Hiking in Nusa Penida: Crystal Bay to Broken Beach (2026)

Update — 2026 (thanks to our reader Isa). Since this hike was first written, the trail has been completely developed — partly cut into the rock — to make Pandan Beach and the other beaches easier to reach from Broken Beach. The crossing is now far simpler than described below: it’s almost impossible to get lost if you stick to the main path. From Pandan Beach there’s about 5 km of wide track — nothing is signposted, but just follow the main trail. One thing hasn’t changed: don’t do it in flip-flops, there’s real elevation!

How long does it take to walk from Crystal Bay to Broken Beach?

Each time I asked how long it would take to walk from Crystal Bay to Broken Beach, I got a different answer. Some said two hours, others one. Two hours to get there, because you get lost, and one to return, because by then you know the way. Two hours with children, one without. Nothing conclusive. I knew the starting point — the stairs at the end of Crystal Bay beach — and the endpoint, Broken Beach. But between the two, not a clue — and none of the Sakti locals I asked had ever done it!

So one day, looking for something nice to do in Nusa Penida, I went for the adventure. I set off around 3:30 p.m. to be back before dark — but big mistake, I didn’t take proper shoes and left in flip-flops…

The hike from Crystal Bay to Broken Beach

The starting point is very clear. You climb the steps that leave from the left of Crystal Bay beach toward Padang Beach — a nice warm-up — up over the small hill and back down to Pandan Beach. Up there you can see red arrows that seem to mark out a long-distance trail, and I candidly thought it would be a piece of cake to just follow them to Broken Beach.

After 20 minutes climbing up and down the concrete steps the Penidans love, you reach Pandan Beach. And then comes the first difficulty: where’s the path?

I ask a young woman at the end of the beach, who tells me that her Ukrainian husband and son have climbed the next hill. I meet them halfway as they come down. The son is about twelve, but he’s clearly already commando-trained. I ask how long it takes to reach the top; they answer seven minutes, and I realise it won’t be so easy (especially in flip-flops).

At the top, no more red arrows, nor any kind of path. I follow my instinct, end up crossing some cows, then a trail that drops into a second valley.

When, opportunistically, I cheat a little bit

I keep going and come across locals collecting wood. They ask what I’m doing there and where I’m going. One of them laughs and says this is indeed the way — and that I could even reach Kelingking and Tembeling if I walked further. Taking pity on me, he takes me by the hand — literally — leads me along the trail to the little road where he parked his scooter, and doesn’t let go until his son arrives. I can’t say no: his son drives me by scooter to Angel’s Billabong. So, one hour after leaving Crystal Bay, I reach Angel’s Billabong. Along the way we pass tourists on scooters whose faces express pure pain — they already know the ride back will be a nightmare.

Reaching Broken Beach

Angel’s Billabong in the late afternoon is in the shade — maybe not the best time to go. But Broken Beach is still lit up and, rare thing, there’s no one left. It takes me two years back, to when there were no tourists on the island. The shops are still open, so it’s time to regain strength with a coconut and some fried bananas.

Walking back from Broken Beach to Crystal Bay

Google Maps is my friend — at least it tells me where I am on the map of Nusa Penida. The start is quite easy: you walk along the cliffs, the views are superb, the terrain is flat and there’s even a small path. I cover a good distance in 15 minutes, meet cows again, and all is well.

Then it gets a bit tricky

The trails generally lead to the sea — traced by anglers, and most often dead ends, so you go by guesswork. The one piece of advice I can give, if you don’t have a guide, is to aim for Pura Poh Gading temple. It’s not especially beautiful, but it sits on the right path back to Crystal Bay.

I ran into another local who waved at me to say I couldn’t walk back to Crystal Bay — but who calmed down when I told him I wanted to reach Puyung Beach. From there, I knew I could get to Crystal Bay. The only question was whether I’d make it home before dark…

The sunset was magnificent, but there was still a long way to go. I found the spot where the woodcutter had held my hand, climbed back up the hill overhanging Padang Beach, and found a small path down into the valley. Once in the valley, though, a small moment of panic: no more trail, no more light, dense vegetation, and I’d cut my foot on a rock (thanks, flip-flops). I guided myself by the sound of the waves and reached the beach, beautiful at dusk.

After that, it was a piece of cake: a few panoramic photos, the staircase up to Crystal Bay, and back before nightfall. Walk back: 1h40. Those who said between one and two hours weren’t so wrong after all!

Tips for walking from Crystal Bay to Broken Beach

1. Stick to the main, newly developed path (2026) — it’s hard to get lost now, but a guide still helps if you want to branch off toward Kelingking or Tembeling.
2. Wear real shoes — and ideally long trousers rather than flip-flops and shorts. There’s real elevation.
3. Set off before 3 p.m., or early in the morning, to avoid finishing in the dark.
4. Bring water and cover your head if you go in the heat of the day.

My phone told me I’d walked 10.7 kilometres, taken 15,310 steps and climbed the equivalent of 96 floors — and I did a quarter of the way by scooter! Nice walk, hike or obstacle course — I’ll let you judge. But it remains a great memory among all the wonderful things I’ve done in Nusa Penida.

Crystal Bay to Broken Beach hike FAQ

How long does the Crystal Bay to Broken Beach hike take?

Allow roughly 1.5 to 2 hours each way on foot. The full out-and-back is around 10 km with real elevation, so plan most of a half-day — and set off early enough to finish before dark.

Is the hike hard, and can you still get lost?

It’s much easier than it used to be. As of 2026 the trail has been developed (partly cut into the rock), so it’s hard to get lost if you follow the main path — from Pandan Beach it’s about 5 km of wide track. It’s still a proper hike with climbs, so come prepared.

What should you wear and bring?

Real walking shoes (not flip-flops), water, a hat and sunscreen. Long trousers help with the brush in places. Set off before 3 p.m. or early in the morning.

Do you need a guide?

Less than before, now that the main path is developed. A guide is still useful if you want to link the walk to Kelingking or Tembeling, or simply to relax and enjoy the scenery without watching the route.

How far is Kelingking Beach from Broken Beach?

Kelingking and Broken Beach are both on the south-west coast and only about 15 minutes apart by scooter. On foot, the same clifftop trail network links them — ask a guide if you want to walk between the two.