Diamond Beach – The Best Beach on Nusa Penida

Diamond Beach on Nusa Penida is one of the most fascinating beaches in Indonesia. Together with Kelingking Beach, it’s a must-visit destination when traveling to Bali.

The beach boasts mind-bending turquoise waters, majestic cliffs, diamond-shaped limestones, and palms. The views are like those on a postcard. We were stunned by its unusual beauty when we got our first glimpse.

We believe it is one of the best attractions in Bali and Nusa Penida and should be included on everyone’s itinerary.

If you’re planning a trip to the area soon, this guide covers entrance fees, the best viewpoints, getting to the beach, things to do in the area, and the best nearby places to eat.

Quick Overview

Diamond Beach is a new attraction that became accessible in 2018 when the stairs were carved from the cliff. It’s best visited during low tide, as most of the beach is underwater during high tide, making walking around impossible.

Climbing down takes around 15-20 minutes. It starts with stairs, and you need to cross rocks with the help of a rope towards the bottom. Swimming is not recommended due to strong currents.

If going down is not for you, enjoy the beach from various viewpoints along the cliffs.

Once you have had enough of the most beautiful view of Nusa Penida, don’t forget to climb down to Atuh Beach. You can lay down, go swimming, or snorkeling.

The entry fee is 35,000 IDR, and the first viewpoint is only a 2-3 minute walk from the parking.

Where is Diamond Beach

The beach is located on the eastern coast of Nusa Penida, approximately 30 km away and a one-hour ride from Banjar Nyuh Port. Other popular attractions in the area include Atuh Beach, the famous Rumah Pohon treehouse, and Thousand Islands Viewpoint.

How to get to Diamond Beach

From Bali

First, you’ll need to catch a speedboat from Bali to Nusa Penida. Most boats depart from Sanut Pier, and the journey usually takes around 1.5 hours. We chose Axe Stone for this trip and had no issues.

The seas between the two islands are often rough, so prepare for a bumpy ride.

In Asia, we always prefer using 12Go for train, bus, and ferry tickets. It’s a reliable company with great prices, and you won’t be easily scammed.

From Nusa Penida

Rent a motorbike

For us, renting a motorbike was the number one choice for exploring Asia. It provides a lot of freedom, making it the most convenient option.

We recommend Doel Hadi Rental, whose prices start at 80,000 IDR. Their shop is conveniently located near the pier.

The roads on Nusa Penida are in good condition, with only a few potholes. However, many sections are narrow.

Hire a private driver

If you’d prefer not to drive around on a scooter, you’ll appreciate the option to hire a car with a private driver. It provides a lot of flexibility, and you can follow your own itinerary without worrying about getting from point A to point B.

We recommend the GetYourGuide offer, which starts at 50€ per group per day.

Join a tour

Lastly, the most budget-friendly option is joining a group tour.

We recommend this Nusa Penida highlights tour to see all the best attractions on the island. It’ll take you to Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Diamond Beach, and Molateng Tree House.

About Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach Entrance Fee

At the end of the parking area, locals collect the 35,000 IDR entrance fee. This fee includes the entrance to the whole area—both beaches, including Atuh, all the viewpoints, and a bottle of water.

We came early in the morning for the sunrise and left the area to get some breakfast. On the return, we had some troubles with the tickets. The guard believed we got them from someone who already left and wanted to avoid paying.

We explained we had come too early and left to eat. While he let us enter without charging us again, he kept shouting that he didn’t trust us.

Diamond Beach Viewpoint

Once we left the parking lot, we walked for only two or three minutes before reaching the first viewpoint. We found ourselves standing at the top of the cliff, overlooking the beautiful bay.

A trail leads to the top of a small hill, offering a slightly different angle. The spot is called Jogglo Viewpoint.

I recommend walking along the cliff to find the best and least busy viewpoints around.

The cliff staircase

Not so long ago, climbing down to the beach was impossible. Thanks to the stairs carved in limestone, today you can get all the way down to the shore. But it’s not so easy. I believe there are around 166 steps.

The first section starts with easily walkable stairs along the cliff. Approximately halfway down, the stairs get taller and more broken. The last sections can’t even be called stairs. It’s just a carved-out rock, and we had to hold on to the rope to get down.

While it’s not easy, it’s definitely worth it! So unless you’re in a bad physical condition, have health issues, or are traveling with small kids, go for it!

Is swimming allowed?

Unfortunately, like many other places on Nusa Penida, including Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong infinity pool, swimming is not allowed. I wouldn’t say it’s explicitly forbidden; at least, I don’t remember seeing any signs.

However, swimming is certainly not recommended due to dangerous currents. Even when the water looks calm, strong undercurrents are present, and they’ll quickly pull you into the ocean.

Because of this, we recommend staying in the shallow water right at the shore and only if you really need to refresh yourself.

Staying safe on Diamond Beach

It is safe to visit as long as you stay cautious. The most important thing to watch out for is the currents. As long as you don’t go swimming, you’re totally safe.

I also recommend being careful when walking up or down the cliff stairs. It’s easy to slip, especially if you don’t have proper shoes. It’s better to avoid flip-flops and choose at least sandals instead.

Things to do on Diamond Beach

Explore different viewpoints

Most people would stop and take photos right at the first viewpoint, from which you can see Diamond Beach or right next to the stairs. However, you can walk along the cliffs surrounding the bay and find various angles with fewer people.

Try Bali Swing

Above the beach, you have a chance to take Insta photos using the Bali swing or some other photoshoot options. The Bali swing is the typical giant swing on which you can create stunning photos.

The locals also built a bird’s nest hanging down from the palm.

Both attractions are on the way down to the beach, and you’ll need to pay a fee to use them.

Climb down to the beach

Climbing down to the beach was our favorite part of the visit. It’s not as strenuous as Kelingking Beach, but it will definitely take some effort.

I’d say it might take between 10 – 15 minutes to reach the bottom. The first part is simple, thanks to carved-out stairs. The last section requires you to use a rope.

Once down at the beach, you can walk around the shore and enjoy the different viewpoints. I believe there’s even a small cave somewhere, but we haven’t visited it.

Remember to time your visit right. The beach is underwater during the high tide, so it’s better visited during low to mid tide. If you come in the afternoon, it’s going to be shaded.

Visit Atuh Beach

While you can’t swim on Diamond Beach, the area offers the second Atuh Beach, perfect for swimming.

Once you finish exploring and photographing, follow the path to the second bay. Easy stairs will take you down to the shore. It only took us around 10 minutes to get there.

About Atuh Beach

Multiple facilities are available down here: snack shops, restaurants, toilets, and sunchairs. The water is a beautiful turquoise color. During our visit, it wasn’t crystal clear but somewhat murky and uncalm.

Yet the waves are not too big or strong to make swimming unpleasant. However, I wouldn’t recommend swimming too far.

Most people would just stay near the shore, where the water is deep enough for swimming. But we’ve seen one guy snorkeling all the way in the back. It didn’t seem safe since many strong waves were coming through the narrow passage between the cliffs.

High tide is the best time to truly enjoy swimming at Atuh Beach. It’s impossible to swim during low tide. The water is too shallow, far out back, with many corals sticking out.

Diamond Beach photography tips

Choosing the right timing is essential for creating the best photographs. Sunrise and sunset make the best light when the sky turns pink and orange. We personally prefer sunrise, as the sun doesn’t shine on the beach during sunset.

The beach looks the best when the sun is shining on the water, bringing out the best colors. Because of this, late afternoon is not such a good time. The sun is already far behind, and the cliffs around the beach create shade along the shore.

To avoid crowds, we suggest coming before 8 or 9 a.m. We came for sunrise and met a few other people. Later, crowds and group tours started arriving, making the place very crowded. However, only a few made it down to the beach.

We also had our drone here and used it to capture some content from the birds-eye perspective. Drones are allowed. It can get windy in the area, so if the drone is light, be careful.

Tips before visiting Diamond Beach

Wear comfy shoes

This applies especially if you plan to climb down. The last sections are sandy and slippery, so flip-flops are not the best choice. We wore sandals and felt okay, but the best option would be sneakers.

Have enough water

Most importantly, when going to the beach, no shops and no water are available. Ensure you have plenty of water for going up and down, especially on a hot day.

Best time to visit Diamond Beach

Best time of day

As mentioned previously, to avoid the crowds, you should come before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. However, the morning offers better light conditions, and the beach is shaded in the afternoon.

Diamond Beach is best visited during low tide. High tide is also beautiful, but the beach becomes too narrow at that time.

On the other hand, Atuh Beach is at its best during high tide. Low tide is not a good time if you also want to go swimming.

So, to enjoy both beaches, we recommend arriving mid-tide and exploring Diamond Beach. Before you move to Atuh Beach, the water should be deep enough to swim in.

Since we stayed in the area and had plenty of time, we came during low tide and sunrise. As we saw, Atuh Beach was not appealing, so we simply left to get breakfast and returned later.

Best time of year

The dry season between May and October is the best time to visit Bali, Nusa Penida, and other nearby islands. The weather is stable, with many sunny days. Avoid January, which is the wettest month of the year.

Packing essentials

In order to get the most out of your visit, we recommend to pack following items:

• proper shoes if you hike down (sneakers are the best, but sandals will do)
• a lot of water
• snacks
• cash
• quick-drying towel

Our favorite photography equipment includes:

• DJI Mini 3 Pro
• Sony A7IV with Sony 24-240mm lens
• Sirui Traveler 7C
• Gorillapod 3k Pro

Where to eat

• AB Bar & Resto – Our go-to restaurant for every meal. Great prices, tasty food, and lovely vibes. We recommend chicken burgers and smoothie bowls.
• Fisherman’s hut – A great place right on Atuh Beach, offering local meals for reasonable prices. They also offer sun chair rental.
• Slaza Penida Restaurant & Bar – Another amazing restaurant serving both local and western food.

Nearby attractions

Kelingking Beach | The famous T-Rex beach is an attraction not to be missed. Its incredible shape attracts many tourists each day. If you have energy and time, we recommend going all the way down to the beach.

Tembeling Forest | Another less-known spot perfect for relaxation in nature. You ride a motorbike through an enchanting forest to the coast. There’s a beautiful natural pool built right on the beach, with incredible views.

Peguyangan Waterfall | I’d say this hidden gem deserves a place on the list of top Nusa Penida attractions. After climbing down the cliff by the infinite stairs, you’ll find a small temple with three sacred infinity pools overlooking the ocean in which you can swim.

Frequently Asked Questions