If you’re planning to visit Nusa Penida, you’ve most probably heard about the famous Broken Beach. It’s one of the unique places on the island and one of the most popular tourist attractions.
I visited the Broken Beach and I fell in love with its natural beauty and unique shape. This round bay connected to the ocean through an arch is the perfect destination for nature lovers and selfie addicts.
It’s no wonder why Broken Beach has become an internet sensation. The path surrounding the beach offers some spectacular views!
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know when planning to visit the Broken Beach in Nusa Penida. From its location, to safety and entrance fees, I’ve got everything covered.
1. Where is the Broken Beach (Pasih Uug), Nusa Penida?
The Broken Beach is located on a small peninsula on the western coast of Nusa Penida. To get to it, you’ll first have to pass by the beautiful Angel Billabong which is also worth visiting.
The Angel Billabong is a natural infinity pool guarded by rocky walls. It communicates with the ocean through a small opening and is one of the most instagrammable places on the island.
2. How to get to the Broken Beach
To get to Nusa Penida, you’ll have to take the boat from Bali. I recommend buying your tickets online to save money and time.
The roads in Nusa Penida have a reputation for being terrible. When we visited, a few years ago, the roads were very very bad and a one-hour trip always took us 2 hours. However, things changed recently and now the roads are in better shape.
If you know how to drive motorbikes, I recommend renting a motorbike to get to the Broken Beach and other attractions. This is the option we chose because we wanted to be in charge of our itinerary. It costs around IDR 80 K per day and you can rent one from the port or your guesthouse’s owner.
Good to know – before starting your journey on motorbike, make sure that the tank is full. You can buy gas for about IDR 10 K per litre.
Another option to explore Nusa Penida is to join a guided tour. There are day tours from Bali that include stops at the Broken Beach. I recommend this tour that has excellent reviews. The price includes boat tickets from Bali, transport on Nusa Penida and an English-speaking guide.
If you don’t know how to drive a motorbike and you’d like a bit more privacy, you can hire a driver with a car for about IDR 500 K per day. If you plan to spend only one day in Nusa Penida, you’ll have to find your driver before arriving on the island.
If you plan to spend more days in Nusa Penida, you can ask your hotel or guesthouse’s owner for a driver. He or she will be able to arrange such services.
No matter which option you choose, reaching the Broken Beach is easy if you have Google Maps or a GPS. After arriving at the parking lot, you’ll have to first pass by the Angel Billabong and then walk for about 10 minutes before reaching the Broken Beach.
3. Broken Beach – Legend
Also known as Pasih Uug, which in Indonesian means Broken Beach, this cove in Nusa Penida has a fascinating legend. The legend says that on the place where the Broken Beach is located, there used to be a village.
One day, a huge snake came into the village and the locals were scared, so they decided to kill it. The same day, a beggar came to the village and started asking about the snake. He was actually the snake’s owner and he knew how his snake was cruelly killed.
However, the locals lied and they didn’t tell the truth. The beggar then took a stick out of his purse and stuck it into the ground. If any of the villagers was telling the truth, he would be able to pull the stick.
However, none of them succeeded, so the beggar pulled the stick himself, creating a huge earthquake that caused the entire village to collapse, creating the Broken Beach.
There are many versions of this myth. Some say that instead of a snake there was a cow. Either way, according to the legend, the untruthful nature of some villagers led to the creation of the beautiful Broken Beach.
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4. Broken Beach – What to expect
There are a few places in Nusa Penida that left me in awe. One of them is the incredible Diamond Beach and another one is the beautiful Broken Beach. Mother Nature really outdid herself and created a breathtaking beach hidden inside a cove that communicates with the ocean through an arch.
Interesting fact – the hole has 98 meters in diameter
If you have a drone and lift it above the Broken Beach you’ll only see a small lake. However, when exploring this place on foot, you’ll be able to admire the beautiful rocky arch and you can even walk above it.
The water at the Broken Beach is one of the bluest I’ve ever seen. The waves are crushing inside the small cove and it looks tempting to go for a swim, but unfortunately there’s no way to reach the beach.
There is a path that circles the Broken Beach and I recommend you to follow it. You have to admire the beauty of this place from every angle.
There are no safety rails on the sides of the beach and you might be tempted to get too close to the edge. Be very careful because in the past, a few accidents happened.
On the way, you’ll pass by a few small warungs selling Indonesian food and refreshments. If you’re hungry, you can stop here to grab something to eat while admiring the views. There is even an ice-cream shop and a Thai Tea stall.
5. See the manta rays at the Broken Beach, Nusa Penida
If you’re lucky, you can even see Giant Manta Rays close to the Broken Beach. When walking from Angel Billabong to Broken Beach, head towards the edge of the cliff on your right and you can see Manta Rays swimming peacefully into the ocean.
Nusa Penida is known as a great location to admire Manta Rays. You can even book a tour to go diving and snorkeling in some of the most famous spots on the island.
6. Swimming at the Broken Beach
Unfortunately, you can’t swim at the Broken Beach. You can’t even reach the beach, but you can admire it from above. However, if you want to refresh yourself and go for a swim, I recommend visiting the nearby Angel Billabong.
This natural infinity pool is perfect for swimming during low tide. However, don’t get too close to the edge because the waves can sweep you away!
7. The best time to visit the Broken Beach
If you want to enjoy this beach without any tourists around, plan to arrive here as early as possible. You can visit the Broken Beach at sunrise and take as many photos as you want without anybody in sight.
8. Entrance fee and opening hours
The Broken Beach is open 24/7 and there is no entrance fee to visit it. However, you’ll have to pay a parking fee of IDR 5 K for your motorbike. If you’re visiting by car, the fee is IDR 10 k.
9. Is it worth visiting the Broken Beach?
Out of all the places I visited in Nusa Penida, Broken Beach is one of my favorites.
It is one of those places that instantly steals your heart. The milky-blue water, the rock arch, the surrounding ocean – everything here looks like a corner of paradise. Together with Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach, the Broken Beach is one of the most beautiful places in Nusa Penida.
10. Places to visit near the Broken Beach
Before visiting the Broken Beach I recommend stopping at Angel Billabong. Make sure to check the tide prior to your visit. If the tide is high, you won’t be able to swim in the natural infinity pool. To avoid the crowds, arrive at the Angel Billabong as early as possible.
After that, head to the Broken Beach; it’s just a short walk away. After you’ve visited these two attractions, I recommend heading to Kelingking Beach and then to Peguyangan Waterfall.
At sunset, go to Crystal Bay Beach for one of the most magical views.
11. Where to stay in Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is a relatively big island with lots of accommodation options. From hostels to luxury hotels, you can find accommodation for every budget. I’ve been searching for the best options and here 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
12. Final thoughts
The Broken Beach Nusa Penida is a must-see while visiting the island. Located close to the port, it’s the perfect destination for those visiting Nusa Penida for only one day.
If you’d like to know more about planning a trip to Indonesia, check out my Indonesia travel guide that includes information about costs, transport, food, and more!
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!