Paluang Cliff is a wonderful spot for nature lovers to enjoy epic ocean views and to see the coastline of Nusa Penida in all its glory.
It’s one of our favourite spots when we visit the Nusa Islands and our guide to Paluang Cliff will share everything you need to know to have a great time there.
Where Is Paluang Cliff?
Paluang Cliff is on the island of Nusa Penida, one of the three Nusa Islands (Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan are the other two) that lie off the coast of the main island of Bali.
The address is: Bunga Mekar, Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia. It’s easy to find on a Google Map but make sure you have offline access to the map as the island doesn’t have perfect cell coverage.
How To Get To Paluang Cliff
To get to Paluang Cliff, you’re going to need to get to the island of Nusa Penida first. That means a fast boat or fairly slow ferry service and many people come to the island of Nusa Penida just for a day trip.
However, we’d recommend that you come to the Nusa Islands for a few days and really experience what these pleasant places have to offer.
There’s more than just breathtaking views of Nusa Penida and its neighbouring islands and the pace of life and beauty of island living is much easier to experience when you have time instead of rushing around on a hectic Nusa Penida tour.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Paluang Cliff?
As we go press, there’s no entrance fee for Paluang Cliff and you can enjoy the natural beauty here and even park your scooter or car here for free.
However, it’s worth noting that this is a hard place to reach by scooter and the road is very rough, to the point of being actively dangerous.
We’d opt for a car so that you can enjoy the stunning views without having to find out what healthcare is like for the local community on this beautiful island of Nusa Penida (hint: it’s not very good and any serious accident would require an uncomfortable journey back to the mainland to put you right).
What To Expect At Paluang Cliff
Visiting Paluang Cliff offers natural beauty and stunning views over the Indian Ocean and the island of Nusa Penida.
There are three specific attractions at this popular spot including two excellent photo opportunities.
However, be warned that many tourists visit the island of Nusa Penida in search of breathtaking views on this beautiful island and if you want this relatively hidden spot to yourself before it becomes a major tourist attraction, it’s best to arrive early in the day when the crystal clear waters are all the company you will have.
Paluang Cliff Viewpoint
This is the best place to appreciate the rugged beauty of the coastline in concert with the Indian Ocean.
You’re actually looking at the “T-Rex” of Kelingking Beach from the back and it’s pleasantly green.
The beach below is Embon Beach (it’s not accessible from the cliffs).
You will find that there’s a nice little wooden “boat” here where you can grab a few Instagram shots for free.
If you want to use the platform next to it, on the other hand, you will be asked to make a small donation to the member of the local community guarding the entrance to climb up.
Second Overlook Viewpoint
Just a few meters away, there’s a second viewpoint here and you can get some other breathtaking views of the natural beauty of this area.
If you have a drone, you can send it around the small island offshore and get some amazing shots here.
Pura Paluang Temple
“Pura” actually means temple in Indonesian and it’s Pura Paluang to the locals or “the car temple” rather than Paluang Temple to all the tourists who’ve been there as there’s a car shrine there. Yes, really.
Paluang Temple is a really cool place and doesn’t get anywhere near as many visitors as the Paluang Cliff does and as it’s less than a 2-minute walk from the viewpoint, we’d recommend that you check it out while you’re there.
Other Things To See Near Paluang Cliff
There are plenty of other attractions near Paluang Cliff and it’s a great place to start to explore Nusa Penida from.
Kelingking Beach
Kelingking Beach is right next to Paluang Cliff and it’s worth a visit even if you only want to see the famous T-Rex rock formation. However, you can get down to the sand here and it’s very pleasant.
Batu Raharja Nature Preserve (Offshore)
This is a lovely island off the coast of Nusa Penida and you will need to rent a boat to get there, but it’s a very pretty place that sees almost no visitors. It’s a great place for nature lovers, but please don’t interfere with the local environment here, otherwise, it won’t stay lovely for very long.
Pura Gunung Cemeng Temple
This is a mountaintop temple that almost no tourist ever visits. The majority of people see it on the hill above and decide they don’t fancy the climb. If you do get there, you will find it’s even prettier than Paluang Temple and you wil get some amazing photographs down the mountain too.
Tembeling Beach And Forest
A wonderful isolated beach with natural swimming pools and is surrounded by dense forest.
Turtle Beach
You are not allowed down to the beach here as it’s a turtle breeding ground, but you can see what’s going on and take a few photos too.
Wasu Beach
The road to this beach is wrecked and if you’re on a scooter, you need to be extra careful but it’s a lovely place to enjoy the sunset and the fishing here is amazing!
Take your drone and get some truly unique footage of this lovely part of the island.
Banah View
One of the nicest and least visited viewpoints on the island, you will get amazing photos here.
Seganing Waterfall/Seganing Spring
This is a very small waterfall, and it’s hard work to get to as the trail is both steep and narrow. The railings to hold on to are not very good, but the experience is fun if you’re ready for an adventure.
Where To Stay Near Paluang Cliff
If you want to stay near Paluang Cliff there are a few options available to you including:
Sentulan Garden Villa – the nicest resort in the area with friendly staff and an amazing pool area.
Kelingking Sunset Point Hotel & Spa – a plain and simple resort that has recently been refurbished.
Tatakan Bungalow – a bit of a hidden gem with a great outdoor pool, we liked to sit out at night and star watch here, there’s almost no light pollution.
Kelingking Parama Resort – this resort was being built when we were last in the area, you should call in advance to make sure it’s open.
Alit Cottages – excellent breakfast and comfy cottages with a real feel of home about them.
Where To Eat Near Paluang Cliff
There is no warung at Paluang Cliff itself but there are some pleasant spots to eat in the area around Paluang Cliff, including:
Kelingking Bar And Restaurant – we found the food here to be delicious and of amazing value. Highly recommended for a Balinese meal with an emphasis on fresh fish.
Sri Seganing Bar & Resto – this restaurant has a lovely view, but in our experience, the service can be a bit hit or miss. They offer a very basic menu of local and international favourites.
The Nusa Resto – this place is very overpriced but is often the only option if you want to visit Angel’s Billabong from Kelingking Beach and Paluang Cliff
Sebuluh Resto & Bar – a pleasant local warung offering decent Indonesian food for a very reasonable price.
WR Bambu Mesari – this is a truly hidden gem and worth seeking out, their gado gado is amazing!
FAQs
What Is The Name Of The Cliff In Nusa Penida?
There are many named cliffs in Nusa Penida but, perhaps, the most famous is Paluang Cliff as it’s the best part of the island to get a unique view of the back of Kelingking Beach and its famous “T-Rex” rock formation.
How To Arrange A Holiday In Nusa Penida?
We always recommend that you book a Bali holiday through the Bali Res Centre. They are a locally owned and operated travel agency with an emphasis on great service and amazing value.
Final Thoughts On Whether To Visit Paluang Cliff
Paluang Cliff is an ideal place to visit in Nusa Penida if you love breathtaking views of the ocean and the shoreline.
We recommend taking a few days in the Nusa Islands before you return to Bali and an epic party at FINNS, the world’s best club, in Canggu.
