Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong, Nusa Penida: How To Get There & Stay Safe

Mother Nature is awesome

Nusa Penida is known for its spectacular displays of nature, and both Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong definitely fit that bill.

Here you can really feel the power of Mother Earth.

The waves tumble towards the jagged edges, and it’s obvious that we as humans are just a small speck in the grand scheme of things.

If you love getting amazed by natural sights, make visiting Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong a must on your Nusa Penida to-do list.

Read on to learn about what to expect from visiting Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong.

Where to stay in Nusa Penida:

Adlinks
• Luxury: Aqua Nusa – Boutique villas with private pools in nearby Nusa Lembongan.
• Luxury: Semabu Hills Hotel Nusa Penida – Probably the best hotel in Nusa Penida.
• Budget: WK Gamat – We loved staying here.
• Budget: You & We House – Also fantastic value for money.

Search for the best value accommodation in Nusa Penida here.

What to expect at Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong

Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong are two separate highlights, but they’re just a two-minute walk from each other.

We visited in the late afternoon and found ourselves completely alone at Broken Beach around 18.00.

We imagine it gets pretty crowded during the day, but probably not as crowded as Kelingking Beach.

Both Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach can be reached from the parking lot through some stairs and a short path.

It’s not wheelchair-friendly, but there’s no scrambling involved at all.

Angel’s Billabong

Angel’s Billabong is a naturally formed pool between the rocks.

The water is crystal clear!

If you consider taking a dip, ask the locals about the conditions first as high tides can knock you over or even take you out to sea.

You don’t want that to happen…

Try to time your arrival with low tide; check tidal tables here and here. They’re both for nearby Lembongan, but they should give you a pretty good idea.

Even if you don’t go swimming, visiting Angel’s Billabong still makes for a beautiful sight.

You can easily spend time here simply gazing towards the horizon taking in the incredible landscape.

Also, keep your eyes open for the glorious manta rays as they’re known to hang out in the area.

Broken Beach

Broken Beach is known locally as Pasih Uug.

You’ll reach Broken Beach by walking just a little further from Angel’s Billabong.

Through erosion, a hole has been formed in the rocks making the beach “broken”.

Technically the beach down there is just fine, but it’s unreachable as no boats go into the cove and there’s no staircase.

A walkway stretches around the pool (which is about 100 metres in diameter!), so make sure to experience Broken Beach from all angles.

Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong practicalities

Facilities at Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong

At the parking lot, there’s a warung serving snacks, drinks and Indonesian food.

There’s also a swing for photos and a gorgeous view of the sunset.

Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong opening times

It’s possible to visit both Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong around the clock.

The people working there probably show up around 07.00 and leave after the sun has set.

Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong price

Visiting Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong is cheap. Really cheap.

• Price of admission, per person: IDR 5k (~ 0.35 USD / 0.3 EUR)
• Parking price for one scooter: IDR 5k (~ 0.35 USD / 0.3 EUR)

How to get to Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong

By scooter

When we visited Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong in June 2019, we had rented our own scooter and drove there ourselves.

The locals joked that “the road to Broken Beach really is broken”… And we have to agree.

It was definitely the worst road we encountered on the island.

We wouldn’t recommend making the trip if it’s your first time driving a scooter, but the roads look like they’re rapidly improving to handle the influx of tourists.

If you’re an experienced driver, see it as a part of the adventure. Apart from the slight physical discomfort, we actually thought the drive to get there was quite fun.

We rented our scooter from the harbour when we arrived at Nusa Penida.

We paid IDR 75k per day (~ 5.3 USD / 4.6 EUR) for four days of rental. Remember to ask for a helmet.

With a driver

It’s possible to arrange a car with driver for about IDR 600k per day (~ 42 USD / 37 EUR) in Nusa Penida.

This is a great option if you’re more than two people travelling together or if you’re not comfortable on a scooter.

With a tour company

It’s very popular to visit Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong in Nusa Penida as a part of a day trip from Bali.

Most of these tours also include a trip to the famous Kelingking Beach.

If you choose to go this route, expect to arrive at Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong when they are at their most crowded.

Don’t mind the crowds? Then a tour is definitely one of the more comfortable and easy options for experiencing Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong.

Map

Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong is located on the western part of Nusa Penida, a little more than one hour of driving away from the harbour.

When to visit Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong

Time of day

We visited Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong late in the day and can easily recommend that you do the same for a unique experience.

At sunset, we were the only people at Broken Beach.

This also meant that we have to drive back to our hotel in the dark, but we just took it slow and everything went fine.

Sunrise is very likely also a magical experience.

If you want to experience Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong without too many other people, try to avoid visiting at midday. Though this is probably when the water at Angel’s Billabong is at its most saturated.

Seasons

Generally speaking, Nusa Penida and its many attractions can be visited year-round.

All year, the average temperature hovers around 27°C/80°F in the day and 22°C/72°F at night. In other words, a very pleasant climate!

The seasons can roughly be divided into a dry season (May to October) and a rainy season (November to April).

Though it rains quite a lot more in the rainy season, you can still have plenty of sunshine.

Christmas, New Year’s, July and August are the most popular times to visit Nusa Penida and Broken Beach + Angel’s Billabong.

Where to stay near Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong

As Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong is located rather remotely in Nusa Penida, staying really close isn’t neccessarily a good option.

Opting for a place to sleep on the west coast or north coast should be just fine and the travel time won’t be more than around an hour.

Adlinks
• Luxury: Aqua Nusa – Boutique villas with private pools in nearby Nusa Lembongan.
• Luxury: Semabu Hills Hotel Nusa Penida – Probably the best hotel in Nusa Penida.
• Value for money: Road Beach Premier – One of the island’s few beachfront options.
• Budget: WK Gamat – We loved staying here.
• Budget: You & We House – Also fantastic value for money and great for sunrise at Diamond Beach.
• Budget: Atuh Forest Cottage – Peaceful location and nice mountain views.

Search for the best value accommodation in Nusa Penida here (adlink).

WK Gamat

We stayed for two nights at WK Gamat on the western side Nusa Penida, situating us relatively close to both Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong as well as to Kelingking Beach.

The hotel is located in a very rural area with charming views and the sounds that follow. The road to get there (away from the main road) is mostly gravel.

Chilling out in the pool after a day of exploring is just perfect, and the rooms offered a comfortable double bed, desk, wifi, air conditioning and a roofless private bathroom.

The staff was so service-minded and we felt very welcome at WK Gamat.

Check prices and availability at WK Gamat (adlink).

What to bring when visiting Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong

• Indonesian rupiah in cash (preferably small bills).
• Sun protection; a hat, sunglasses, light covering clothes and an eco-friendly sunscreen (adlink).
• Proper shoes might be nice but aren’t strictly necessary.
• Snacks to munch on before heading back up after visiting the beach.
• A good camera – here’s our guide to lightweight photography gear for high-quality travel content.
• Plenty of water.
• A sarong or a quick-dry towel (adlinks).

Minimise your impact

To minimise your impact when visiting Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong, follow these guidelines:

• Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle (adlink).
• Avoid single-use plastics, including straws.
• Dispose of waste properly. While putting your trash in a nearby trashcan is convenient, wrappers and other small items are prone to get taken by the wind and end up in the ocean.
• Check your sunscreen if you intend to swim at Angel’s Billabong. Many brands contain oxybenzone and other chemicals that are harmful to corals.
• Take only photos, leave only footprints. Let shells and corals stay in their natural home.
• Be considerate of other visitors.
• Respect wildlife.

Want to go beyond leaving no trace?

Join the Adventure Bag Movement!

One Adventure = One Adventure Bag of trash.

The next time you head out to explore, pick up some of the trash you find on your way. And make sure to tag The Adventure Bag Crew to spread the message.

Thanks for reading

We hope this travel guide to Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong in Nusa Penida has been useful.

What do you think about the two spots?

If you’ve been to Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong it would be awesome to hear your best tips in the comments. If you haven’t been yet, please don’t hesitate to ask us anything. We’re glad to help.