Indonesia

15 Best Cafes in Canggu, Bali – Canggu Foodie Guide

Canggu is a little coastal town in the southern part of Bali, near Seminyak. It hasn’t been on the tourist map for long but in the recent years it has quickly become one of the most popular areas amongst digital nomads and beach lovers. As Canggu started to receive more attention, more and more cafes and restaurants started to open up, transforming this little town into a real foodie heaven. In this post I collected the best cafes in Canggu that need to be on every food lover’s list!

If you’re planning to visit Bali for the first time you might be interested in my Ultimate Bali Travel Guide as well. It was written specifically for first-timers and it’s loaded with useful information about Bali like where to stay, how to get around and what to do!

Disclosure: *This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.*

Best cafes in Canggu

I’m a real foodie myself so trying out a new cafe every day was one of my favorite things to do in Canggu. Since we’ve spent 10 days in this cute little town we were able to discover some of the best cafes in Canggu and I got to tell you, I’ve never seen so many amazing places in one spot! We tried all the below mentioned cafes personally and since I’m a vegetarian, all of the cafes in this post offer many vegetarian/vegan options as well.

Tipping is not common in Bali, however almost every cafe charges 10% government tax and 6% service charge on top of their listed prices (this is always marked on the menu, if they do so). Although many cafes accept credit card payment now, there are still a few where you can only pay with cash. Therefore it’s useful to always have some cash in your wallet!

1. Cafe Organic

Address: Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong No. 58, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 6pm

Website: https://cafeorganic.co

Instagram: @cafeorganicbali

Cafe Organic was one of the first plant-based restaurants in Bali and it’s still one of the best cafes in Canggu to this day. The whole place has a relaxed and chill vibe both outside and inside, therefore it’s a perfect place for digital nomads as well. The staff is always nice and friendly and the menu is full of nutritious and organic vegetarian/vegan meals. We loved this cafe so much we’ve been there three times in 10 days!

Favourite dishes: Smashed Avo, Chocotella & Cashew Butter Toast

2. The Avocado Factory

Address: Jl. Tanah Barak No. 52, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 5pm

Website: https://www.theavocadofactory.com

Instagram: @theavocadofactory

If you’re also obsessed with avocado like I am, this cafe will be a heaven for you! As the name suggests, you will find countless delicious meals with avocado on the menu. Don’t worry, if you are not a fan of this green yumminess you will still find plenty of options to choose from! The Avocado Factory can be a great choice for both carnivores and vegetarians as their menu caters for everyone. Oh, and they make the cutest latte art on your cappuccino as well!

Favourite dishes: Avo Cheese Croissant XL, Tropical Booster Smoothie Bowl

3. The Loft

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 50A, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 6.30am – 10pm

Website: https://www.theloftbali.com

Instagram: @theloftbali

We practically lived next to The Loft in Canggu, therefore we visited this amazing place multiple times. After trying various meals from their menu I can safely say that The Loft is definitely one of the best cafes in Canggu!

Although they have a spacious catering area on the ground floor, it usually fills up quickly so it’s better to go early in the morning or outside the busy hours. While this area is quite lively, they have a smaller air-conditioned area upstairs which is perfect for working a few hours (although this area is closed after 5pm).

While they have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes on their menu, some of their meals are completely vegan. It’s definitely a place where everyone will find their favourite type of food. Don’t forget to try their raw vegan desserts, these are seriously one of the bests I’ve ever eaten!

Favourite dishes: The Loft Waffles, Hummus Bowl, Falafel Salad Bowl, Snickers Raw Cake

4. I Am Vegan Babe

Address: Jl. Tanah Barak No. 49, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 4.30pm

Instagram: @iamveganbabe

As the name suggests, I Am Vegan Babe is a fully plant-based cafe with the most delicious vegan food I’ve ever eaten in my whole life. Seriously, even my carnivore boyfriend loved having breakfast there! The menu mainly contains savoury dishes like quesadillas, tacos, sandwiches and burritos, but there is no shortage of sweets like pancakes or waffles either.

Favourite dishes: Hello Babe Waffles, Morning Toast A La Mexicana

5. The Shady Shack

Address: Jl. Tanah Barak No. 57, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 9pm

Instagram: @theshadyshack

If you’re a true veggie lover, The Shady Shack is definitely your place! This cafe is completely meat-free and their meals are not only super beautiful, but healthy and delicious as well. They have an inside seating area which can be perfect if you’re looking for a place to work or you can choose to sit at the lush green outside terrace. If you love coffee, ask for a cappuccino and be amazed by their beautiful latte art!

Favourite dishes: Lost Paradise Smoothie Bowl, Banana Oats

6. Betelnut Cafe

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 60, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7.30am – 10pm

Instagram: @betelnutcafe

We accidentally stumbled upon Betelnut Cafe and I’m so glad we did! Not only the food is delicious, but it’s one of the most affordable cafes in Canggu as well. It’s actually the sister cafe of The Shady Shack and it totally lives up to the expectation. They have a small, air-conditioned room on the ground level and a much larger open-air area on the second level, overlooking the rice terraces.

Favourite dishes: Mango Smoothie Bowl, Mexicana Breakfast Wrap

7. Matcha Cafe

Address: Jl. Pantai Berawa No. 99, Tibubeneng

Opening hours: Daily, 7.30am – 7pm

Website: https://www.matchacafebali.com

Instagram: @matchacafebali

I’ll be honest with you, I had a love-hate relationship with matcha for a very long time. But since it has many well-known health benefits I kept trying until I absolutely fell in love with matcha latte in one of the cute cafes in Chiang Mai.

If you’re a matcha lover too, you definitely need to put Matcha Cafe on your radar! Apart from the endless line of organic matcha green tea beverages, you will find many matcha based foods on the menu as well. Think about matcha pancakes. Matcha smoothie bowls. Matcha Tiramisu. Mmm, love them so matcha! On top of that, since Matcha cafe has a quiet and cozy vibe it was one of our favourite places to work as well.

Favourite dishes: Matcha Protein Pancakes, Matcha Acai Superfood, Matcha Latte

8. Monsieur Spoon

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 55, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 6.30am – 9pm

Website: http://www.monsieurspoon.com

Instagram: @monsieurspoon

Although Bali is mostly famous for its smoothie bowls and avocado toasts, you can find some great bakeries around as well. If you’re craving for a real French pastry, Monsieur Spoon is your spot! Their croissant is just so heavenly, I swear it was even better than the ones I had in Paris (sorry, French folks!). The whole cafe has a cozy, relaxed vibe and there is also a spacious terrace outside if you’re longing for fresh air. It’s perfect for digital nomads as well!

Favourite dishes: Croissant with strawberry jam, Chocolatine

9. Milk & Madu

Address: Jl. Pantai Berawa No. 52, Tibubeneng

Opening hours: Daily, 7.30am – 10pm

Website: http://www.milkandmadu.com

Instagram: @milkandmadu

Although Milk & Madu has a spacious seating area, since it’s one of the most popular cafes in Canggu it’s almost always crowded. But don’t let that scare you off as their food is so worth the wait! They are open all day long so you can choose to have either breakfast, lunch or dinner at their place.

We went there for dinner and they had a 2 for 1 special offer for pizzas so we ended up having our cheapest and one of the most delicious dinners we’ve ever had in Canggu. If you’re looking for the best cafes in Ubud, keep your eyes open for Milk & Madu because they have another location in Ubud as well!

Favourite dishes: Pumpkin Pie Pizza, Byron Bowl

10. The Lawn

Address: Jl. Pura Dalem, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 12pm – 11pm

Website: https://thelawncanggu.com

Instagram: @thelawncanggu

Have you ever really been to Canggu if you haven’t been to The Lawn? This popular beach lounge is definitely one of the most iconic places in Canggu and you absolutely need to check it out for yourself! Featuring a cozy inner seating area, a spacious outside terrace with boho umbrellas and a shimmering infinity pool overlooking the ocean, The Lawn not only provides delicious food and drinks on their menu but grants a whole day of fun for everyone. Unfortunately we only tried some of their drinks but since every dish looked totally mouthwatering, I’m sure they are delicious as well!

11. CRATE Cafe

Address: Jl. Canggu Padang Linjong, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 6am – 6pm

Website: http://lifescrate.com

Instagram: @cratecafe

The industrial-looking, hipster CRATE Cafe is so much more than a regular cafe: they also have a concept store, a gallery and they regularly host interesting events. It’s definitely one of the most popular cafes in Canggu, we even had to come back here because there were no free tables at the first time!

If you’re looking for a lively and buzzing place with good music and good food, CRATE Cafe is your place. Not only their food is super yummi, they are also budget-friendly, especially compared to the prices of the other cafes in Canggu.

Favourite dishes: Brekkie 2 GoGo Smoothie Bowl, Black Out Smoothie Bowl

12. Cafe Vida

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 38A, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 10.30pm

Website: https://cafe-vida-bali.business.site

Instagram: @cafe_vida_bali

We stumbled upon Cafe Vida by accident, after we didn’t find any free tables at CRATE Cafe. This cute little cafe is actually taking place inside a traditional Balinese compound so the authentic Bali vibes are guaranteed. If you love beautifully decorated smoothie bowls (and who doesn’t?!) you will love this place! Each and every bowl is a true masterpiece (just look at my photo below or scroll through their Instagram). Oh, and the home-made cakes and cookies look so amazing too!

Favourite dishes: Amazon Acai Smoothie Bowl, Avocado Pesto Toast

13. Motion Cafe

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 69B, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 9pm

Website: https://www.motionfitnessbali.com/food/

Instagram: @motioncafe

Whether you are following a paleo lifestlye, a ketogen or a raw vegan diet, you will definitely find your favourite fitness food at Motion Cafe. Apart from healthy meals and big salad bowls, Motion Cafe also offers various fresh and natural juices, delicious shakes and sugar-free sweets.

Favourite dishes: Sweet Potato Waffles with Chocolate Spread and Banana, Sweet Potato Salad

14. The Common Cafe

Address: Pantai Batu Bolong St No. 65, Canggu

Opening hours: Daily, 6am – 10pm

Website: https://www.thecommonbali.com

Instagram: @thecommonbali

If you loved Milk & Madu, you definitely need to put The Common Cafe on your list as well! Both of them are operated by the same group (The Good Food Brotherhood) and let me tell you in advance, this little cafe lives up to all the high expectations. Their menu caters for everyone as apart from the juicy burgers and burritos they also offer plenty of vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options.

Favourite dishes: The Commoners Bowl, Chipotle Chicken Burrito

15. Cabina Bali

Address: Jl. Batu Belig Gg. Daksina No. 1, Kerobokan Kelod

Opening hours: Daily, 8am – 9pm

Website: https://www.cabinabali.com

Instagram: @cabinabali

No Bali trip is ever complete without having a fancy tropical floating breakfast, am I right? Although many luxury hotels offer a floating breakfast, if you don’t want to spend a fortune on accommodation just to have this experience, Cabina Bali is your place! They open every day from 8am and I strongly advise you to go early and even reserve your spot in advance because it gets crazy crowded during the day. Unfortunately it’s quite pricy but believe me, this experience was worth every penny!

Favourite dishes: The Tropical Power Bowl, Tropical Pancakes

+1: Kynd Community

Address: Jalan Petitenget No. 12 Kerobokan Kelod, Seminyak

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 11pm

Website: https://www.kyndcommunity.com

Instagram: @kyndcommunity

Okay, the Kynd Community is technically not in Canggu as it is located in Seminyak. But since it’s so close to Canggu and given the fact it’s one of my favourite cafes in Bali I just simply couldn’t leave it out from this list. They are only serving 100% plant-based food and not only their meals are super delicious, the pinkish chic and boho design easily makes this cute cafe one of the most instagrammable places in Bali as well!

Favourite dishes: Acai Bowl, Leo Gourmet Toast

Best cafes in Canggu - Map

In the below map I collected all the best cafes in Canggu for you. You just have to click on the bracket in the upper right corner and it will open it up on your phone. Super convenient, right?

Where to stay in Canggu

Since the main area of Canggu can be found around the Jl. Batu Bolong if you’re visiting for the first time I would recommend to stay at this area. Batu Bolong is a lively neighborhood within walking distance of the beach so it’s perfect for experiencing the authentic Canggu vibes. On top of that, almost all the above mentioned cafes are located here so if you’re also a foodie, you will love this area!

You can check all the accommodations on the below map or if you’re not in the mood for searching, just look at my recommendations below.

Booking.com

*Please note that the below mentioned rates are calculated for 2 people and they are based on my independent research at the time of writing. Therefore I can not guarantee this rate in any way.*

LUXURY – COMO Uma Canggu

COMO Uma Canggu features offers panoramic beach view as it’s only a few steps from Echo Beach and around 500 m from Batu Bolong Beach. Guests can chill out in the outdoor swimming pool.

Room rates start from 222 USD per night including breakfast – BOOK HERE!

MID-RANGE – Canggu Beach Apartments

Offering accommodations with air conditioning, Canggu Beach Apartments is set in Canggu, 300 m from Batu Bolong Beach. Canggu Beach Apartments also includes a 14 m outdoor pool and a tropical garden.

Room rates start from 78 USD per night – BOOK HERE!

BUDGET – Canggu Bagus

Canggu Bagus is set in Canggu and offers air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms. At the guest house, every room comes with a terrace with direct access to the outdoor pool.

Room rates start from 27 USD per night – BOOK HERE!

Final thoughts

Canggu is a real foodie heaven. After reading through this article and seeing all these mouthwatering food photos I think we can all agree on that! I hope you liked this post about the best cafes in Canggu and you will be able to visit at least a few of them if you’re traveling to Bali!

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email, I always love helping you out! Do you know some other great cafes in Canggu? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo, Kriszti

What camera gear do we use?

Camera body: Sony Alpha 7 III
Standard zoom lens: TAMRON 28-75 mm f/2.8
Wide angle lens: Sony FE 16-35mm f/4
Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Pro
GoPro: GoPro Hero 7
Camera Bag: Peak Design Everyday Backpack 30L
Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action

If you want to read more about what is in our camera bag, check out my detailed post about our travel photography gear!

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A Complete Guide to Visiting Peguyangan Waterfall, Nusa Penida

Unlike Kelingking beach, Peguyangan Waterfall is not so popular amongst tourists visiting Nusa Penida. However if you love off the beaten path places, I totally recommend checking it out! I was so obsessed with those iconic blue stairs ever since I saw them on Instagram, so it was no question that I will include it in my Nusa Islands itinerary. If you’re planning on doing the same, I got your back! I put together a complete guide about everything you need to know before visiting Peguyangan Waterfall!

Disclosure: *This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.*

How to get to Peguyangan Waterfall

Peguyangan Waterfall (referred as Mata Air Guyangan by the locals) is located on the southern coast of Nusa Penida. The nearby attractions are the Tembeling Beach and the Banah Cliff Point on the east and the Manta Point on the west.

The easiest way to get around Nusa Penida is to rent a scooter at the harbour. They usually cost around 75k Rp (6 USD) for a day. Although be prepared for a very bumpy ride! The roads on Nusa Penida are in a really bad condition with many potholes so they can be very dangerous.

If you’re planning to rent a scooter (and even if you don’t) please don’t forget about travel insurance! Unfortunately accidents can happen anytime and it’s better to be prepared for that. After many hours of research I decided to chose SafetyWing and I can honestly recommend them! You can use the below form to get a quotation tailor-made to your own travel preferances.

If you don’t have experience in scooter riding I would recommend hiring a private driver or opting for an organized tour. Traveling in a car is not comfortable either, but at least you don’t have to worry about the road conditions. And having a seatbelt together with airco is a huge advantage too!

When to visit Peguyangan Waterfall

Since Peguyangan waterfall is not so insta-famous yet you don’t need to worry about the crowd. Therefore you can basically visit any time of the day! However it requires an intense climbing to reach it from the parking lot (more about this later) so it’s better to do it in the morning when the weather is not so hot.

What to expect at Peguyangan Waterfall

Arriving to the entrance

There is no entrance fee for visiting Peguyangan Waterfall, however you have to pay 5k Rp (0.4 USD) for parking. Once you parked with your scooter/car you will see a little arch in the end of the road that marks the entrance to Peguyangan Waterfall.

You will also find a small restaurant right in front of the entrance selling food and drinks. In case your forgot to bring some water definitely buy some at the restaurant! Trust me, you’re gonna need it later.

At the bottom of the stairs there is a sacred temple so you are required to wear a sarong. If you don’t have your own, you can rent it at the entrance for 10k Rp (0.7 USD). It can be hard to climb the stairs wearing a sarong but you can take it off during the climb and put it back on when you reach the temple at the bottom.

It’s important to know that although this place is called Peguyangan Waterfall, you will not find any real waterfall at there. I will tell you more about it later!

Going down on the stairway

As I mentioned before, a little arch marks the entrance to Peguyangan waterfall and right after you cross it you will see the iconic blue stairway going all the way down along the cliffs. In order to reach the bottom where the temple and the “waterfall” is, you have to hike down almost 700 stairs on the hillside. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted!

The stairs are incredibly small and there are large gaps between them so you need to watch your steps! But apart from that, the walk down is not dangerous at all. I would recommend wearing comfy shoes for your own safety but I personally did it in sandals and there was nothing wrong with that either.

It takes like 20-30 minutes until you reach the bottom. Although it can take a lot longer if you constantly stop for photos like I did! The view is absolutely beautiful during the hike, the scenery is just breathtaking. Just look at the below photos and see for yourself!

What is at the bottom of Peguyangan Waterfall?

If you were expecting a gorgeous waterfall at the bottom, you will be disappointed! Despite the fact the place is called Peguyangan waterfall there is no waterfall at all. At least not what you would expect.

There are three little spouts marking the entrance to the sacred temple where the locals usually perform water blessings. Don’t expect a big building though, the temple is just a simple gate with a small outside area behind it.

Balinese people believe that if they take a shower under all of the spouts their spirit will be cleaned from evil. First they have to shower under the tree little spouts that marks the entrance. There is a fourth, bigger spout as well and they have to finish the ceremony under it in order to receive the blessings from the Gods. If you are interested, you can perform the ritual yourself as well!

There is a small natural rock pool where you can take a dip in the water and admire the huge waves crashing into the cliffs. Watch out for the signs though, if it say “No swimming”, don’t get in the pool!

After you’ve seen everything at the bottom and soaked in the view, it’s time to head back. You need to take the same stairway you used for getting down. Unfortunately hiking up is a lot harder so don’t rush, take your time and don’t forget to admire the views along the way once again!

How to get to Nusa Penida

From Bali

In order to get to Nusa Penida you have to catch a boat at Sanur harbour. Whenever I’m in Asia I always book my transportation tickets via 12Go Asia. Their website is super easy to use, you just have to type in your origin and your destination and it collects you all the available transportation methods.

For instance you just have to click ‘Find tickets’ in the below widget and you can instantly see all the options for traveling to Nusa Penida from Bali! Super convenient, right?

Many different companies offer boats from Bali to Nusa Penida, ticket prices vary between 11-16 USD depending on which company you choose. The boat ride takes like 45 minutes in total and it will take you to Toya Pakeh Harbour in the north-west side of Nusa Penida.

If you only want to visit Nusa Penida as a day trip from Bali the best is to book an organized tour. This way you can enjoy your full day without having to stress about boat schedules and how to get around the island by yourself.

From Nusa Lembongan/Nusa Ceningan

In order to go to Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan, you have to reach the Yellow Bridge. You will find many local boats around the bridge on the Lembongan side that will take you to Nusa Penida.

There is an official ticket desk where you can purchase your tickets. The ticket price is 60k Rp (4.2 USD) for one way per person. The boat doesn’t have a fixed timetable, it will depart once it’s full with passengers. It takes around 15 minutes to reach Nusa Penida and you will arrive at Toya Pakeh Harbour.

Where to stay on Nusa Penida

You can find many types of accommodation on Nusa Penida from budget hostels to luxury villas. They are mostly located on the North-West part of the island and that’s also the area I recommend staying at.

Booking.com

*Please note that the below mentioned rates are calculated for 2 people and they are based on my independent research at the time of writing. Therefore I can not guarantee this rate in any way.*

Toya Pakeh Harbour

All boats arrive and depart from this harbour so it’s a good place to stay close to. You can find many hotel/hostels options to choose from and there are plenty of restaurant in the area too. If you’re traveling with a bigger luggage it’s also a good choice because you can leave your luggage at the hotel on your last day and you can pick it up right before boarding the boat back to Bali.

LUXURY – Semabu Hills Hotel Nusa Penida

Perched on the quiet hills of Nusa Penida, this hotel offers sweeping views of the island and the sea beyond. Guests can relax in the infinity pool or sample fine cuisines at the on-site Asian restaurant.

Room rates start from 99 USD per night including breakfast – BOOK HERE!

MID-RANGE – Saka Boutique Hotel

Featuring an outdoor swimming pool, garden and views of pool, Saka Boutique Hotel is set in Nusa Penida, 400 m from Toyapakeh Beach.

Room rates start from 40 USD per night – BOOK HERE!

BUDGET – Happy Penida Hostel

Situated in Nusa Penida, within 300 m of Toyapakeh Beach and 650 m of Nusapenida White Sand Beach, Happy Penida Hostel features accommodation with a garden and free WiFi throughout the property.

Beds for 2 people start from 14 USD per night – BOOK HERE!

Crystal Bay

If you prefer to stay close to the beach Crystal Bay is the perfect choice for you. This beautiful white sandy beach with its crystal clear water is definitely a winner for beach lovers!

LUXURY – Mahaloka Valley

Set in Nusa Penida, 800 m from Crystal Bay Beach, Mahaloka Valley offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a bar.

Room rates start from 80 USD per night including breakfast – BOOK HERE!

MID-RANGE – Puri Yalus Bungalow

Set in Nusa Penida, 500 m from Crystal Bay Beach, Puri Yalus Bungalow offers accommodation with a garden, free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and room service.

Room rates start from 36 USD per night including breakfast – BOOK HERE!

BUDGET – D’Lebah Homestay

Offering a garden and garden view, D’Lebah Homestay is set in Nusa Penida, 550 m from Crystal Bay Beach. This place also offers complimentary WiFi and private parking.

Room rates start from 24 USD per night including breakfast – BOOK HERE!

Atuh Beach

I know I said that staying on the North-West part of the island is the most practical choice. However if you want to be away from the other tourists and you would like to stay in a more secluded place I recommend staying around Atuh Beach. This part of the island is still not so popular amongst tourists but it looks absolutely breathtaking. There are not so many places to choose from and you will not find any luxury hotels either.

MID-RANGE – Rumah Pohon Tree House

These little tree houses offer an amazing view over the Thousand Islands Viewpoint in the eastern side of Nusa Penida. Definitely the most unique place to stay on the island!

Room rates start from 40 USD per night – BOOK HERE!

BUDGET – Lempeh Jungle Cottage

Located a few meters from Atuh Beach and Diamond Beach, Lempeh Jungle Cottage offers cute little cottages with terraces.

Room rates start from 28 USD per night including breakfast – BOOK HERE!

Final thoughts

Although Peguyangan Waterfall is not so popular amongst tourist, I would still recommend you to visit this place! The views are just breathtaking. It doesn’t matter if you are taking a day trip from Bali or you’re spending a few days on the Nusa Islands – you need to see this place with your own eyes!

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email, I always love helping you out! Have you already visited Peguyangan waterfall or did I inspire you to put it on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo, Kriszti

What camera gear do we use?

Camera body: Sony Alpha 7 III
Standard zoom lens: TAMRON 28-75 mm f/2.8
Wide angle lens: Sony FE 16-35mm f/4
Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Pro
GoPro: GoPro Hero 7
Camera Bag: Peak Design Everyday Backpack 30L
Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action

If you want to read more about what is in our camera bag, check out my detailed post about our travel photography gear!

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A Complete Guide to Visiting Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida

I bet you’ve seen thousands pictures already from this T-Rex shaped cliff on Instagram. No wonder that Kelingking Beach has quickly become the most famous spot in Nusa Penida – just look at this view! Visiting this place is a real must have on your Nusa Islands itinerary. Therefore I put together a complete guide for you, so here is everything you need to know about Kelingking Beach!

Disclosure: *This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.*

How to get to Kelingking Beach

Kelingking Beach is located on the south-west coast of Nusa Penida. The nearby attractions are the Angel’s Billabong and Broken beach on the east and the Banah Cliff point on the west.

When to visit Kelingking Beach

As the most famous spot on Nusa Penida, Kelingking beach is a part of every organized day tours. Since this is usually the main attraction it can get really crowded during the day.

If you want to avoid the crowds, try to visit outside the operating hours of the tours. That means either early in the morning (the first tour arrives around 9 am) or late afternoon when most of the tours are already finished (after 4pm). Sunset is another great time for visiting as the spot will be almost empty and the lights at sunset are always fascinating!

What to expect at Kelingking Beach

Kelingking beach was only discovered in 2003 by a few backpackers who traveled through Nusa Penida. The place was still untouched back then but since it became more and more popular they started to build out the area. However the whole island is still undeveloped compared to Bali so don’t expect perfect pathways or fancy restaurants.

After you parked your scooter/car you need to pay a small entrance fee of 10k Rp (0.7 USD) per person to access Kelingking Beach. There is a built concrete platform not far away from the parking lot from where you can safely enjoy the breathtaking view.

Fun fact: Kelingking means “Pinkie” in English, as the smallest finger on the hand. I’m not so sure why did they come up with that name because the shape of the cliff rather looks like a T-Rex than a little finger.

Getting down to the beach

Although the view from the top is jawdropping, you can decide to hike down to the beach as well. If you wish to do that, be prepared for a really hard hike! First you have to hike down on the spine of the T-Rex and then venture all the way down to the beach.

The pictures in this article were taken at the end of 2018 when there were no real stairs to the beach. There were only some hand-made bamboo stairs and railings but they were not very well maintained. Luckily they decided to build a normal stairway so it’s much safer to hike down now but the whole path is still very steep. Please be super careful and only do it at your own risk!

With that being said, unfortunately visiting the beach is not for everyone. If you have heart problems or you are generally not that fit it’s best to find another beach to swim at. It takes around an hour to get down to the beach and it’s not even the hardest part. Getting back up is the real challenge! It can easily take up to 2-3 hours depending on your fitness level.

Oh and one more thing: don’t even think about hiking down in flipflops or sandals! It’s really challenging even in proper shoes so please take it seriously!

If you manage to hike all the way down to the bottom you will be rewarded with an incredible white sandy beach and turquoise water. However the waves are usually very strong and unpredictable so swimming is not really option here. But at least the view is really one of a kind!