I bet you’ve seen thousands of pictures already from this T-Rex-shaped cliff on Instagram. No wonder 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!
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!
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Table of Contents
How to Get to Kelingking Beach
Kelingking Beach is located on the southwest 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.
The easiest way to get around Nusa Penida is to rent a scooter at the harbor. They usually cost around 75,000 IDR ($5 US) for a day. Although be prepared for a very bumpy ride! The roads on Nusa Penida are in 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 choose SafetyWing and I can honestly recommend them! You can use the below form to get a quotation tailor-made to your own travel preferences.
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 air-con is a huge advantage too!
When to Visit Kelingking Beach
As the most famous spot on Nusa Penida, Kelingking beach is a part of every organized day tour. 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 4 pm). 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 10,000 IDR ($0.7 US) 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 flip-flops 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 an option here. But at least the view is really one of a kind!
How to Get to Nusa Penida
From Bali
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 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 US depending on which company you choose. Taking a fast boat to Nusa Penida is usually the most popular choice because the boat ride only takes like 45 minutes in total.
The boats usually arrive at Toya Pakeh Harbour on the northwest 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
To get 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 100,000 IDR ($6.5 US) 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 in Nusa Penida from budget hostels to luxury villas. They are mostly located on the northwest part of the island and that’s also the area I recommend staying at.
Below you can find my top recommendations for staying in Nusa Penida.
LUXURY – Adiwana Warnakali Resort
Adiwana Warnakali Resort in Nusa Penida provides adults-only accommodation with a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and a bar. Each accommodation at the 4-star resort has mountain views, and guests can enjoy access to a sun terrace.
MID-RANGE – 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. Enjoying island tranquility, the well-appointed and elegantly decorated suites in Semabu Hills Hotel Nusa Penida offer sea and garden views.
BUDGET – Surya Maha Bungallo
For a budget-friendly stay on Nusa Penida, take a look at Surya Maha Bungallo. Boasting a lush garden with a stunning outdoor pool, the property offers double or twin rooms either with a garden or pool view. A daily continental breakfast is also available.
Final Thoughts
Kelingking Beach is definitely one of the best places to visit on Nusa Penida. 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 seen this famous T-Rex Beach already or is it still on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments!
xoxo, Kriszti
Related Posts
The Perfect Nusa Islands Itinerary for 3 Days
The Ultimate Guide to Peguyangan Waterfall
The Ultimate Bali Travel Guide for First Timers
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