What To Do In Nusa Penida: Caves, Cliffs, & Temples

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Nusa. Penida.

You’ve already seen the beautiful pictures of this island on Instagram and you know you have to visit, but what are the best things to see and do there?

This island has caves, beaches, cliffs, temples, waterfalls, snorkeling and diving, and so much more. There are even some nice beach clubs starting to pop up on the coast.

Since my wife and I live in Bali we’ve had the pleasure of visiting Penida more than a dozen times over the years, so here is our big list of what to do in Nusa Penida!

Where To Stay In Nusa Penida

 

Nusa Penida Private Driver

If you want to explore Nusa Penida in the comfort and safety of a van with a driver, my top recommendation would be GetYourGuide.

They offer a full day of driving and sightseeing in Penida (up to 8 hours) for 1-5 passengers. This tour includes the whole van + driver + petrol.

We've used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they're great! Highly recommended.

Book Now: Nusa Penida Driver
 

 

What To Do In Nusa Penida

 

West Nusa Penida

1. Broken Bay

For most visitors to Penida, one of the first stops will be Broken Bay. This is a cool circular cove formed in the rocks, complete with a leftover arch. This area is also one of the popular hangout spots for the manta rays, so you’ll most likely get to see some rays floating around in the sea nearby.

Read More: Broken Bay

 

2. Angel’s Billabong

This is a cool tide pool located near Broken Bay. You can wade in the pool, or the ocean views here are nice too.

  
 
 

3. Kelingking Cliff Viewpoint

The Kelingking cliff is the most famous view in Nusa Penida, and probably one of the most famous views in all of Bali. This is an incredible “T-Rex jaw” shaped rock sticking out over the ocean, with perfect turquoise water splashing around it. The first time you look over the edge of the cliff and see this view, it really is breathtaking!

Read More: Kelingking Cliff Point

 

4. Kelingking Beach

After you’re done staring in awe at the Kelingking T-Rex, there’s also a path to go down to the beach at the bottom. This hike is a major workout, a bit scary, and takes at least 2 hours roundtrip. Bring water!

As you can see in the picture below, the beach at the bottom is pristine and the waves are big; there’s even a little cave down there!

Read More: Kelingking Beach

    
 

5. Paluang Cliff

Everyone goes to Kelingking Cliff, but there’s another spot located very close to it with its own amazing scenery, called Paluang Cliff.

Paluang may not be as well known as Kelingking, but that’s part of the appeal. It’s a great alternative spot that gives you views of the Kelingking T-rex from the other side.

Read More: Paluang Cliff Viewpoint

 

6. Pura Paluang

Also known as the ‘car temple’, this is a weird shrine located on the west coast of Penida. The temple is not far from some of the popular tourist sites like Kelingking Beach, so it’s easy to visit if you happen to be exploring that area.

Read More: Paluang Cliff Viewpoint

  
 

7. Smoke Beach

This is a cool spot where the tide hits the rocks on the coast and creates a big cloud of mist. If you’re visiting Kelingking Beach, this spot is only a 20 minute drive away!

 

8. Korawa Beach Overlook

This is a little white sand beach with some cool cliff viewpoints. A lot of blogs get this place confused with Diamond Beach, but it’s actually a different place on the opposite side of the island.

Read More: Korawa Beach Viewpoint

 

9. Lumangan Beach

This is an inlet with a hidden beach and a huge cave. It’s not too hard to get here from Broken Beach or Korawa Beach, but this is a secret spot and the tourists are non-existent!

Read More: Lumangan Beach

 

10. Bulian Beach

This is yet another hidden beach near Broken Bay. This one is just a 5 minute drive from Lumangan Beach, and it’s also unknown to tourists so far.

Read More: Bulian Beach

 

11. Crystal Bay

One of the popular spots on the west side of Penida is Crystal Bay. This is a good hangout or suntanning spot, and it has plenty of food and drink shacks for refreshments. Snorkeling gear can be rented here, or you can just sit around and chill out while eating some chicken satay.

The great thing about Crystal Bay is that it’s one of the best spots to catch the sunset in Penida. Last July, I went back here with a buddy and we sipped Bintangs with our toes in the sand while the sunset came down over the rocks on the coast.

Read More: Crystal Bay

 

12. Pandan Beach

Just a 20-30 minute walk over the hill from Crystal Bay is a second beach with less people. There’s a small drink shack at Pandan, but aside from that, the beach is all yours!

Read More: Pandan Beach

 

13. Puyung Beach

If you really want seclusion, keep walking from Pandan and there’s a third beach over the next hill. This one has perfect white sand and no people!

Read More: Puyung Beach

 

14. Manta Bay – Snorkeling With Manta Rays

Indonesia is one of the best countries in the world for swimming with manta rays, and the west coast of Nusa Penida has a lot of great spots for doing this. The best known spot is Manta Bay. This is included on most snorkeling tours in Penida, which can run as low as 200k IDR ($14 USD) for a full day of snorkeling on a shared tour (here is the company I went with).

If you have some extra time for a snorkeling tour in Penida, this is an epic experience! The manta rays may seem intimidating, but they don’t have stingers and they are not dangerous at all. Go for it!

 

South Nusa Penida

15. Pererenan Cliff Point / Seganing Waterfall

Pererenan point gives you a great view of some more sea cliffs, with tons of tiny manta rays swimming around in the ocean below. There’s a rickety bamboo platform here that you can climb onto for even better views of the cliffs. If you go left from the parking area, there’s a short, steep path to hike down to Seganing Falls.

Read More: Pererenan Cliff Point

 

16. Banah Cliff Point

The great thing about Banah Cliff Point is that it actually has half a dozen different view points along the cliffs, and at each view point you can walk right up to the edge of the cliff and look down at the waves crashing on the rocks.

From these cliffs you can usually see a bunch of tiny manta rays and speedboats floating around on the ocean below. You can also see the Banah rock, a doughnut shaped rock sticking out of the ocean. Great stuff!

Read More: Banah Cliff Point

 

17. Tembeling Cave & Beach

While we’re talking about caves, there’s another one on the southwestern end of Nusa Penida called Tembeling Cave (sometimes spelled ‘Temeling’). This is an awesome sea cave that opens up to a view of the huge cliffs on the Penida coast. There’s also a small natural pool near the cave that you can take a dip in.

Read More: Tembeling Beach

 

18. Batu Siha Beach

Batu Siha is one of the most remote beaches on the whole island. This one requires a 4 hour round trip hike through some dense brush and steep cliffs, but the payoff is getting to see a beach that almost no one outside of Penida has ever set foot on!

Read More: Batu Siha Beach

 

19. Peguyangan Waterfall

If you like sketchy, remote hikes with steep paths to get your adrenaline going, this one is for you.

Peguyangan is a small waterfall and natural swimming pool at the bottom of some cliffs on Nusa Penida island, and you reach it by climbing down hundreds of steps on a bright blue stairway.

It’s not for the faint of heart, but the ocean and cliff views here are incredible, which is why I’d rate it as one of the best waterfall hikes in Bali.

There’s even a neat little ultra scenic hotel at the top of the cliffs called Waterfall Inn, with stunning views of the whole area.

Read More: Peguyangan Waterfall

       
 

 

20. Manta Point Overlook

Manta Point is one of the most popular snorkeling spots in Penida, but it’s also the name of a cliff point overlooking the same location. You can sit here and watch the boats (and manta rays) come and go, with epic panoramic views all around you.

Read More: Manta Point Overlook

 

21. Teletubbies Hill

The center of Penida island has these big round hills named after the background scenery from the Teletubbies kids show. If you come here during or just after the rainy season, the hills are a perfect green color.

Read More: Teletubbies Hill

 

22. Suwehan Beach

Looking for a hidden beach with perfect white sand and turquoise waves? Suwehan is one of the best hidden beaches in Penida. The hike down takes about 30 minutes and it’s exhausting, but totally worthwhile.

This is one of my favorite places in Penida. There’s even a cool pointy rock that looks like a Christmas tree (or maybe an elf hat), and the locals recently built some tree houses where you can stay a night near the cliffs.

Read More: Suwehan Beach

       
 

23. Suwehan Tree House

In 2018, the locals built some tree houses at the top of Suwehan cliff. There’s four of these tree houses now, and you can stay the night in them!

Don’t expect luxury, but there’s an outside shower/bathroom and a small food shack for ordering meals, and the beds look comfy.

The best part is that you have a stunning view of the ocean and cliffs, and it’s just a short distance from Suwehan Beach!

Book Now: Suwehan Tree House

 

24. Nyanyad Beach

This is a mostly unknown beach on the south end of Nusa Penida, with a small temple and giant hills on both sides of the beach.

The hike to Nyanyad only takes 15 minutes, with concrete steps all the way, and the beach has perfect white sand!

Read More: Nyanyad Beach

 

East Nusa Penida

25. Goa Giri Putri Temple

This is another temple, but it’s located on land. Actually, it’s a cave! Goa Giri Putri is a Hindu cave temple located halfway up a mountain, on the east side of Penida.

After crawling through a tiny hole in the side of the mountain, the inside opens up to a huge cave about 300 meters long, with high rock ceilings.

Read More: Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple

 

26. Pura Batu Mas Kuning

This is a new temple built on the east coast of Penida in 2018. It’s open to visitors to look at and take photos, but you’ll need to wear a sarong to go inside.

 

27. Atuh Beach

This is one of the coolest beaches on the south end of Penida island. Unlike Suwehan Beach, Atuh is not a secret and there are sunbeds, beanbags, and a couple of nice food & drink shacks here.

The highlight of Atuh Beach is probably the big elephant shaped rock in the ocean (locals say it looks like a stiletto), and the huge variety of sea life that can be seen trapped in the rocks at low tide.

Read More: Atuh Beach

 

28. Sebele Beach

This is a hidden beach that can be reached on a short walk from Atuh Beach. It’s not as nice and comfy as Atuh, and there aren’t any drink stands or tanning beds, but you’ll have the whole beach to yourself.

 

29. Raja Lima Viewpoint

Raja Lima (Five Kings) viewpoint is named for the 5 big islands scattered across the ocean below. Three of the ‘kings’ can be seen in the picture below. This is an awesome spot on the southeastern coast of Penida, and from this viewpoint you can also walk down some stairs and look at Rumah Pohon, which is the next item on this list.

Read More: Rumah Pohon Molenteng Tree House

 

30. Nusa Penida Treehouse (Rumah Pohon)

Visiting this tree house, and then coming back later and staying a night in it, was probably one of the coolest things I have ever done in my travels. The room and bed are basic yes, but the views and location are out of this world.

You’ll fall asleep to the sound of geckos chirping in the trees, and wake up to an incredible sunrise over the Raja Lima islands, with dolphins and manta rays swimming and jumping in the distance.

Read More: Rumah Pohon Molenteng Tree House

 

31. Diamond Beach Viewpoint

This is another awesome viewpoint that can be reached with a flat 10 minute walk from the main parking lots for Raja Lima or Atuh Beach. From here, you can look down at Diamond Beach and you can also see the little Rumah Pohon tree house in the distance.

If you walk out to the point, there’s even an epic Balinese style bungalow you can rent and stay in for the night. I came here in the morning and saw a group of 15-20 dolphins jumping around in the ocean below.

 

32. Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach, named after the pointy diamond shaped rock on the beach, is another utterly incredible “cliff beach” on the southeastern coast of Nusa Penida. It’s newly accessible for the first time since late 2018, when a path down to the beach was carved into the side of the cliffs.

Read More: Diamond Beach

 

North Nusa Penida

33. Buddha Point – Underwater Temple

This is a group of underwater Buddhist statues located near the north end of Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan, but it can be reached by boat easily from Penida as well.

It’s a cool spot that can be added to any snorkeling day trip from Penida. There’s a 2.5 meter tall Buddha statue surrounded by some big bell-shaped stupas, similar to the ones at Borobudur Temple in central Java.

Read More: Buddha Point Underwater Temple Ruins

    
 

34. Beach Restaurants

The north shore of Penida is lined with neat restaurants and beach bars where you can enjoy some tropical eats along with a view of Bali’s Mount Agung volcano in the distance. This is a great way to do breakfast on Penida island! Two cafe recommendations would be Penida Colada and Next Level Cafe.

    
 

35. Amok Sunset

This is a fancy cliffside restaurant and bar with a pool, and sunset views over Nusa Ceningan and the channel.

It’s one of the best sunset spots on the island! Perfect place to end up after a full day of hiking and sightseeing. GPS here.

 

Nusa Penida Island Map

Here’s a Nusa Penida island map you can use to plan your trip. You can click the icons to get more info and directions for each point of interest, but keep in mind some of the locations on this map may be approximate.

For more detailed information on how to get to each of the spots on this Nusa Penida map, you can check out my individual travel guides for each location.

 

More Things To Do In Nusa Penida

I hope you were helped by this list of what to do in Nusa Penida! It’s one of our favorite islands in Indonesia and we can’t wait to go back.

Don’t forget to check out my complete Nusa Penida Travel Guide with free tips, info, photos, and more!
 

Nusa Penida Hotels

 
 

See Also

• How To Get To Nusa Penida From Bali
• Nusa Penida Island: Complete Travel Guide
• 4-Day Nusa Penida Itinerary – Bali’s Blue Paradise Island
• GetYourGuide Day Tours To Nusa Penida Island
• Bali Beach Guide – The Best Beaches In Bali
• Bali Waterfalls Guide – The Best Waterfalls In Bali
• Bali Temple Guide – The Best Temples In Bali