penida, an island just off the coast of mainland Bali is one of the most amazing experiences you can have while traveling in Indonesia. In this blog post, I will convince you why it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to swim with these graceful giants. I’ll also detail how and where to book and give you all of the tips you need to know before you snorkel with GIANT Manta Rays.

Destination 6

Gamat Bay is one of Nusa Penida’s great sites, but it is not as easily accessible as Crystal Bay. By road you can reach the top of the hill overlooking the beach. And then walk down following a fairly easy path. Gamat Bay is also a lot wilder. Which means you will probably not see anyone at the beach down there. Except for snorkeling and diving boats in the morning.

Destination 7

Wall Point – Nusa Penida, a natural and lesser-known small island, is a greatly develop tourism destination in Bali. There is a lot of affordable tour destinations in Nusa Penida with various activities can be done in each destination. One of the favourite activities done by the visitors in Nusa Penida is snorkeling where there is the best site for snorkeling in Bali named Wall Point.

People say that wall point is similar to gamat bay, a famous dive site in Nusa Penida. It is located in Toya pakeh and it is a shallow area. Coral reefs with colourful fish is a wonderful undersea view you will enjoy at Wall point. Photographers wouldn’t miss their chance to have great photoshoot with the undersea view. Wall point is one of destinations in Nusa penida for snorkeling which must be put in a tour package. Many visitors currently visit wall point as their tour destination although it is not as famous as Crystal Bay and other destinations in Nusa Penida. It takes only 25 minutes to reach Wall point by fast boat from Sanur beach to Nusa Penida.