Nusa Penida is one of Bali’s most in-demand destinations, and it is easy to see why. The island is undeniably beautiful, increasingly accessible, and home to luxury hotels that appear in glossy travel magazines.
As Nusa Penida becomes even more popular, tourists are being encouraged to explore more off-path destinations on the island, and here at The Bali Sun, we can tell you that it’s totally worth it.
Nusa Penida is best known for landmarks like Kelingking Beach, Diamond Beach, and Manta Bay.
The Nusa Penida Treehouse is another destination that shot to international fame during the first wave of social media travel content, and it’s amazing to see how many people travel from around the world to visit what is essentially a local farmer’s hut.
Many people think that Nusa Penida is best visited for natural wonders like the clifftop viewpoints and pristine white sand beaches. With the main island, Bali, home to so many cultural riches, tourists tend to overlook the cultural heritage of the outlying islands. Tourists looking for an off-path cultural gem in Nusa Penida should add the Goa Giri Putri Temple to their itinerary.
The simply stunning Goa Giri Putri Temple is located within a giant cave that is approximately 280 meters long. The temple offers an incredibly rare experience for both worshippers and respectful visitors. The temple is open to the public, and tourists can enter the cave temple itself through the small hole in the rock, provided they honor temple etiquette by wearing a sarong and sash.
The entry to the cave may be triggering for those with claustrophobia, but as soon as you squeeze through the hole in the rocks, the whole cave opens up, and the temple complex unfolds before you.
For those interested in taking their cultural immersion in Bali a step further, the Goa Giri Putri Temple, a temple suitable for the Balinese water purification ritual, known as melukat. An experience that is only intensified thanks to the mystical atmosphere created by the ancient cave.
Tourists looking to embrace the best of Nusa Penida’s underrated coastal wonders should head to Guyangan Waterfall. This is not for the faint-hearted and is certainly best for the sure-footed amongst us.
Accessed by a steep and sometimes slippery set of cliffside stairs, Guyangan Waterfall rewards intrepid explorers. The waterfall flows out to the ocean, offering dramatic coastal views and complete seclusion from the outside world.
If you’ve already ticked off Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach and want more Nusa Penida beachy goodness without the crowds, add Suwehan Beach to your itinerary.
Like Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach, Suwehan Beach is accessed via a super-steep coastal path with steps that are nothing short of treacherous in places. Tourists find a remote beach, seldom visited, that opens out over some of the most turquoise waters and dramatic rocky outcrops.
Again, just like Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach, Suwehan Beach is not suitable for swimming or paddling in the shallows, so appreciate the ocean from a safe distance.
Everyone loves Angel’s Billabong, and it is well worth a visit. Though it’s off-path, an alternative lifestyle is just a few minutes away. Pasih Anuds, aka Smokey Beach, offers impressive water blow waves and an alternative view of Angel’s Billabong.
Nusa Penida may be beloved for its coast, but heading to the middle of the island offers an alternative, and in our opinion, unmissable viewpoint. Kroya Panoramia Point sits close to the island’s highest point and offers non-stop views of its green rolling hills, often referred to as Tellytubby Land!
The Kroya Panoramia Point is a different spot from the spot on Google Maps marked ‘Teletubbies Hill’; both are very cool and can be reached within a scenic 20-minute drive of one another; if you have time, why not visit both!
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