Among the most famous tourist attractions in Nusa Penida is the incredible Angel Billabong, a unique rock formation that is home to a beautiful natural pool. This is one of those destinations always packed with tourists but the views here are simply incredible.
Located close to the Broken Beach, another popular attractions, Angel Billabong should be on any traveler’s itinerary. Even if you only have one day to spend in Nusa Penida, this place is worth visiting.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know when planning to visit Angel’s Billabong. From how to get there to entrance fees and tips & tricks, you’ll find everything in this guide.
1. Where is Angel Billabong, Nusa Penida?
The incredible Angel Billabong is located on the western side of Nusa Penida, a short walk away from the Broken Beach. It’s located on a small peninsula, facing south.
Being one of the most popular attractions on the island, Angel Billabong is easy to reach by car and motorbike. When I visited Nusa Penida a few years ago, the roads were in a terrible state but I’ve heard that recently, the local authorities invested a lot of money in rebuilding the roads on the island.
2. How to get to Angel Billabong
First, you’ll have to get from Bali to Nusa Penida. There are many daily speed boats from Bali, but if you want to save money, I recommend to buy your tickets online. If you buy them directly from the port, they will be a bit more expensive.
I recommend this company that also offers shuttle services. Also, it has excellent reviews.
Once you get to Nusa Penida, you have 3 options to get around the island. You can rent a motorbike, join a guided tour, or hire a driver. I’ll talk in detail about each of these options below.
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Option 1 – Rent a motorbike
If you’re an experienced driver, it’s worth renting a motorbike. You can rent one directly from the port or from your accommodation. It usually costs around IDR 80 K per day but prices can go a bit down if you’re renting it for more days.
When we visited Nusa Penida, we chose to rent a motorbike because it gave us the freedom to explore the island at our own pace.
Option 2 – Join a guided tour
There are many Nusa Penida tours and most of them cover Angel Billabong and Broken Beach. There are also day tours from Bali, like this one, that include stops to popular attractions such as Kelingking Beach and Crystal Bay Beach.
Option 3 – Hire a driver
Another option is to hire a driver with a car for a day. Prices usually start at IDR 500 k for 8 hours (max 4 people). If you’re planning to stay more days in Nusa Penida, I recommend asking your host and he or she will be able to help you find a driver.
3. Angel Billabong – What to expect
Right near the parking lot, there are a few warungs (local restaurants) that sell drinks and Indonesian food. If you’re hungry, it’s a good idea to stop here.
From the parking lot it’s a short walk to the Angel Billabong. From the main path, you’ll see a smaller path on your right and after about 40 meters you’ll arrive at a set of stairs leading to the Angel Billabong natural pool.
What is a billabong? This is an Australian term, referring to an oxbow lake or a small pond/ pool left behind after a river changes its course.
The Angel Billabong is a rocky formation with a small pool surrounded on the sides by two stone walls. This pool communicates with the ocean and, when the tide is high, the waves cover it.
I’m going to be honest with you. When I saw pictures of Angel Billabong on the internet, I thought that this place is huge. However, in reality, Angel Billabong is much smaller and it’s super busy if you arrive during midday.
The billabong is famous for its emerald green water and rocky formation that can be seen through the water, on the bottom of Angel Billabong. It’s a unique place, worth exploring while in Nusa Penida.
4. Swimming in the Angel Billabong Infinity Pool
The reason why most tourists visit Angel Billabong is to take a dip in the beautiful infinity pool. However, you should be extra-careful because many accidents happened here along the years and some people even died.
You should only swim in the Angel Billabong infinity pool when the tide is low. The tide changes many times during the day, so it’s best to check it out prior to visiting Angel Billabong.
Good to know – Bring some water shoes with you if you plan to swim at Angel Billabong because the rocks on the bottom of the pool are quite sharp.
Also, don’t get too close to the edge of the pool. From time to time, bigger waves will cover the billabong and they can sweep you away.
Keep in mind that when the tide is high at the Angel Billabong, the water is muddy. When we visited this was unfortunately the case. The crystal-clear water was gone and no swimming was allowed.
4. Sunset at Angel Billabong
Watching the sunset from the Angel Billabong, Nusa Penida can be a unique experience. The sky will turn pink and the sun will reflect into the infinity pool.
The views are pretty spectacular, especially if the tide is low. If you’re looking for a romantic place in Nusa Penida to spend some time with your loved one, head to Angel Billabong at sunset.
5. Angel Billabong entrance fee and opening hours
You can visit the Angel Billabong anytime of the day. The only fee you’ll have to pay is the one for parking – IDR 5 K for motorbikes and IDR 10 K for cars. Basically, there’s no entrance fee for Angel Billabong and Broken Beach.
6. Is it worth visiting the Angel Billabong in Nusa Penida?
In my opinion, there are more beautiful places in Nusa Penida than the Angel Billabong. For example Diamond Beach, Crystal Bay Beach or Peguyangan Waterfall.
However, Angel Billabong is located close to the Broken Beach which is an incredible natural wonder. Given its close proximity to the Broken Beach, I recommend visiting Angel Billabong too.
7. The best time to visit Angel Billabong, Nusa Penida
The perfect combo is to visit Angel Billabong in a morning when the tide is low. Starting with 11 AM tour buses will start to arrive and the place will be filled with tourists.
8. Places to visit near Angel Billabong
As I’ve said before, the Broken Beach is located just a short walk away from the Angel Billabong. It’s a beautiful bay communicating with the ocean through a rocky arch. Quite a view!
Another place I recommend visiting is the beautiful Crystal Bay Beach. One of the best places for snorkeling and diving on the island, Crystal Bay is simply stunning.
Another place located close to Angel Billabong is the famous Kelingking Beach, known for its T-Rex shape. This is probably the most famous attraction on the island and for a good reason – the views here are breathtaking!
9. Where to stay in Nusa Penida
From guest houses to more luxurious hotels, you can find any type of accommodation on Nusa Penida. I searched for the best accommodation on the island for every budget and below are my recommendations.
- Budget – Double-G Guesthouse – excellent location, spacious rooms, air conditioning, friendly staff
- Mid-Range – NG Sweet Home – beautiful pool, quiet area, good location, spacious & clean rooms, continental breakfast included
- Luxury – Adiwana Resort – excellent location, incredible pool, beautiful views, luxurious rooms, excellent facilities
10. Final thoughts
Angel Billabong is one of the most popular tourist attraction in Nusa Penida. Famous for the infinity pool communicating with the ocean, most people come here to swim in the crystal-clear water. It’s a unique place, worth visiting.
If you’re looking for more incredible destinations to visit while in Nusa Penida, make sure to visit Atuh Beach, Diamond Beach, Thousand island Viewpoint, Peguyangan Waterfall and Crystal Bay Beach.
If you’d like to know more about Indonesia, make sure to check out my Indonesia Travel Guide that includes important info about transpoprt, costs, things to do and tips & tricks.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section below. May the travel bug bite you!
Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!