Diamond Beach Nusa Penida: A Guide to Visiting Bali’s Beautiful Beach

Diamond Beach Nusa Penida is one of the most beautiful beaches in Bali. It is a relatively hidden but iconic beach on Nusa Penida which is surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and dotted with picturesque palm trees.

It wasn’t until the beginning of 2019 that going down to the beach was even possible. Stairs were carved out into the side of the cliff making it easier for visitors to access the beach and enjoy the beauty of this place from sea level. Since then Diamond Beach Bali has grown in popularity and photos of the perfect turquoise water and diamond shaped rock are seen all over Instagram.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning if you use these links to purchase a product or service I will receive a small compensation at no additional cost to you. Everything I recommend are products or services that I personally use and have been essential for me as a travel blogger.

Traveling to Indonesia?  Don’t leave home without getting travel insurance! You never know when something could go wrong and you’ll definitely want to be covered by insurance! Click HERE to get a quote!

LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT FOR later!

Where is Diamond Beach Nusa Penida Located?

Diamond Beach is located on the east side of the island of Nusa Penida. It is the largest of three Nusa Islands which are geographically located about 45 minutes east of Bali. The only way to reach the Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan Island is by taking a boat from Bali.

» Must Read:  How to Get to Nusa Penida Island: Everything You Need to Know

Once you are on Nusa Penida island, Diamond beach is about a one hour drive from the main harbor. Of course that time will vary depending on where your hotel or guesthouse is located on the island.

How to Get to Diamond Beach Nusa Penida

There are a few ways that you can get to Diamond Beach on Nusa Penida Island. You can either rent your own motorbike, take an arranged tour or hire a private driver. I only recommend renting a motorbike if you are an experienced and confident driver since the roads on Nusa Penida are currently in a very bad condition on most of the island.

Hiring a private driver for the day costs around $40-50 USD and they will take you wherever you want to go and wait for you. Sometimes the entrance and parking costs may be included in the price but it’s best to check just in case.

There are many different tour options available and can be booked on Bali or once you are on Nusa Penida Island. Ask your guesthouse or hotel for details.

Where to Park at Diamond Beach

There is a designated parking area which gives you access to Diamond Beach, Atuh Beach, the Thousand Island Viewpoint and the Rumah Pohon Tree House. The parking fee is 5,000 IDR ($0.32 USD) and must be paid in cash in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). If you are taking a tour or hired a private driver then check to see if the parking fee is included in your total cost.

How Much is the Entrance Fee to Diamond Beach Nusa Penida?

As of 2019 there is a 10,000 IDR ($0.65 USD) per person entrance fee. This fee must be paid in cash in the local currency of Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).

When is the Best Time to Visit Diamond Beach Bali?

The best time to visit Diamond Beach Bali is for sunrise or just after. We were there in August and arrived to Diamond Beach at 7:30 AM. Due to the location on the island you’ll be able to get beautiful photos here early in the morning without those pesky shadows! Plus it won’t be very crowded or hot so you can really enjoy your time here.

Ideally you’ll want to visit Diamond Beach Bali during the dry season which runs from March through October.

What are the Hours of Opening at Diamond Beach Bali?

Technically, Diamond Beach Bali is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, you’ll only want to visit during daylight hours to truly enjoy the beauty of this spot.

Can You Swim at Diamond Beach Nusa Penida?

Yes, you are allowed to swim at Diamond Beach. However, I highly recommend that you do not go out very far if you do decide to go in. Even if you are a good swimmer the current can be incredibly strong and the tides change very quickly. Additionally, the waves here can get pretty big and one could catch you by surprise. Plus there is no lifeguard or medical help nearby if anything should happen.

While we were down at the beach the tide came in around 11:30 AM and filled the entire beach with water in about 30 minutes. At that point the beach becomes completely submerged by the ocean and you should not be down there. Check with the tides prior to going if you want to head down to the beach. Only visit Diamond Beach Nusa Penida during low tide. 

What to Expect at Diamond Beach on Nusa Penida Island

1. Diamond Beach Nusa Penida Viewpoint

Only a short distance after the parking area you will find the main Diamond Beach viewpoint and the Diamond Beach Nusa Penida stairs that lead down to the beach. To your left you will see the nearby Atuh Beach which you also enjoy while in the area.

At the top of the stairs you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the milky turquoise water, towering limestone cliffs, swaying palms and the famous upside down diamond shaped rock that Diamond Beach is named after!

There are lots of Instagrammable spots at this Diamond Beach Bali viewpoint so be sure to walk around and find some different angles!

2. Diamond Beach Bali Swing

The Bali swings seem to be a new trend which are gaining popularity all around Bali and the nearby islands. At Diamond Beach there is one swing and one bird’s nest that are available for photographs. The swing costs 100,000 IDR ($6.45 USD) and the bird’s nest costs 50,000 IDR ($3.25 USD)

3. Diamond Beach Nusa Penida Stairs

The hike down to the beach is done by a series of man-made stairs. The first section of the Diamond Beach hike has normal stairs and a handle rope handrail. These initial steps offer incredible views and photo opportunities overlooking Diamond Beach so make sure to capture some shots here before heading down!

Halfway down to the beach you will arrive at a small flat area with a warung (local Indonesian restaurant), some famous Bali swings and a toilet. After this will be the final stretch of the climb down. Unfortunately this will be the hardest part as the steps get steeper and significantly more difficult. Additionally, the handrail isn’t as secure as it was for the beginning part of the climb but you’ll still want to hold on to it.

Just be sure to climb down slowly and make sure you have your footing before continuing. The steps will end just before you reach the sandy part of the beach and you’ll have to finish by crawling over a large boulder.

The hike down takes about 20-25 minutes and is moderately difficult. As long as you feel confident about the second half of the climb with the uneven steps than you should be fine. Going back up however is a bit more challenging. Most likely there will be people using the stairs in both directions as it gets busier in the day.

We were one of the first people to get to the beach so going down wasn’t a problem. Unfortunately when we tried to go back up the stairs they were packed with people who were coming down and were NOT stopping to let others up nor were they moving to the side to let people pass.

We ended up waiting for about 30 minutes with a large group of people before finally just starting to climb up. This forced people at the top to wait a few minutes while we cleared the steps so they could continue going back down. You may also have to do this when you are there if you want to get back up.

4. What to Bring to Diamond Beach

The four most important things to bring with you to Diamon Beach Nusa Penida is sunscreen, water, cash and a backpack. Make sure that if you intend to go into the water that you are using a reef safe sunscreen. The main thing to look for when purchasing reef safe sunscreen is that it is Oxybenzone free.

Bring water with you, preferably in a reusable water bottle. Also, you’ll definitely want to make sure that you have enough cash in the local currency of Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). I would recommend getting the cash out of the ATM before leaving Bali that way you don’t have to worry about it once you arrive on Nusa Penida.

Carrying a backpack is super handy to have not just on Nusa Penida Island but during all your travels. You can easily store all of your belongings while having your hands free and it makes it so much easier to climb down the stairs to Diamond Beach Bali.

5.  Is it Worth Going Down to Diamond Beach?

Yes, absolutely! If you have the time and you feel up to the climb! The sandy beach is beautiful and it’s incredible to see how huge those limestone cliffs actually are! This was my favorite spot on Nusa Penida and it was incredible to be able to go down to the beach on the newly carved out stairs.

6. How Long Should You Spend at Diamond Beach?

If you have the time then you should spend at least a couple of hours at Diamond Beach. In total we spent about 3 hours at this location enjoying the views from the top of the stairs, relaxing at the beach and flying the drone.

Yes, drones are allowed at Diamond beach Nusa Penida. However, you should fly will caution to avoid the limestone cliffs or any other visitors. The wind can be strong here so keep that in mind as well.

7. Facilities at Diamond Beach Nusa Penida

As you begin to descend down the stairs you will come to a flat section about two-thirds of the way down. Here you’ll find a small warung, toilet and the famous Bali swings. The warung is a traditional Indonesia restaurant that sells things like fried rice, fried noodles and other small plates. They also have other snacks and cold drinks for purchase.

Other Beaches You Can Visit on Nusa Penida

Diamond Beach is not the only beach on Nusa Penida that you can visit. There is also Crystal Bay Beach Nusa Penida which is very easy and doesn’t involve any hiking or climbing. This is a great place to snorkel or relax in the ocean as the waves and current aren’t as strong here.

Another popular spot to enjoy the sandy beaches is at Kelinking Beach. This is the famous T-Rex shaped cliff on Nusa Penida. However, the climb down to this beach is incredibly difficult as I have heard from numerous people. I did not make the climb down to this beach as we were short on time but if you do, be very cautious and wear proper shoes. Also, keep in mind that the current and waves are very strong here a well so unless you are an incredibly strong swimmer I would not go in the water.

» Must Read: Nusa Penida’s East Coast: A Complete Guide to Visiting

Where to Stay on Nusa Penida Island Bali

Most of the hotels and guesthouses will be located on the North side of Nusa Penida closer to the harbor. These are both two places that I’ve stayed during my time in Nusa Penida and I can recommend both of them. Most guesthouses have motorbikes that you can rent but they sometimes do not have helmets. We brought our own helmets from Bali to use and were happy that we did. The guesthouses on Nusa Penida can also help with arranging private drivers or tours if you do not want to drive a motorbike.

• Mid-Budget: Bintang Bungalows

• Budget: Puri Ratu Penida

If you liked this blog post or have any questions please leave a comment below! You can also always send me a message via email marisa@thisworldtraveled.com or on Instagram @thisworldtraveled!

LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER!