I love Nusa Penida island, really, but my experience wasn’t one for the books. First off, I only chose a Nusa Penida day tour (IDR550,000/PHP2,000+) to squeeze into my Bali itinerary. It started around 9 AM and ended as early as 3:30 PM.
Second, I never liked the idea of a tour as I know the time would be limited. I did it anyway because I wanted to see the island. Plus it was my birthday so why not, right?
Don’t get me wrong, I liked the company of my three other joiners. It’s the experience per se that I didn’t like much.
The Nusa Penida Island day tour is basically driving all the way up to see the view from above. Why didn’t I enjoy it?
The roads are REALLY really exhausting. It’s all a rough road—not to mention scary! Some roads are too steep that you’d instantly crash someone or fall off the cliff if you’re not a careful driver.
Nusa Penida Island beaches
We went to three beaches: Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong, and Kelingking Beach, with a side trip to Paluang Cliff.
Broken Beach is my favorite as it has beautiful turquoise water that sparkles from above.
According to a local, the myth behind the Broken Beach started with a lost cow wandering around a village. Everyone in that village was curious about it but no one claimed it—not until there’s nothing left to eat. They went ahead and ate the cow since no one knows who owns it.
One day, an old lady visited the village looking for a cow. She asked each and everyone, but of course, no one admitted that they ate it. The old lady saw the bell—which the cow was wearing—on a huge pile of bones. She then went on a rage and cursed everyone in the village. She casted her stick into the ground, giving birth to the Broken Beach.
The moral of the story may be to always tell the truth. Or, you know, don’t eat a lost cow.
The next one is Angel’s Billabong. This natural infinity pool would have been my favorite if I was able to swim in it. However, it’s a bit scary as the rock formations look very sharp.
Kelingking Beach is the last stop, and it honestly looks like a dinosaur to me. I was a bit disappointed to not have been able to hike it. If I’m not mistaken, it takes about 2 to 3 hours to go back and forth.
Depending on your tour provider, you’ll visit Paluang Cliff before going back down. It’s about 5 to 10 minutes drive from Kelingking Beach.
It’s also an ideal place to watch the sunset and read a book (or write one). The view is breathtaking, so to speak.
A few tips
My whole Nusa Penida Island experience was worth it—but would have been better if I was able to go down to swim at each beach and stay there for a bit.
Learning from this experience, I highly recommend:
- Put a few layers of sunblock!
- Bring lots of water. You need to hydrate yourself.
- Wear a cute dress for IG-worthy photos.
- Prepare your butt for rough roads. It’s a tiring trip to go up there.
- More importantly, spend at least two or three days on Nusa Penida Island if you want a full island experience.
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