The Bali Guideline

Nusa Penida · Nature

Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong: A Nusa Penida Visitor’s Guide

A sea arch and a cliff-edge rock pool, five minutes apart, where the ocean sets the rules.

By The Bali Guideline Editorial TeamUpdated 16 October 2026

Overview

Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong, before you go.

Broken Beach, Pasih Uug in Balinese, is a round cove on Nusa Penida’s south-west coast where the sea has cut an arch through a 40 m cliff. Angel’s Billabong, a rock pool on the shore below, is a five-minute walk away. Both are viewpoints, since swimming is banned, and they are worth an hour on any west-side day, 7 km from Kelingking.

Broken Beach sits on a headland in Banjar Sumpang, part of Bunga Mekar village, about 7 km by road from Kelingking. Locals call it Pasih Uug, roughly “broken beach” in Balinese. Over centuries the sea wore a tunnel through the limestone, and what is left is a near-circular cove, roughly 100 m across, ringed by cliffs about 40 m high, with an arch on the seaward side through which the swell surges in. There is no way down to the sand inside. You walk a path around the rim and look down into green and turquoise water, where turtles and rays pass and, on lucky days, reef mantas from nearby Manta Bay.

A few hundred meters west, Angel’s Billabong is a long pool in a shelf of rock at the foot of the cliff, open to the ocean at one end. Billabong is Australian English for a waterhole, and at low tide on a calm day the water is clear enough to count the stones on the bottom. That calm is misleading. Indian Ocean swell breaks straight over the pool’s seaward rim, and the big sets arrive without warning, even after ten quiet minutes.

That is how most of the deaths here happened. In June 2016 a 24-year-old Australian newlywed was swept off the rocks. In March 2017 a wave knocked a German woman into the sea and a young New Zealander drowned after jumping in to save her. In July 2018 a Chinese visitor taking selfies on the edge was dragged out, and on 16 October 2024 a 59-year-old Indian travel agent posing near the edge with his wife was carried away; his body was found the next day off Nusa Dua. At Broken Beach the danger is the drop: a domestic traveler survived a fall from the rim in November 2022, and an Indian visitor died in March 2023 after slipping while posing for photos. Klungkung regency banned swimming at Angel’s Billabong, Kelingking and Diamond Beach in January 2023, and the ban still applies.

The visit has changed in other ways too. The road in, long called the worst on the island, is now paved almost to the car park, which has warungs and toilets. Since 1 September 2026, under the regency’s One Gate One Destination scheme, Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong are two separate ticketed sites at IDR 25,000 per adult each, paid cashless, on top of the island fee foreign visitors pay on arrival. Day-trip cars from the Sanur boats arrive from late morning, and between about 11 am and 3 pm the rim path turns into a queue for the same photos. Come early or late, near low tide, stay well back from the edges, and these two are still the easiest of Nusa Penida’s big coastal views: no steep stairway, just a short loop on almost level ground.

Opening hours
No posted hours; ticket posts staffed in daylight (check on arrival)
Ticket
IDR 25,000 per adult, IDR 15,000 per child, at each site (checked Oct 2026)
Time needed
About 1 hour for both; 2 hours if you walk in from Crystal Bay
Best time
Before 10 am or after 3 pm, near low tide on a small-swell day
Dress code
No dress code; shoes with grip, a hat and water
Location
Bunga Mekar, south-west coast; 7 km (20–30 min) from Kelingking

Banjar Sumpang, Bunga Mekar, Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali, Indonesia

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What to See

What to see at Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong.

  1. 01

    The rim path around Broken Beach

    A concrete and rock path loops around the top of the cove, and a circuit that takes in Angel’s Billabong too is only about 1 km on nearly level ground. From the land side you look straight through the arch to the open sea; from the sides you watch the swell funnel through it and spread across the cove. There is no staircase and no boat landing, so the sand inside stays out of reach. Some stretches have no fence, and the rock at the edge can crumble.

  2. 02

    Mantas, turtles and rays from the cliff

    Snorkel boats work Manta Bay, just off this stretch of coast, most mornings; in 2017 a snorkeler on one of them pulled a woman swept off Angel’s Billabong out of the water. From the rim you can sometimes pick out the dark diamond shapes of feeding mantas, and turtles and rays more often, on bright, calm days when the water is clear. Nothing is guaranteed. Polarized sunglasses help, and the cluster of boats offshore shows where to look.

  3. 03

    Angel’s Billabong at low tide

    Near low tide on a small-swell day the pool settles into a clear, still channel between dark rock walls, and from above you can see the rock and weed on its bottom. This is the view in the old photos of people floating in it. Today a low barrier and warning signs mark the way down, and the safe view is from the higher rock on the landward side, well back from the seaward lip where the waves break.

  4. 04

    Angel’s Billabong at high tide

    At high tide, or in a big swell, the same spot becomes a wash of white water. Waves pour over the seaward rim, fill the pool and drain back out, and spray reaches the rocks where people stand for photos. It is worth watching from a safe distance, because it shows why the pool has drowned visitors who thought it calm. Stand on the higher rock, watch several sets before you settle, and never turn your back on the sea.

  5. 05

    Photographs and drones

    The classic shot of Broken Beach looks through the arch from the rim on the land side, and the light is softest early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Drones are popular and often lost: pilots who fly under the arch tend to hit the rock. Launch from well back and never over people on the path. On the ground, check your footing before every photo; the fatal fall here in 2023 happened while a visitor was posing on the edge.

  6. 06

    The coastal walk from Crystal Bay

    The only other way in is on foot. Face the sea at Crystal Bay, go to the left end of the beach and climb the steps over the first hill to Pandan Beach. The second hill is the hard part, then a forest trail past another small beach leads to flatter ground and Broken Beach. OpenStreetMap puts the route at a little over 3 km, but with the climbs it takes about two hours. Arrange a car back, since the road between the two is 18 km.

Seasons

Best time to visit Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong.

Come before about 10 am or after 3 pm. Day trips from the Sanur boats reach the west coast from late morning, and between about 11 am and 3 pm the rim path and the Angel’s Billabong viewpoint are at their busiest. Early morning brings soft light and fewer cars. Late afternoon brings the sunset side of the day and emptier paths, but leave time for the drive and the last boats, which leave around 5 pm, and the roads are slow after dark.

Tide and swell decide what Angel’s Billabong looks like. The pool is clearest and calmest near low tide, while at high tide waves pour over its rim. Check a tide table for Toyapakeh or Lembongan before you go; the lowest low tides fall around full and new moon. Swell matters as much as tide: Bali’s south-facing coasts get their biggest swells in the dry season, especially June to August, and on a big-swell day the rock shelf is dangerous at any tide. Aim for low tide and small swell, and even then stay out of the water.

April to October is the best season overall, with dry roads and the clearest water for spotting mantas from above, though the mantas are here all year. From November to March, rain makes the roads slippery, but the crowds thin outside the Christmas weeks. Boats do not run on Nyepi, 8 March 2027, or on Nyepi Segara, the 24 hours each September or October when the sea around the Nusa islands rests, so you cannot visit from Bali on those days.

Getting There

How to get to Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong.

Travel times to Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong
Banjar Nyuh or Toyapakeh harbor40–60 minAbout 17–19 km by car or scooter, south from Toyapakeh into the hills, then west through Bunga Mekar. Drivers wait at both harbors; a west-side day with a driver costs about IDR 700,000–1,000,000 (checked Oct 2026).
Kelingking Beach20–30 minAbout 7 km by road, back inland through Bunga Mekar and out to the Sumpang headland. Nearly every west-side tour pairs the two, usually Kelingking first.
Crystal Bay40 min by car; about 2 hrs on footAbout 18 km by road, because there is no direct coastal road. On foot, the path over the hills via Pandan Beach is a little over 3 km but steep in places.
Sanur Harbour1.5–2 hrs plus check-inFast boat to Banjar Nyuh in 30–45 min, about IDR 170,000–250,000 one way (checked Oct 2026), then 40–60 min by road. Check in 60–90 min before departure; first boats leave about 6:30 am.
Sampalan (boats from Kusamba)About 1 hrAbout 22 km by road from the north-east harbor. Kusamba boats take 20–30 min, so this route suits travelers coming from east Bali.
Nusa Lembongan1–1.5 hrsLocal boat to Toyapakeh in 10–15 min, about IDR 60,000 each way (checked Oct 2026), then 40–60 min by road with a driver who meets you at the beach.
Bali airport (DPS)3–4.5 hrs30–60 min by car to Sanur Harbour, 60–90 min for check-in, the 30–45 min boat, then 40–60 min by road. If you land after mid-afternoon, sleep in Sanur first.

Getting around Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong

There is no Grab, Gojek or taxi on Nusa Penida, so you arrive with a driver, on a scooter or on foot. Most visitors come with a driver on a west-side tour that also covers Kelingking and Crystal Bay. Drivers wait at the car park while you walk; agree beforehand how long you have, since an hour covers both sites without rushing. Parking costs about IDR 5,000 for a scooter (checked Oct 2026); 2024 reports put a car at IDR 10,000.

On a scooter, the road in was long known as the worst on the island and has been much improved. It is now paved almost all the way, with the final turns signposted, but it is narrow, with steep bends and tour cars in both directions from late morning. Do not follow a Google Maps shortcut from Crystal Bay: local guides have found no reliable scooter route that way, and the safe road is the longer one inland.

From the car park, a few steps and a short concrete path lead to both sites, with no scrambling. Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong are about 300 m apart, a four or five-minute walk, and the loop of both is about 1 km. It is not suitable for wheelchairs. Tickets are sold on site and are cashless, by card or QRIS; when the scheme began, queues formed at the busiest counters, and officials asked drivers and guides to buy tickets before leaving Bali.

Know Before You Go

Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong tips that save time and trouble.

  1. 01Do not swim in Angel’s Billabong or climb down to it. Swimming has been banned since January 2023, and most of the deaths here began with people standing near the water for photos.
  2. 02Stay several meters back from the seaward lip of the pool and from the rim of Broken Beach, and never step backward while posing.
  3. 03Watch the sea for a few minutes before you choose where to stand; big sets arrive between long quiet spells.
  4. 04Budget IDR 25,000 per adult for each of the two sites, plus the island fee if you are a foreign visitor, and ask your tour whether they are included.
  5. 05Bring a card or a phone that can pay by QRIS, since the tickets are cashless, plus small cash for parking and the warungs.
  6. 06Wear shoes with grip; the rock around the pool is uneven and often wet with spray.
  7. 07Bring water, a hat and sunscreen. The rim path is exposed, and the warungs are back at the car park.
  8. 08Hold children’s hands on the rim path, where parts of the edge have no fence.
  9. 09Do not fly a drone under the arch; many end up on the rocks.
  10. 10If you walk in from Crystal Bay, start by 7 am with 2 liters of water each, and skip it in rain or if you are alone.

FAQ

Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong questions, answered.

Can you swim in Angel’s Billabong?

No. Klungkung regency banned swimming at Angel’s Billabong, Kelingking and Diamond Beach in January 2023, in a regent’s circular on visitor safety, and the ban still applies in 2026. Older blogs and photos show people floating in the pool at low tide, but waves can wash over the rim without warning, and several visitors have been swept out to sea. Look from the rocks instead.

Is Angel’s Billabong dangerous?

Yes, near the water. Waves break over the pool’s seaward rim with little warning, and people standing at the edge have been swept away: an Australian in 2016, a New Zealander in 2017, a Chinese visitor in 2018 and an Indian visitor in October 2024 all died. Warning signs and a low barrier now mark the way down. From the higher rock, well back, it is safe to look.

How much is the Broken Beach entrance fee?

IDR 25,000 per adult and IDR 15,000 per child (checked Oct 2026). Since 1 September 2026 Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong have been listed as two separate sites, so seeing both costs IDR 50,000 per adult. Payment is cashless. Foreign visitors also pay a one-time island fee of IDR 25,000 on arrival, and parking is extra. Before the new scheme, visitors paid only a small parking or village fee.

What does Pasih Uug mean?

It is the Balinese name for Broken Beach and means roughly “broken beach”: pasih is the sea or shore, and uug means broken or collapsed. It describes the cove, where the sea wore a tunnel through the cliff and left an arch, so the bay looks as if part of the headland has broken away. Maps also spell it Pasih Uwug.

Can you go down to Broken Beach?

No. There is no staircase or path down to the sand inside the cove, and boats do not land there, so Broken Beach is a viewpoint you walk around from the top. The rim path loops right around the cove. Do not try to climb down: the cliffs are about 40 m high, and visitors have been badly hurt or killed falling from the edge.

How far is Broken Beach from Kelingking Beach?

About 7 km by road, a drive of 20 to 30 minutes. Almost every west-side tour combines the two, usually Kelingking first in the morning, then Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong, then lunch and a snorkel at Crystal Bay, about 18 km and 40 minutes farther on.

When is the best time to visit Angel’s Billabong?

Near low tide on a day with small swell, and before 10 am or after 3 pm to miss the busiest hours. Check a tide table for Toyapakeh or Lembongan. At high tide, or in a big dry-season swell, waves pour over the pool’s rim, a sight worth watching from far back but no time to go near the water.

Can you see manta rays from Broken Beach?

Sometimes. Snorkel boats visit Manta Bay, just off this stretch of coast, most mornings, and from the cliff you can occasionally spot mantas, and more often turtles and rays, in the clear water below. Calm, sunny days give the best chance. To be sure of seeing mantas, book a snorkel trip from Toyapakeh, Crystal Bay or Lembongan instead.

Can you walk from Crystal Bay to Broken Beach?

Yes, on a coastal path of a little over 3 km that takes about two hours. From the left end of Crystal Bay it climbs over a hill to Pandan Beach, then over a steeper second hill and through forest before flattening out near Broken Beach. You need proper shoes, plenty of water and a ride back, because the road between the two is 18 km.

How long do you need at Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong?

About an hour for both. The loop around the Broken Beach rim and over to Angel’s Billabong is only about 1 km, but you will stop often, and it is worth waiting to watch a few sets break over the pool. Add 20 to 30 minutes if you want to look for mantas from the cliff or eat at the warungs by the car park.

Is Broken Beach worth visiting?

Yes. The arch and the cove are among the most striking pieces of coastline around Bali, they are only 7 km from Kelingking, and unlike Kelingking they need no steep climb. You cannot swim or reach the sand, the midday crowds are heavy, and you now buy two site tickets, but early or late in the day, with the swell rolling through the arch, it is the easiest big view on the island.

How do you get to Broken Beach from Bali?

By fast boat to Nusa Penida, then by road. Boats from Sanur take 30 to 45 minutes to Banjar Nyuh, for about IDR 170,000–250,000 one way (checked Oct 2026), and Broken Beach is a 40 to 60-minute drive from the harbor. There is no Grab or Gojek on the island, so book a driver or rent a scooter. Allow 3 to 4.5 hours from the airport.

Nearby

Where to go after Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong.

Places close by that fit into the same trip, with honest travel times.

  • 20–30 min by car (7 km)

    Kelingking Beach

    The T-Rex headland and the steep path down to its beach, Nusa Penida’s most famous view.

    Visitor guide

  • 40 min by car (18 km), or about 2 hrs on foot

    Crystal Bay

    The west coast’s most usable beach, with warungs, snorkeling inside the anchored boats and sunset.

    Visitor guide

  • 35–45 min by car (12 km)

    Tembeling forest and pools

    A forest track down to a small temple and spring-fed pools, where you are allowed to swim in the natural pool.

  • 35–45 min by car (14 km)

    Banah Cliff Point

    Two free cliff viewpoints on the south-west coast, one over a rock island with an arch worn through it.

  • 1–1.5 hrs by car (32 km)

    Diamond Beach

    Limestone pinnacles and a cliff staircase on the east coast, best kept for a morning on a second day.

    Visitor guide

More in Nusa Penida

Plan the rest of your time in Nusa Penida.

Area guide

Nusa Penida travel guide

Read the guide

Viewpoint

Kelingking Beach

Visitor guide

Beach

Diamond Beach

Visitor guide

Beach

Crystal Bay

Visitor guide

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How we researched this

Sources and fact checks.

Prices, opening hours, show times and travel times in this Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong guide were checked against official sites, government tourism pages and recent reporting on 16 October 2026. Where sources disagreed, we give the official figure and say so. Rankings are our editorial judgment, set out in our editorial policy.

We re-check the guide at least every three months and whenever we hear about a change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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