A Comprehensive Guide To Broken Beach & Angel Billabong

Our travels through Indonesia brought us to the well-publicized island called Nusa Penida. If you have seen the gorgeous pictures that people use to promote the island, you will know that the island is famous for its cliff faces, beaches and all-round beautiful viewpoints.

Today, we are going to talk about two of these much chatted about attractions, namely: Angel Billabong and Broken beach.

There are a couple of other attractions that are very popular but I will cover that separately because I want to be able to give you all the pointers you need to be able to visit these two attractions with the least amount of crowds and the highest amount of satisfaction.

Let’s get started on our virtual tour, shall we?

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Broken Beach In Nusa Penida

One of the most popular attractions in Nusa Penida is Broken beach. When I first heard about it, I was really confused.

How could a beach be broken?

Did it mean that the sandy shores were split somehow?

Why was it so attractive?

I have to confess that I hadn’t done much research before heading out here. Luckily we had internet and we managed to do our research on the go. What I found out was all my so-called guesses were all wrong. One thing that I did get right was the fact that the place is gorgeous and is definitely worth a visit.

Plus, the reason why it is called Broken beach is really very interesting.

It does help that it is one of the easiest locations on Nusa Penida to wander around. Just stick with us for a bit and we will take you through all the information you need when visiting this spot. Including how to avoid the tourists!

Angel Billabong In Nusa Penida

Let’s talk about another attraction. This one is called Angel Billabong. Now the reason why I am covering both Broken beach and Angel Billabong in Nusa Penida together is because both the attractions are at walking distance from each other.

The Angel Billabong in Nusa Penida is not as famous as many of the other attractions on the island but if you are adventurous, this could be the spot that you probably enjoy the most.

Why Is It Called Broken Beach?

A glimpse of the famous arch at Broken Beach at Nusa Penida.

I have to be honest. Broken Beach fascinated me. Don’t get me wrong, its gorgeous, breath taking and all that is good in an attraction but when I think about how it was formed, it just makes it all the more awe inspiring.

The moment you look at broken beach, you notice that it is a circular hole in the ground with an arch way that connects it to the sea. Now that isn’t something that you see everyday. In fact, it isn’t something that you will see in many locations.

Most of the area around, like the area that compromises the famous beach is made of limestone. A very long time ago (about a million years), broken beach was covered by a limestone hill which harboured a limestone cave.

At some point of time, the roof of the cave collapsed leaving a hollowed-out structure. The arch on one end provided the water of the sea a way to enter and fill it during high tide.

Most people say that the arch is why it is called broken beach.

Me… I personally fell that the collapse of the roof is more symbolic and probably more linked to the name. Then again who knows?

Irrespective of the history, it remains one of the most gorgeous places that we visited in Nusa Penida and one that I highly recommend visiting.

Fun fact: Did you know that Broken Beach is also known as Pasih Uugh? Yes. This is the Indonesian name for the reason.

Angel’s Billabong

One of my favourite spots. You can catch a glimpse of the natural pool formed at Angel’s Billabong the lower left corner of the photograph.

If you walk from the car parking lot downwards, the first spot that you will see is the Angel Billabong. The spot is a small cove that fills in with water during high tide is perfect for a dip during low tide.

On hot days however the water depletes pretty fast and that was what happened to us. If you are taking a dip in, check the tides at the time you are heading out.

It is not safe to head down to it in high tide. We did not venture too close into it because I was 20 weeks pregnant and a bit terrified of slipping on the wet rocky surfaces.

The beauty about Angel Billabong is when it is full, it forms a kind of natural infinity pool. It looks beautiful whether it is full or not and the crystal clear waters seem to call you to them rather vociferously. 

Irrespective what time you reach, you will however find that cliff faces around provide you a gorgeous view. There were loads of people trying to get the perfect shot for their Instagram.

We were quite content in standing and taking in the view. It is breath-taking and one can’t help but marvel at the furry of mother nature as she lashes on the shore.

A CAUTIONARY NOTE: Please be aware that large waves do lash on to the rocky surface. Stay a good distance away from the cliff face so that you do not get washed out by the waves nor slammed into the rock face. Accidents have been known to happen when a stray wave hits. Be safe!

Getting To Broken Beach And Angel’s Billabong

Let’s talk about the topic that is on everyone’s mind. How do you get to Broken beach and Angel Billabong in Nusa Penida?

Both locations are both popular attractions on the island and you will find that almost every local will direct you to the right location. They will however offer you a number of different tours to choose from.

Located on the west coast of Nusa Penida, Angel Billabong and Broken beach are very close to each other. You will find that almost all tours to the island include these landmarks.

You can choose to get to them in a variety of ways depending on your preference, your motorbike riding skills and the money you are willing to spend.

Just to help you make the choice easier, we have listed the options that you have on hand and the pros and cons of each of them.

Take A Tour To Broken Beach & Angel Billabong

⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (1,293 Reviews) Price: $73 per person Duration: 12 hours 📍Meeting Point: Multiple pickup locations Details: Read more on Viator!

Bear in mind that you will land up elbow to elbow with tourists and there won’t be a way to avoid it. They will however take you across the island in a car which will make for a more relaxing journey than one on a bike.

This particular day trip covers more locations than just Angel Billabong and Broken beach. It also includes Kelingking beach and Crystal bay.

Hire A Cab

⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (10 Reviews) Price: $32 per person Duration: 4-5 hours 📍Meeting Point: Hotel pickup Details: Read more on Viator!

It would definitely be a more comfortable way to move around. You will find that many of the cab drivers double as tour guides. The easiest way to find one to suit your needs is to ask your hotel. Or you could just book your cab online and not worry once you reach there.

Take A Local Guide

If you are unsure about navigating around the island, local guides will guide you around on their motorbikes. You can choose to sit behind them or you can follow them on a motorbike of your own.

This ensures that you don’t land up on any wrong routes and they do know some nice spots! Can you get lost? Well… We did get pretty turned around many times.

Most of the locals are friendly so whenever we found ourselves directionally challenged, we asked for guidance which served us well. I can however see the appeal of a local guide though.

Rent A Motorbike

For 70,000 IDR/day you can rent a motorbike and explore the island. This is by far the cheapest option that is available.

Now bear in mind that while the main road is tarred, the inner roads can get bad. When I saw bad, there are times when the road barely exists. Make sure that you know to ride a bike before you embark on this quest and don’t try to learn here.

We’ve seen a number of accidents on our way and they weren’t pretty. Also try and avoid days when it has rained or is raining as the road turns to slush making the experience even harder.

Entrance Fees To Broken Beach And Angel Billabong

As with every popular tourist spot, you do have to pay an entrance fee to see both these landmarks. Luckily the cost isn’t too much! We paid 5,000 IDR/person and 1,000 IDR for parking.

There are two parking spots. One is for bikes and the other is for cars. They also have a drop off point for tours which is different that for solo travellers. Don’t worry too much about it. It just leads to the same spots.

How To Avoid The Crowds At Angel Billabong And Broken Beach

Angel Billabong can get crowded.

One of the best ways to avoid the crowds is to head out early. Don’t head out too early that you navigate through the bad roads in the dark.

I suggest somewhere around dawn. Catch a quick bite to eat first. Most of the tour groups start pouring around 10 am.

Sounds a bit late but they do have to gather their troops and catch a boat across from the other islands. This gives you more than enough time to explore and it helps you beat the heat.

You can also choose to head there later in the evening, say post 3:30 – 4 pm since most of the tours head back by then.

While the afternoon lunch break is another time that the area becomes relatively empty, we found that sweltering sun kind off wore us down. We did not enjoy the area as much as we wished too. It did give us a chance to click a number of gorgeous photographs though.

If you want to take a swim in Angel Billabong then make sure you check the tides.

You want to head into the natural infinity pool during low tide. You can ask the local dive shops (also a good idea) or use one of the many sites that tells you about the tide fluctuations.

Another great thing to do at Angel Billabong and Broken beach is to catch the sunset here. You can just chill with the wind rustling through your hair and enjoy the peace and calm of the evening.

Since most of the tourists (all the day tours!) have already headed back, you will find the spot is quiet and tranquil. A perfect place to end the day especially if you are staying somewhere close by.

Can You Swim At Broken Beach?

This is a question that I get asked frequently. Can you swim at Broken beach? The answer is no. The area below is not easily accessible and that’s besides the point. It is incredibly dangerous even for experienced swimmers.

The rocks are slippery, the tide comes in quickly and honestly in parts the waves kind off resemble a washing machine mid cycle! Yup. You don’t want to get caught in that.

This is one of the reasons why tourists are warned time and again to stay away from the edges of the cliff. This is more true of Angel Billabong than off Broken beach but remember that the rocks are slippery!

Other Things To Do In The Vicinity

There isn’t a lot to do in the vicinity but you can catch a tender coconut while you watch the view or head out to one of the little restaurants along the path to enjoy a drink.

There is one that has a nice swing and claims to have a good view of the sunset. It is a bigger restaurant located closer to Angel’s Billabong and the parking lot. It also has the iconic swings which would make a pretty picture if that is what you are interested in.

Wondering Where To Stay When On Nusa Penida?

We found ourselves wading through lists and lists of places to stay. While it may not be as overwhelming as the ones in Bali, we were still confused.

Do we stay closer to the main sights or would we prefer a place that is a little bit away from the crowds?

How much luxury did we want?

Did we want to rough it out?

One look at the map above will tell you just why we were confused. We finally narrowed down our search based on location, reviews and cost. You can check out the one we selected below.

Govardhan Bungalow

A glimpse of our haven in Nusa Penida.

⭐️ Rating: 9/10 (66 Reviews) Price: $29 per night 📍Location: Jalan Raya Batumulapan, Batununggul, Nusapenida, Nusa Penida Details: Read more on booking.com now!

While the bungalows themselves did not have a view, the seating area for breakfast had a spectacular view of Mount Agung and was a perfect place to watch the sunrise every day which turned out to be my favorite activity.

As for the rooms, they were spacious, clean, well stocked and perfect for us in every sense. Plus it had a good supply of hot water and the Wi-Fi wasn’t spotty.

I think the best part about it was the staff. We were even provided with free transport to and from the harbor and we rented our motorbike from the place itself for the normal price which was a big bonus.

If you plan on visiting the island, don’t forget to check out our guide to things to do in Nusa Penida.

Have you been to Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong in Nusa Penida? What was your favourite part about visiting them? Let us know in the comments below.

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