Suwehan Beach Nusa Penida: Wild Hidden Beach Guide (2026)

Suwehan Beach is one of those very beautiful beaches of Nusa Penida that still feels quite wild. It is now fairly easy to reach thanks to a solid staircase — the walk down (about 400 steps) takes less than twenty minutes. It sits close to Atuh Beach, so it’s a great idea to combine both beaches in the same tour. It’s one of my favourite places in Nusa Penida.

What is the best time to go to Suwehan Beach?

It is better to arrive at Suwehan Beach before noon. The beach faces east and lies right at the foot of an impressive cliff, so in the afternoon it falls into the shadow of the cliff. Swimming is less pleasant then, and the light is not as good for photos. Try also to avoid high tide, because the beach becomes much smaller — or disappears altogether — and you won’t be able to photograph the rock in the middle of the bay. There is no particular best month: just check the tide before you go.

And close your backpack properly. During my last visit a wave, stronger than the others, rebounded off a rock and — as improbable as it sounds — completely filled the pocket holding my phone. I only noticed 30 minutes later, and the phone was dead…

Here are the tide times for Nusa Penida.

Aerial drone view of Suwehan Beach and its white-sand cove at the foot of a tall cliff, Nusa Penida — Suwehan Beach from above — the cove sits at the foot of a tall cliff on the east coast of Nusa Penida.

How to fly a drone at Suwehan Beach?

If you have a drone, it is better to launch it from the top of the cliff, because down on the beach the GPS signal can be weaker. With no GPS lock, losing the connection means you could lose the drone altogether — into the sea or against the cliff.

The owners of the small warung at the end of the road are lovely. They will point you to a viewpoint with a great view from the top of the cliff, where three bungalows were recently built. You can take cool photos from there and fly your drone safely. After hiking down to Suwehan Beach and back up, you can grab a drink or some simple food at the warung. They are at the very end of the world (of Nusa Penida) and deserve a little support!

Drone view of Suwehan Beach's turquoise bay and the rock standing in the white sand, Nusa Penida — The famous rock in the middle of Suwehan’s bay — best reached and photographed at low tide.

Down to Suwehan Beach

Once you have hiked down to Suwehan Beach, the views are breathtaking. At the bottom of the staircase you get a first overview of the beach, and in the distance you can see the rocks that stand in front of Atuh Beach.

But to get the beautiful view of the rock sitting in the middle of the bay, you have to walk to the far end of the beach. That’s another reason to avoid high tide: you may not be able to reach the sand in front of this rock.

And at low tide you’ll often have your own private white-sand beach, with probably no one else to share it with!

There are about 400 steps between the beach and the temple where you park your scooter — they are in good condition, and the climb back up takes around twenty minutes.

The concrete staircase of about 400 steps descending the cliff to Suwehan Beach, Nusa Penida — The ~400 steps down to Suwehan — in good condition, about twenty minutes each way.

How to get to Suwehan Beach

Since the main road through the interior of Nusa Penida was rebuilt, getting to Suwehan Beach is pretty easy, and most of the road network in the north of the island has now been asphalted too. Count about one hour by scooter on renovated roads, wherever you come from. The easiest way is to download Google Maps offline and follow the directions. Before you set off, have a look at our itineraries for Nusa Penida and at how to get around the island safely.

The road is very steep for the last few kilometres, so make sure your scooter has good brakes. The last time I went, in January 2024, my brakes weren’t strong enough to stop before a very tight bend and I ended up in the bushes, ten metres off the road…

Scooter that slid off the steep road to Suwehan Beach into the roadside bushes, Nusa Penida — The descent to Suwehan is steep — check your brakes. My scooter after a tight bend, January 2024.

If you visit Atuh Beach first, it’s best to take the road along the north coast of Nusa Penida, then come back via the brand-new inner road, which offers some lovely viewpoints — for example at Teletubbies Hill. There are many ways to combine Suwehan Beach with other sights; here are some ideas for tours around Nusa Penida.

Traveller standing on the empty white sand of Suwehan Beach with the cliff rising behind, Nusa Penida — Wild white sand at the foot of the cliff — Suwehan often feels like a private beach.

How do you get from Bali to Suwehan Beach?

You’ll find everything about reaching Nusa Penida from Bali — which port to choose in Bali and on Nusa Penida, how to pick the best fast boat, plus all timetables and prices — in our guide on how to get to Nusa Penida from Bali.

The clifftop trail and warung at the start of the walk down to Suwehan Beach, Nusa Penida — The clifftop start of the walk down to Suwehan Beach.

Wide panorama of Suwehan Beach, its towering cliff and the rock standing in the bay, Nusa Penida — Suwehan Beach panorama — cliff, white sand and the bay’s signature rock.

Suwehan Beach FAQ

Is Suwehan Beach worth visiting?

Yes — Suwehan is one of the wildest and most beautiful beaches in Nusa Penida. You descend about 400 steps to a white-sand cove beneath a tall cliff, with a striking rock standing in the bay. At low tide you’ll often have it almost to yourself, which is rare on the island.

Can you swim at Suwehan Beach?

You can swim, but be careful: it’s an open ocean beach with no lifeguard, and the waves and current can be strong. Stay close to shore, keep an eye on the sets, and avoid going in at high tide. Morning, at lower tide, is both the safest and the prettiest time.

How many steps are there at Suwehan Beach?

About 400 steps lead from the clifftop temple (where you park) down to the beach. They are in good condition, and the walk takes less than twenty minutes down — a little more on the way back up.

Is there an entrance or parking fee at Suwehan Beach?

There is no paid parking or entrance fee at Suwehan Beach. There’s just a small warung at the top of the cliff where you can park and grab a drink or simple food — supporting them is a nice gesture.

What is the best time to visit Suwehan Beach?

Go in the morning, before noon, and at low tide. The beach faces east and falls into the cliff’s shadow in the afternoon, and high tide can leave little or no sand. There’s no single best month — the key is simply to check the tide for the day of your visit.

How do you combine Suwehan Beach and Atuh Beach?

Suwehan and Atuh Beach are very close on the east coast, so they’re easy to visit on the same day. A good loop is to take the north-coast road to Atuh first, then return through the new inner road past the Teletubbies viewpoint.

Additional resources

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