Diamond Beach Nusa Penida: One of The Most Beautiful Beach in Bali

Diamond Beach in Nusa Penida is a stunning beach that you must visit while on the island. One of Bali’s most beautiful beaches.

Many visitors come to Nusa Penida just to see the world-renowned Kelingking Beach, Angel Billabong, Broken Beach, and Crystal Bay. Do not get me wrong! While all of these places are lovely to visit while on the island, skipping Diamond Beach is a big mistake!

Why? Continue reading to find out what the reasons are.

Many people took a day trip from Sanur to Nusa Penida. On this day trip, the tour guide will only take you to Nusa Penida’s western beaches. Those I mentioned previously. Diamond Beach cannot be visited in sufficient time.

As a result, I recommend that you spend at least one night on Nusa Penida. You will not be sorry!

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Where is Diamond Beach Nusa Penida?

Diamond Beach is located in Nusa Penida’s east.

It took its name from a diamond-shaped rock formation near the beach.

Nusa Penida is an island in the southeastern part of Bali province. In the Bali language, Nusa means island and Penida means priest. So Nusa Penida translates as “priest’s island.”

To get to Nusa Penida today, you must take a fast boat. This fast boat departs from Sanur Beach daily. If you have the money, you could also hire a private chartered boat.

Fast boat to Nusa Penida

Every day, a fast boat departs from Sanur Beach for Nusa Penida. There are several fast boat companies from which to choose. Simply go to Penidago and select the fast boat that corresponds to your itinerary.

We flew into Bali from Jakarta on the day we went to Nusa Penida and drove straight to Sanur Beach from Ngurah Rai Airport.

When we arrived at Sanur Beach, there were a large number of people waiting to board the fast boat to Nusa Penida. We went to the Angel Billabong counter to get our e-ticket converted to a boarding pass (wrist band.) My sister simply showed them our e-ticket, and they double-checked our names on their list of passengers.

We paid 75,000 IDR ($5) per person for a one-way fast boat ticket. However, as I write this travel guide, the fast boat price has already risen to 80,000 IDR ($5.35.) That’s all for Indonesian. KITAS holders (expats with legal working permits in Indonesia) pay 125,000 IDR ($8.35), while foreigners pay 140,000 IDR ($9.35).

Your journey to Nusa Penida began here. Because Sanur Beach lacks a harbor, you must walk in the water towards the boat. You can remove your shoes or sandals and place them in the fast boat’s container, or you can carry them yourself.

In general, the journey to Nusa Penida was quite pleasant. The waves were not too high, and we arrived at Banjar Nyuh Harbor in north Nusa Penida in about 45 minutes.

Sometimes the water is choppy. Don’t forget to bring Dramamine with you.

We took the Idola Express back home. It set sail from Sampalan Harbor at 5 p.m. and arrived at Sanur Beach at 5.45 p.m. The ticket price remained the same, and it is now up to 80,000 IDR ($5.35) per person.

Sampalan is about 9 kilometers to the east of Banjar Nyuh Harbor, or about 20 minutes by car. You don’t have to walk in the water on Nusa Penida because both harbors have a dock.

If you ask me which is the best fast boat company, Angel Billabong or Idola, I would say Idola. When compared to the straight-up position at Angel Billabong, the seats are more comfortable with a slight recline.

When you arrive in Nusa Penida, you immediately go to your rental car or motorcycle and drive to Diamond Beach on the island’s east side.

How to get to Diamond Beach Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida has two modes of transportation: car and motorcycle. You can rent it once you arrive in Nusa Penida, or you can arrange it before you leave.

Car rental in Nusa Penida includes a driver. They will not allow you to drive alone, as on the main island.

We rented a car from the same company that sold us the fast boat tickets before leaving for the trip. Then we had to find our driver once we arrived on the island. We paid 750,000 IDR ($50) per day on the island, which excluded admission to the beaches and a tip for the driver.

The road in Nusa Penida is rough. It’s windy, bumpy here and there, and there are a lot of blind corners. As a result, I recommend that you rent a car rather than riding the motorcycle yourself.

If you decide to rent a motorcycle, the cost is approximately 75,000 IDR ($5) per day.

We drove along the coast from the harbor to Nusa Penida’s east coast, where Diamond Beach is located. It takes slightly more than an hour to get there.

Finally, around 4.30 p.m., we arrived at Diamond Beach. There were few cars and motorcycles in the Diamond Beach parking lot, which was a good sign: no crowds.

We walked along the cliff towards the beach path after paying the entrance fee. There’s no need to be concerned if you’re afraid of heights. It’s a broad expanse, and you won’t see the sea until you’re almost to the path to the beach.

When we arrived, our driver informed us that it would be too late to hike down to Diamond Beach because it would be dark by the time we returned to the top.

My sister and I were upset because we couldn’t leave Nusa Penida without visiting the famous Diamond Beach stairway. From Jakarta, and in my case, from Texas, the U.S.

But we decided to go ahead with it anyway. It made no difference if it got dark on the way up. I’ve got a flashlight in my bag.

Diamond Beach Nusa Penida Stairs

And what a wise choice! We were presented with the most beautiful beach view I’ve ever seen just a few steps after entering the path to Diamond Beach. Below are diamond-shaped rocks and a white sandy beach. And right in front of us is the famous Diamond Beach stairway. It enhances the view even more!

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this view in Indonesia. I should have believe it when I thought about it later. Indonesia has thousands of islands, more than half of which are an inhabited or have yet to be explored. I’m sure other Diamond Beaches exist in other parts of Indonesia.

Climbing down to Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach stairs were carved into the cliff. On the way down or up, there’s a handrail with a rope to grab onto. I’d say it’s quite wide at first but narrows towards the end.

One of the most stunning Instagram locations on Nusa Penida. One of the best places in the island.

There is a hand-rail free corner near the bottom of the stairs. I’m not sure if it’s broken or if it was designed that way. I crawled at this point on the way up, just like the tourist I saw on the way down.

The cliff stairs are not far from this corner. Then you must descend using a rope to the warung (local coffee shop) level. This section, in my opinion, is less frightening than the stairway’s corner.

To get down to the beach, you must hold on to the rope again while maneuvering on the rock between the warung and the beach. We skipped this section because the waves were already crashing against the cliff face. But I read that this is the most difficult part.

There weren’t many tourists on that particular day. On the way down, we only saw four people. Aren’t we fortunate? We walked slowly and took numerous photographs along the stairway. I even recorded my niece descending the cliff with the help of the rope.

My niece is afraid of heights, but she overcame her apprehension that day. We intended to visit Kelingking Beach the following morning. She was aware that it would be more difficult and that she would not be able to complete it. So she made the decision to go to Diamond Beach. I’m very proud of her.

My brother-in-law has the same problem with height, but he prefers to stay on top. Their son did not accompany us because he had a stomach problem. As a results, it’s just me, my son, my sister, and my niece.

It usually takes about 20 minutes to go down and another 20 minutes to return upstairs. We took our time taking pictures and admiring the scenery because we had the stairs to ourselves.

Diamond Beach Nusa Penida Swing and Nest

You’ve probably seen photos of visitors sitting on a swing or in the nest with Diamond Beach in the background. And you thought to yourself, “Wow, it’s so beautiful. I’d like to do it.”

Your dream will come true once you reach a warung (local coffee shop) near the bottom. You can upload photos of yourself on the Diamond Beach swing to social media networks for 100k IDR (around $7.)

Remember! You can always bargain on the price.

We couldn’t take pictures on the swing or inside the nest because they were both closed by the time we arrived. To be honest, I don’t like taking pictures on the swing or in the nest. So it didn’t bother me.

Can you swim at Diamond Beach?

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it all the way to the beach because of the high tide. According to what I’ve read, it’s not a good place to swim because of the strong current. It is only for walking and taking pictures on the beach. Of course, after descending the cliff stairs and the ropes.

If you decide to try it, make sure you don’t go too far out into the sea. You’re also an excellent swimmer.

Is it worth going down to Diamond Beach?

Absolutely! The views are even better on the way down. The stair is a little frightening, but no ones tell you to move quickly. Yes, there is a corner with no rope, but you can always crawl around it.

Then you proceed by clinging to a rope and descending to the warung a few yards before the beach. That’s where you can pose on a Diamond Beach swing or in the nest like those Instagram influencers.

Finally, the most difficult section. You will also get to the beach by holding on to a rope. Spend as much time at the beach as you want.

Diamond Beach Opening Hours

It is open 24 hours a day, but you are on your own after dark. That’s what the guard at the gate told us. They will begin collecting admission fees around 8 a.m. and continue until it gets dark in the evening.

Diamond Beach Nusa Penida Entrance Fee

The entrance fee was 10,000 IDR (less than $1) per person and 5,000 IDR for a car when we visited in June 2022. It was inexpensive.

Best Time to Visit Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach is best visited in the morning due to its location on the east side of Nusa Penida island. Many visitors come to see the sunrise. However, we arrived in the late afternoon and all I can say is that Diamond Beach was still spectacular. And there are no crowds.

And where is Atuh Beach? Can you walk from Diamond Beach to Atuh Beach?

Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach are separated by a cliff, but you cannot walk from one beach to the other. You must return to the famous Diamond Beach stairs and then walk a few yards to the path that leads to Atuh Beach.

We could only see Atuch Beach from above because it was getting dark after we left Diamond Beach.

The water at Atuh Beach is calm, making it ideal for swimming.

Atuh Beach will be on the left after leaving the Diamond Beach parking.

How about Thousand Islands Viewpoint and Rumah Pohon “Tree House”?

Diamond Beach is only a three-minute drive to the south of Thousand Islands Viewpoint. And you’ll arrive at Rumah Pohon “Tree House” first. Then it was a short walk to Thousand Island Viewpoint.

Unfortunately, our fast boat from Nusa Penida arrived late. As a result, we were also late leaving Sanur Beach. By the time we arrived in east Nusa Penida, we had to choose between Diamond Beach and Rumah Pohon.

You already know the answer. And we wanted to get to Kelingking Beach early the next day. So we saved both locations for our next visit.

Where to stay in Nusa Penida

We decided to spend the night near Diamond Beach because we arrived in Nusa Penida in the afternoon and went straight there. It was a wise decision because it got dark quickly and we weren’t confident driving in the dark, even though we hired a driver.

However, there aren’t many options for lodging in the area. All (or most) of them are low-cost accommodations with an A-Frame design. A sleeping room in the front with a double or twin bed and a bathroom in the back. It is fully air-conditioned and has a television mounted on the wall.

You can reserve a room via Booking. com or by calling the hotel directly.

My brother-in-law and niece discovered Lempeh Jungle Cottage, which is about a 5-minute drive from Diamond Beach. It appeared nice on the website, but they should cut the grass and put room air freshener in the room and bathroom.

I couldn’t complain, though, because the nightly rate was only 250,000 IDR ($18). Our room included a standard free breakfast of fried rice, as well as free WiFi, though the connection was poor.

Check out Kubu Penida Villa for a newer and cheaper room. It is located next to the Kubu Resto (restaurant). We ate at the restaurant and then went to see the room at Kubu Penida Villa.

Kubu Penida has only two rooms. The floor plan is identical to that of Lempeh Jungle Cottage, but it includes a partially outdoor bathroom. And, of course, they’re nicer because they’re new. We considered moving here if no one else had taken the room until we finished eating.

A couple came looking for a room while we were eating. They inspected the room and requested a lower price. And it only cost $12 per night! Oh my goodness!

Then two ladies arrived and decided to stay. That’s the end of our chance to stay in a new hotel room.

Here are a few other hotels you might want to consider while in Nusa Penida:

– Coco Resort Penida near Crystal Bay

– MAUA Nusa Penida Bali near Toya Pakeh

– Semabu Hills Hotel Nusa Penida for a modern hotel, near Toya Pakeh

– Sunset Hill Cottage for another budget friendly accommodation

So, what are your thoughts? Isn’t it worth spending the night in Nusa Penida?

Diamond Beach, in my opinion, is spectacular. Go now, before the island becomes overrun with tourists. Worse, the Indonesian government decided to charge a high entrance fee to the island, similar to what they did on Komodo Island in Flores.

I hope this Diamond Beach travel guide will assist you in planning an overnight Nusa Penida itinerary.

Enjoy Bali and your vacation!