Overview
Atuh Beach
Atuh Beach, or Pantai Atuh, is a hidden beach on the remote south-eastern coast of Nusa Penida island. The beach is secluded by magnificent green cliffs, while various limestone rock formations surround it, adding to the beauty of the area. The white sand beach itself is accessible via a purpose-built stairway, or you can try the narrow tracks along a rugged cliff face if you’re feeling adventurous. The beach is great for relaxing with a spectacular view. However, the waters aren’t always swimmable. There are four main rocky outcrops and islets dotting the coast of Atuh Beach. All these contribute to the breathtaking views. Named by locals as Batu Melawang, Batu Abah, Batu Paon and Bukit Jineng, it is Bukit Jineng, also referred to as Batu Bolong or “hollow rock”, which is the most striking, thanks to its arch-like formation. Due to its remote location, you will most likely have the beach to yourself most of your visit. Low tide often reveals rock pools where you can observe fish and marine life waiting to hitch a ride on the next tide. Swimming in the waves beyond the rock pools is not advisable and there are no lifeguards. At times, local vendors are around selling refreshments and snacks on the sand. Like most of the remote beaches on Nusa Penida Island, getting to Atuh Beach is best done by motorbike. It’s about a two-hour ride from the main harbor on the island’s northwest coast. The descent to the beach itself is roughly a half-hour trek and the view is worth it, especially if you’re a beach lover.
Diamond Beach
A hidden beach, silky blue water, limestones, incredible stairway and palm trees are creating a dream destination. Diamond Beach is a stunning hidden beach located at the bottom of a sheer cliff on the eastern tip of the island of Nusa Penida. Diamond Beach is the next beach over from another Nusa Penida gem known as Atuh Beach. However, the coastline of the entire island is incredible. There are so many amazing viewpoints from the top of the towering cliffs that look down to those classic blue waters Nusa Penida is famous for. Many of those cliffs look down on to beaches that are inaccessible and that was exactly the situation at Diamond Beach on Nusa Penida. You would look down from the cliffs at the beautiful beach below. That was until a set of stairs were carved into the side of the cliff in quite an unbelievable fashion. Diamond Beach on Nusa Penida island is now open to the public. The stairway only takes a few minutes to reach the bottom but provides amazing views throughout the climb up and down. With a long stretch of white sand, palm trees, rock pools and glistening turquoise sea, Diamond Beach is the epitome of paradise, and I feel privileged to have been one of the first people to enjoy its untouched beauty.
Pulau Seribu
Thousand Islands Viewpoint is definitely one of the most spectacular spots on Nusa Penida. Here’s all the info for visiting the famous photo location. Once you pay entrance to the Ruman Pohon Molentang grounds it gives access to the Nusa Penida Treehouse as well as the Thousand Islands Viewpoint. The stairway down is about a 10 minute walk and can be a little tough on a hot day. Although the views at the bottom are well worth it there are two viewpoints giving a different angle of the beautiful eastern rock formations and crystal blue Bali Sea. The first has recently been roped off for tourist’s safety. So you can’t get that rural island photo anymore but that doesn’t take away from the incredible natural view. The second is up and past the Rumah Pohon Tree house. It’s one of the most Easterly points you can reach on Nusa Penida Island and if you have super strong vision you may be able to see Lombok The views from the Rumah Pohon Molenteng grounds are beautiful and waking up in the tree house would be like something out of a movie.
Pura Giri
Is a temple within a limestone cave high in the cliffs on the east coast of Nusa Penida. As this is a sacred site for Balinese, visi-tors are required to wear a sarong and sash which can be hired from the beachside warungs for 10,000 rupiah—if you haven’t packed your temple gear. Menstruating women as well as those who have recently given birth or recently bereaved (both men and women) are requested not to enter the temple. Nor are you permitted to carry “magical charms”. A steep cement stair-way leads about 50 meters up the hill to the temple entrance. Here you are required to sign the visitors book and leave a “donation” of 20,000 rupiah—please refuse the single-use plastic cup of water you’ll be offered. A white-garbed pemangku (temple priest) will then sprinkle you with holy water before you enter the cave. The entrance is a quite narrow aperture in the rocks to the left of the central shrine. If you’ve had a few too many Bintangs or filled up on Balinese cakes, you may have to give this a miss, as it’s a tight squeeze, but the cave soon opens up, although you’ll need to watch your head for the first couple of meters. A paved path leads you deep into the dimly lit cavern filled with shrines and flickering candlelight. You may wish to take a torch—we found the lighting too dim to see where we were stepping, and the temperature in the cave caused the torch function on our phone to overheat and be disabled.The vast interior is much larger than we expected, around 300 meters in length, peppered with several shrines adorned with umbrellas, temple flags and offerings and though it can allegedly accommodate 5,000 worshipers, we wouldn’t want to be there with that many.
