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Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach are two idyllic locations on Nusa Penida that are certain highlights of a trip to the beautiful island that lies southeast of Bali in Indonesia.
After riding along one of Nusa Penida’s typically unforgiving, pothole-ridden roads to get there, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most unique beach descents in the world at Diamond Beach, where dazzling turquoise water and towering natural rock formations steal the show. At the neighbouring Atuh Beach, after a steep descent, you get a chance to kick back, relax and enjoy a fresh coconut or nasi goreng while admiring the stunning view.
The beaches rest on the east coast of the island, meaning they avoid most of the hoards of day trippers from Bali due to the ferry port being on the west coast. Although they aren’t even close to the levels of tourism that the world famous Kelingking Beach attracts, they are simply unmissable destinations on the island and you’d be mad to miss them!
In this guide I’ll show you how you can experience the beaches in all their glory, including information like how to get there, what to expect and where to go for the best view!
- Country: Indonesia
- Population: Roughly 50,000
- Language: Both Indonesian and English are widely spoken in Indonesia
- Currency: Indonesian rupees (IDR). £1/$1 = 18,500/15,000 IDR
- SIM cards: You should definitely get a SIM card for your travels in Bali and Nusa Penida. This means you can use apps like Uber or Grab for cheaper taxi fares but it also means you’re always connected to the world, never needing to rely on WiFi. Get an E-SIM here: Indonesia: eSIM Roaming Mobile Data Plan
Where is it
Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach are located right beside each other on the east coast of the small Indonesian island of Nusa Penida.
Check it out on the interactive map below.
How to get there
In order to see both beaches one after the other you’ll want to park your bike here, otherwise if you park at the Atuh Beach parking area here you’ll have a heck of a hike on your hands to see Diamond Beach.
There are three main ways to get there.
- Rent a scooter
The most adventurous and fulfilling way to travel around Nusa Penida is by renting a motorcycle and driving yourself. Bikes can be rented at most accommodations and aren’t very hard to find. Expect to pay around 60,000 – 70,000 IDR per day.
- Hire a driver
Another great option I recommend is to hire a private driver. You can propose you own custom itinerary for the day (6, 10 or 12 hours) or let them take you to the spots they think are best. For a full day prices start at around 500,000 IDR ($38), which is pretty good considering everything is included.
If you’re keen, book a driver through this link.
Note: A hired driver is not a tour guide. They will be friendly and might feed you some information now and then in the car, but they won’t walk with you to each location like a guide would.
- Book a tour
The roads on Nusa Penida are notoriously bad so booking tours is a very popular way of securing transport and safety on the island. Travel in the comfort of an air conditioned van with a local guide and fellow travellers to some of the island’s best attractions on one of the popular tours below!
Companies like GetYourGuide and Viator offer great tours of Nusa Penida.
One of the best is this one: Best of Nusa Penida Full-Day Tour by Fast Boat
When to visit
Visiting as early in the morning as possible is advisable to avoid the biggest crowds and heat of the day. Try to also aim for high tide, specifically for Atuh Beach, or else you might be greeted by a rocky shoreline instead of the tropical sandy blues you were expecting.
How long to allow
To see both beaches in their entirety I’d recommend allowing at least 3 hours before returning to your bike.
The hikes may take longer than you originally think they will and you’ll want to milk every second of your stay here, as well as enjoy some food and drinks on Atuh Beach!
Thinking of visiting Southeast Asia soon? Don’t miss these essential guides to help planning your trip:
What to expect at Diamond Beach
First up, Diamond Beach. I recommend going here first then using Atuh Beach as a chill zone afterwards as it has shaded sun loungers and food vendors, which the exposed Diamond Beach does not.
From the top of the hill, near the parking area, you get an amazing view of Diamond Beach straight away, like an instant reward for making here without crashing your bike… hopefully!
This is one of the trademark views of Nusa Penida and truly one that every visitor to the island should witness. You can see the stunning diamond-shaped rocks that the beach is named after and some of the bluest sea water your eyes have ever seen.
Don’t expect to just arrive here and ‘pop down’ to Diamond Beach with ease though, because, as you’ll quickly realise, effort is required to descend the towering cliffs you stand on to the glistening sands below.
The path down to Diamond Beach is simply one of a kind, with an epic descent down the side of the cliff where a spectacular staircase has been carved into the rock face. The man made set of steps seemingly defies the laws of gravity and is a truly awesome sight to behold. The rock arches over you in some areas and is certainly worth going down, even part of the way, to capture some amazing photos.
What to expect at Atuh Beach
The view at Atuh Beach keeps you guessing until you actually arrive on its shores.
Located on the other side of the car park from Diamond Beach, it can be accessed after a fairly steep and relentless 10 minute descent. If you fancy a swim today, this is by far the better option of the two beaches. It’s safe, the waves are calm and overall it’s just a much more relaxing place to have a dip!
Top tip: Aim to visit Atuh Beach at high tide for the best scenes. This way the tropical blue waters come right up to the sandy beach, whereas at low tide the rocky seabed is more exposed and is far less photogenic.
Where to stay on Nusa Penida
Packing essentials
- Dry bag: Dry bags are great for water-based activities to keep everything safe and, you guessed it, dry. Try one of these.
- GoPro: Capture the surroundings in stabilised high quality with a trusty waterproof GoPro, perfect for wet adventures. Get the new GoPro HERO 11 here.
Water: Make sure you pack a reusable water bottle and plenty of water as it will likely be a sweaty day.
- Travel towel: Having a compact and fast-drying travel towel is essential here for obvious reasons!
- Portable charger: Charge you tech on the move with one of these long lasting, high speed portable chargers.
Best tours in Nusa Penida
Thank you for reading this travel guide – I hope you found it helpful! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible 
Happy travelling!
HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Accommodation: Booking.com, Hostelworld
Tours: GetYourGuide, Viator, Klook, TripAdvisor
Transport: 12Go, Omio, Trip.com, Rome2Rio
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