Broken Beach, or Pasih Uug in Balinese, is one of the most striking pieces of coastline on Nusa Penida, a near-circular cove cut into the cliffs with a natural stone arch at its base. The arch lets the ocean surge in and out, filling the enclosed basin with clear turquoise water that shifts colour through the day. Do not expect a beach in the usual sense, since there is no way down to the water. This is a rock formation to be walked around, viewed from a path that loops the rim, and it sits alongside Angel’s Billabong on the same headland.
The cove and arch
The cove looks as though a giant bite has been taken out of the cliff, leaving a rounded bay joined to the sea only through the arch at water level. The rock bridge across the opening is what draws the eye, framing the ocean beyond and channelling the swell into the basin. From the clifftop the layered colours of water and rock make it one of the island’s most photographed sights. To get the scale of it, walk the full loop.
Walking the rim
A path runs right around the top of the cove, taking fifteen to twenty minutes to complete, with viewpoints of the arch and the open sea at several points. The walking is easy but fully exposed to the sun, so a hat and water are worth carrying. From certain angles the clear water below reveals marine life, and manta rays are sometimes spotted from above in the right season, which rewards a longer pause at the railings.
The setting
Broken Beach shares its car park and entrance with Angel’s Billabong, and the two are almost always seen together as a single stop on a west-coast tour. Simple warungs near the parking sell drinks and snacks, and there is little other development, which keeps the focus on the coastline. The roads to reach it are rough and steep in places, so a confident scooter rider or a hired driver makes the trip easier.
How to visit
Broken Beach is on the west coast of Nusa Penida, about an hour from the harbour by scooter or a hired car and driver over rough roads. Mornings bring the best light and calmer traffic on the narrow lanes. Walk straight on to Angel’s Billabong on the same headland. For the wider island, see our guide to Nusa Penida and the full list of things to do in Nusa Penida.
