Broken Beach is a beautiful little cove on Nusa Penida Island. The highlight and the reason it’s called “Broken Beach” is the archway that wraps above the bay, allowing water to flow in and out from the ocean. It’s a very easy spot to visit and right next to another famous attraction, Angel’s Billabong.
It’s a place where time and tide clash in a paradise undone.
Broken Beach is known as “Pasih Uug” in Indonesian language. It’s one of the most popular spots on Nusa Penida due to its unique rock formation and easy access. In this blog post, I will share everything you need to know about visiting Broken Beach. And share a secret Manta Ray viewpoint only 2-minute walk from Broken Beach.
Get a local SIM card. While getting around we relied heavily on Google Maps for directions. We recommend Airalo eSIM, so you’ll have data transfer as soon as you land.
Note! Your mobile phone has to be eSIM compatible to use this option.
How to get to Broken Beach
Broken Beach is on the West Coast of Nusa Penida. The island is quite big and it can take over an hour to cruise from one side to another depending on where your accommodation is located.
I’ve pinned the location of Broken Beach on the map of Nusa Penida below, so you can see where it is in relation to either your accommodation on the island or other points of interest.
- One of the best ways to visit many of the best Nusa Penida’s epic sites in one day is on this Ultimate Nusa Penida Day Trip Tour from Bali – they pick you up in the morning from your accommodation in Bali, take you across to Nusa Penida Island by speedboat, and then bring you back to Bali in the evening after an incredible day of adventures. Remember to tell them which spots are on your Nusa Penida Bucket List and they will make it happen!
- You can also rent a scooter and drive around the island yourself.
Price for rental: Rp 70k – 100k (US$5) a day.
NOTE! The roads on Nusa Penida are, mildly said, in bad state. Lots of holes, ignorant van drivers, gravel parts… We’d avoid this option if you’re not experienced scooter driver. - The option we once did (and would highly recommend it) is you can rent a car on Nusa Penida with private driver – great option to visit multiple spots safely in a day with a group of friends.
More information about Nusa Penida Island.
Tips:
- Arrive as early as you possibly can.
- Day tours to Nusa Penida start at 9am, so make sure to arrive to Broken Beach before this time.
- It gets seriously crowded between 11am and 2pm. In our case, it got so crowded with vehicles we couldn’t get out from the parking lot with a scooter.
- Great time to visit is also after 3pm.
- Broken Beach, Manta Ray Viewpoint and Angel’s Billabong share the same parking lot. All three are within a short walking distance from each other.
General information about visiting Broken Beach:
- Rp 5000 parking fee for scooter, Rp 10 000 for car
- No entrance fee
- From Toya Pakeh Harbor it takes around 40 minutes by scooter to get to the Broken Beach thanks to the partially broken road.
- You can walk all around Broken Beach – there’s a well-maintained walkway.
- Only the most famous picture-perfect spot (where the arch is right behind you) is payable – Rp 10 000 per minute, all the rest is free.
- There is no way down into the cove, so the name “Beach” comes from a small beach inside the cove. You can have a refreshing dip at nearby’s Angel’s Billabong during low tide.
- You can’t swim nowhere near the Broken Beach.
The arch at Broken Beach has been formed over many years and is now a true spectacle. From above the cove appears almost circular and closed in, however, at eye level the arch is quite high. There are several boat tours that will drive into the cove when the tide is right and the swell is calm.
What you can do at Broken Beach is to walk over the arch. Do take care as the drop into the ocean below is going to be a big one but it’s a fun way to explore Broken Beach.
Manta Ray Viewpoint near Broken Beach
As well as Angel’s Billabong, there is another attraction nearby and it is one that you may not find by yourself!
Between Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong is a 5-minute walk. Halfway through the journey is an archway made of trees. When you reach this archway don’t go through immediately! Head up the hill towards the coast and look down into the ocean. This is where the Giant Manta Rays hang out. If the season is right (from May to November) you can spend some time here watching the Mantas swim around and surface time and time again.
Angel’s Billabong near Broken Beach
The other beautiful attraction near Broken Beach is Angel’s Billabong. Everyone who visits this area checks out both locations.
Angel’s Billabong is one of the magical spots you can’t help but marvel at. A crystal-clear tide pool cascades into the ocean. The pool is tidal, which means you’d want to arrive at the right time of day. If you visit Angel’s Billabong during high-tide or rocky ocean you will experience high waves crashing into the cliffs and spraying everyone standing too close.
Check the tide beforehand using a site like this.
The Billabong is a remarkable formation. The crystal-clear water allows you to see the patterns and textures beneath the surface. In some areas, the water is deep enough for a little dip!
Read the full blog post about Angel’s Billabong.
BEST NUSA PENIDA DAY TOURS FROM BALI
If you are staying in Bali… you can join a group and take a day trip on a speedboat to explore the highlights of Nusa Penida. Trips usually take whole day, but everything is organised. So you can literally wake up in Bali, they pick you up in your accommodation, you grab a speedboat to Nusa Penida, you can snorkel with Manta Rays and visit lots of the amazing beaches and viewpoints … in just one day.
Manta Ray Snorkelling Tour on Nusa Penida (from Bali): Snorkelling with Manta Rays is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one of the best wildlife encounters we’ve had in our lives. The Manta Rays are majestic and friendly animals with a wingspan of 5m. The gentle giants cruise around you while you snorkel amongst them.
This tour includes pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation in Bali and all transports and tickets are included.
Nusa Penida Highlights Tour (from Bali): This tour is the most highly reviewed Nusa Penida tour there is. You’ll visit all the best spots, like Angel’s Billabong, Kelingking (T-Rex) Beach, Broken Beach, Rumah Pohon Treehouse & Thousand Island Viewpoint. Also included is snorkeling at Crystal Bay! It’s a total win and we highly recommend it.
