Nusa Penida is a relatively undeveloped island southeast of mainland Bali. You won’t find the snazzy beach clubs, organic cafes, or trendy restaurants here, but Nusa Penida is still worthy of a visit. It houses some of the most photogenic sights in Bali.
If you’re wondering how to visit Nusa Penida, look no further! I’ll guide you through everything you need to know in this post. Read on –
🌺 Traveling to Bali soon? Check out all of my Bali posts here! I also recommend reading my complete Bali Travel Guide – This post contains everything I know about Bali: which areas to stay, what food to eat, and all the activities to do in Bali.
- History of Nusa Penida
- How many days should I spend in Nusa Penida
- Accommodations in Nusa Penida
- Cost Breakdown of a trip to Nusa Penida
- How to get around Nusa Penida
- Which Nusa Penida tour should I book?
- What to bring to Nusa Penida
- How to get to Nusa Penida
- What to do in Nusa Penida
- Leaving Nusa Penida
History of Nusa Penida
Nusa means “island” and Penida means “priests” in Balinese – when translated to english, it means the island of priests. As you can see, it isn’t necessary to refer to the island as “Nusa Penida Island” – it would just be redundant since Nusa already means island!
Nusa Penida is known to local Balinese as the black magic island. Long before it became a tourist attraction for its natural beauty, Nusa Penida was once believed by locals to be inhabited by dark spirits, banished to the island by the priests of Bali. However, even with such seemingly negative connotations, Nusa Penida remains an important religious destination. This is because Bali’s spiritual belief dictates balance in the universe, in which both good and evil are necessary.
Nowadays, Nusa Penida is known mostly for its natural sights like Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong, and Broken Beach. But you can still visit temples where the dark spirit is worshipped – and kept at bay. I will elaborate more on what to do on the island below.
How many days should I spend in Nusa Penida?
If you want to see the entire Nusa Penida and enjoy your stay slowly, you would need to stay 2 to 3 days on the island.
But if you only have one day to spare, a day trip to Nusa Penida from Bali is very doable. You can get to Nusa Penida via a speedboat from Sanur in the morning and come back in the afternoon. I’ve done this before and I feel like I got to see a good part of the island!
Where to stay in Nusa Penida
If you have a few days to spare, I recommend staying a night or two in Nusa Penida. Here are some accommodations you can consider:
- Dbelish Village ($)
- Penida Bambu Green ($$)
- Penida Bay Village ($)
- Kompyang Cottage ($$)
Cost breakdown for a day trip to Nusa Penida
If you want to DIY a day trip to Nusa Penida without a tour, it’s possible! However, don’t expect to save a lot of money by doing it yourself – I find that the cost of going on your own is almost the same as going there with a tour group.
Here is the comprehensive breakdown of costs to help you decide whether it’s worth it:
| Taxi to Sanur | Rp 75,000 / car one way, depending on where you live |
| Round Trip Ferry Ticket to Nusa Penida | Rp 300,000 / person (Rp 150,000 / person if you are Indonesian) |
| Transportation in Nusa Penida | Rp 85,000 / bike OR Rp 632,000 / private car |
| Snorkeling Rental | Rp 50,000 / person |
| Lunch | Rp 35,000 / person |
| Water | Rp 25,000 / person |
| Taxi back to the hotel | Rp 75,000 / car one way, depending on where you live |
As you can see from the cost breakdown above, the main cost differentiator is your mode of transportation once you are in Nusa Penida.
How to get around Nusa Penida
There are 3 ways to get around Nusa Penida:
1. By Private Day Tour – This is the most convenient way to get around Nusa Penida. You don’t need to worry about where to go and how to get there, the tour will take care of that for you.
2. By Rental Motorbike – If you are okay with renting a motorbike and riding the bike on your own, I estimate it to cost about Rp 490,000 – 540,000 (US$34 – 37) per person to visit the island for a day trip. You can rent a motorbike right off the harbor, fuss-free. We got a bike literally within minutes of getting off the boat! Renting a bike costs you Rp 75,000 (US$5.25) a day, the same cost as Bali mainland.
You might also have to top up fuel which is going to be a very minimal cost, about Rp 10,000 – 20,000. I recommend to make sure your fuel is topped up while you are still close to the harbor. I didn’t see many petrol sellers as we got deeper into the island.
However, if you decide to rent a bike, please understand that you have to be comfortable and confident with riding the motorbike. The roads in Nusa Penida can be rough sometimes – for example, parts of the road leading up to Kelingking Beach and Angel’s Billabong are very broken and bumpy. Definitely not for beginners.
3. By Private Car Charter – If you aren’t comfortable riding a motorbike by yourself, then I would recommend renting a car. If you want to rent a private charter car, then you can do so by booking here. A private car charter costs Rp 535,000 (US$37) and the same cost as booking when you get to the island. The road would still be bumpy though, so don’t expect a comfortable ride… but at least you’ll be in an air-conditioned car.
If you prefer getting a car rental, I recommend booking this tour I’ve linked before as the difference isn’t much more than renting a car yourself.
If you charter a private car, the total cost of the trip would then go up to Rp 650,000 – 760,000 (US$45 – $54) per person depending on how many people are in your group… which is about the cost of going on a tour! So, the price difference between going on your own via private car charter vs. going with a tour is not THAT much.
Get a local SIM card: we relied heavily on Google Maps for directions. Just make sure to save the Nusa Penida map offline, because we did lose reception in certain areas. If you haven’t yet, order a 4G SIM Card online here and pick it up in Bali.
Which Tour should I go on with to Nusa Penida?
If you have decided to go with a Nusa Penida tour, I recommend booking the following tours from Klook! Then you don’t need to think about anything since they take care of everything from pick up.
- West Nusa Penida Join-in Day Tour (most popular) – This is the Nusa Penida tour you should book on your first time in Nusa Penida. It will take you to most of the spots I mentioned below (Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong, and Crystal Bay), in a car. PS: You can add snorkeling as an optional activity at an additional cost.
- Private Day Tour – If you don’t want to be joined by others and don’t mind paying slightly more, the same tour above also runs a private tour. The advantage of a private tour is you get to customize your itinerary within your group!
- 2D1N all-inclusive Nusa Penida tour – If you’ve decided you want to stay overnight in Nusa Penida, you can book this tour which includes everything: food, accommodation, private car, and the boat transfer to Nusa Penida.
- Nusa Penida Snorkeling Trip – If snorkeling is more your thing, Nusa Penida does house some of the best reefs and clearest water in Bali. However, do note that you don’t get to visit the spots I mentioned below, but you do get to visit more snorkeling spots and a tour of Nusa Lembongan.
- Nusa Penida Instagram Tour – If taking great pics is one of your main goals, you can book this trip.
What is Klook? Klook is the leading travel and experiences booking website in Asia. And yes, they are legit! I personally always book my activities through them whenever I am traveling. See my review of Klook here.
What to bring to Nusa Penida
Now that we know your options for getting to Nusa Penida, here are things you should prepare for your trip there:
- 4G Local SIM Card – It’s always a good idea to have a 4G SIM Card while in Bali. Coverage was pretty good in Nusa Penida too! Although it got a bit spotty as you go inland, I was still able to navigate using Google Maps and the local data. Order a 4G SIM Card online here and pick it up in Bali, don’t wait until you get there because it will be more expensive.
- Cash (in Rupiah) – there are hardly any ATMs or places that take credit cards in Nusa Penida, so you need enough to last the entire time you’re on the island. I would set aside about Rp 150 – 200k per person per day.
- Sun coverage – All the things you need to combat that strong sun in Bali – A hat, sunscreen (at least SPF50!), and Sunglasses. If you are biking, wear a thin layer with sleeves that can be removed.
- A thin cotton scarf/sarong wrap – I love this because they are versatile! you can wear it around your neck and shoulder to protect yourself from the sun, but can also double up as something to sit on while you are at the beach.
- Bathing Suit – once you see how clear the water is in this part of the world, you’d want to jump in. Trust me.
- Suitable Footwear – You need good walking shoes for the treks, but you’d probably want to wear flip-flops while at the beach. So bring both if you can!
How to get to Nusa Penida without a tour
If you’re curious about getting to Nusa Penida by yourself. Fret not – I have just the right info for you! Nusa Penida is getting popular these days, and there are now three ways you can go there on your own:
- By Speedboat from Sanur Beach (easiest way!)
- By Speedboat from Tanjong Benoa
- By Public Ferry from Padang Bai
We will go through each option below:
1. Get to Nusa Penida by Speedboat from Sanur Beach
The easiest and most popular option is to hop on a speedboat from Sanur Beach. There are a few operators that run speedboat transfers from Sanur Beach to Nusa Penida. It doesn’t matter which one you choose as long as the timing and availability suit you.
Speedboat Timing to Nusa Penida from Sanur
Most operators have a speedboat going out from Sanur to Nusa Penida at limited timings in the morning and a few in the afternoon: 7 AM – 10 AM and 2 PM – 5 PM. They also have boats coming back in the morning and afternoon at around the same time. If you are doing a day trip, I recommend going to the island as early as you can, so try to catch the 7 or 7:30 AM boat!
Booking Speedboat Tickets to Nusa Penida Online
You can book the Nusa Penida speedboat tickets online through Klook or 12GO:
Buying Speedboat Tickets to Nusa Penida at Sanur Beach
If you decide to wing it (which is what we did), all you have to do is show up to Sanur Beach early in the morning and buy tickets directly from the operators. I recommend being there 30 minutes before boat departure time to ensure enough time to get tickets.
Here’s the exact spot where you can find the speedboat ticket office on Google Maps. They are these open-air huts that lined up Sanur Beach slightly to the north of it – you can see the marker for Maruti Express, Mola-mola Express, etc on Google Maps.
The tickets both cost the same whether you book online or not, but there is a difference in price depending on your nationality. Local / Indonesians pay Rp 200,000 for a roundtrip (US$14) while foreigners pay Rp 300,000 for a roundtrip (US$21). I know that doesn’t sound fair, but I don’t recommend lying about your nationality because they do check and enforce the ticket price difference. And to be honest, in the grand scheme of things, the difference is not THAT big.
We rocked up to Sanur slightly after 7 and chose Angel’s Billabong Fast Boat since they have the closest available departure time at 7:30 AM. When we booked our ticket, they asked what time we would like to come back to Sanur. We chose the latest available time which was 4:30 PM, and I was advised to be back 30 minutes before the departure time to check in and ensure a spot on the boat going back to Sanur – REMEMBER THIS, because it’s important! I’ll elaborate more on it later.
Getting on the speedboat to Nusa Penida from Sanur Beach
Once you get your tickets, they’ll hand you a lanyard. Just wait nearby on the beach until they let you know that the boat has arrived. You then board the boat, which you have to do by wading through a shallow bit of water – it’s best to wear flip-flops or other shoes that can be easily removed. Take note to not trip on the boat ropes – they alternate between being slack and taut as the waves come pulling at the boat. A reader of mine has also commented that the water level was much higher when they visited, and they had to wade through water that is deep enough to reach their underwear – so be prepared to get wet!
The speedboat seat layout was not the best. They packed in the seats to maximize the number of passengers so there was barely any legroom between each row of seats. I’m only 160cm and I could barely fit in – my boyfriend, who is much taller than me, had to fold his legs in to be able to sit. Thankfully the ride only lasted about 30 minutes and we arrived on the island in no time!
2. Get to Nusa Penida by speedboat transfer from Tanjong Benoa
There is also an option to take a speedboat from Tanjong Benoa, which is closer to Nusa Dua. It is just slightly cheaper than the boats that leave from Sanur, but the downside is it only leaves on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. They also only have one time per day. However, the boat condition looks to be a bit better than the Sanur boats we took.
Book your tickets from Tanjong Benoa here
3. Public Ferry to Nusa Penida from Padang Bai
I haven’t done this yet and there is almost no information about it online, but I have heard there is a public ferry that leaves from Padang Bai, used mostly by locals and can transfer vehicles. The ticket is only Rp 30,000 per person. However, I would only recommend this if you have time to kill – the ferry does not have a set schedule. It just leaves whenever passengers are waiting, usually from 11 am – 1 pm.
What to do in Nusa Penida
Once you are on the island, it’s time to explore! Nusa Penida is not a big island, but because of the way the roads are built and the condition of the roads, it will still take some time to get from one spot to another.
Nusa Penida Itinerary
Here is a sample itinerary for spending your time in Nusa Penida. To visualize this Nusa Penida itinerary better, I’ve created a Google Maps link that marks all the routes and landmarks I’ll mention in this blog!
🗺 Save this map to your phone! If you are a Google user, click on the image of the map above. The map will then be saved to your “Recent” maps viewed. Click here for instructions on how to view the map later. It will work from your phone too.
Day 1: West Nusa Penida
If you have only one day in Nusa Penida, I recommend doing this itinerary! It will allow you to see the most famous spots in Nusa Penida
- Arrive at Banjar Nyuh Harbor
- Go to Kelingking Beach
- Angel Billabong and Broken Beach
- Snorkeling at Crystal Bay
Day 2: East Nusa Penida
- Visit Atuh Beach
- Stop by Rumah Pohon
- Teletubbies Hill
- Guyangan Waterfall
- Tembeling Beach and Forest
And finally, here is a detailed list of what to do and things to see in Nusa Penida:
1. Kelingking Beach
After getting our bike, we immediately drove down to the southwest part of the island to find Kelingking Beach, a crowd’s favorite. From the harbor, it takes about an hour by bike to get to this beach thanks to the partially broken road.
Kelingking Beach is relatively new, only “discovered” in 2003 by a few tourist divers who reached the beach by boat. Nowadays, Kelingking Beach is probably the most Instagrammed spot in Nusa Penida… and I’m sure you can see why from this photo.
A little trivia – Kelingking means “pinky” in Indonesian, as in your little finger! I’m not sure why it’s called that… because it looks more like a T-rex to me.
That secluded Azure Beach at the bottom? You can descend to it provided you ignore the warning sign at the start of the path, which tells you not to go to the beach as the path is very broken and they will not be held liable in case of an accident. So yes, you can go down to the beach, but the path will be very narrow, half-broken, and extremely steep on some parts. My boyfriend and I decided to go down anyway, both in sandals, because we’re crazy like that.
Well… it turns out lots of people are also crazy like us, but most of them stop at the halfway point before going back up after taking the famous Kelingking Beach photo, like the one I took below.
Not many people made it down to the beach itself, probably because you can already see how dangerous the path gets. You only have these thin railings made of tree branches to hold on to, and as you get lower, the path gets steeper and steeper with more sharp rocks.
My boyfriend and I got to the halfway point and we thought: “Well, we’re already here, we might as well go the entire way”. So down to the beach we go, wearing sandals. I reckon we’d be way more comfortable wearing proper shoes. It turns out that as you get lower, not only the path gets more and more steep and sharp, but it also gets more broken. It also gets so steep that you’re practically scaling a vertical rock wall while being cautious not to grab onto any broken railing.
After about 30 minutes of descending, we finally made it to the beach! Initially, there were less than 10 people on the beach when we got there at 11 AM but more people arrived when we left an hour later. The beach was super secluded, so we were able to have ample space to ourselves. We sat around under one of the trees and took a dip in the cool clear blue water.
But it wasn’t very clean – there were lots of trash and debris both on the beach and floating on the water, which kinda ruined the experience. Most of these seem to be debris from other parts of the island brought here by the ocean current. I wonder if it ever gets cleaned?
After about an hour of sitting around the beach, we left. The climb back up was very difficult for me. If you go back up at noon, the entire path gets full sun with barely any shade… and you know how harsh the sun gets in Bali. Thanks to the steepness of the climb and being battered by the hot direct sun, I nearly passed out on the way up. Also because of this, I got a headache that lasted the entire day. If it’s raining I wouldn’t even think about going down!
So in short, I’m not sure if I can recommend going down to the beach. Yes, it’s secluded and beautiful but I’ve also seen other similar beaches with more things to do. And that climb back up was not worth it.
We spent some time recovering at one of the warungs near the car park area, replenishing all that fluid we lost while climbing back up. We had a coconut and a large water bottle and still did not need to pee! That’s how dehydrated we were.
2. Angel’s Billabong & Broken Beach
These two spots are right next to each other, so you can visit them at the same time!
Angel’s Billabong is a beautiful natural rock pool that opens straight to the ocean. A word of caution: please be VERY careful while visiting Angel’s Billabong and listen to local’s warnings if they tell you not to get inside. Even if you aren’t planning to get in the water, the wave can get massive here. There have been some fatal accidents where people got swept away and died, so don’t take this lightly!
Broken Beach is famous as the viewpoint for an arched tunnel in the cliffs, allowing the ocean to flow into a pool, which is Angel’s Billabong.
3. Snorkeling at Crystal Bay or Gamat Bay
If snorkeling is the reason why you want to go to Nusa Penida, I highly suggest booking this Nusa Penida Snorkeling Trip, which will take you to all the great snorkeling spots in Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.
After the treacherous hike up from Kelingking Beach, I told my boyfriend that I want to just take it easy and swim at the beach. We started looking at our options – Crystal Bay or Gamat Bay.
This is when I had a light bulb moment and realized that we HAD been to Nusa Penida two years ago, but we took a boat from Sanur and we were on the boat the entire time since we were there for diving. One of the dive spots at that time was called Crystal Bay and I remember having the best snorkeling of my life there during a surface interval.
So we got on our bikes and went to Crystal Bay. Once there, the sun has gotten so strong that it hurts to walk on the sand because it just burns your feet. We immediately camped out under one of the vacant parasols. I rented a mask and pair of fins (Rp 50,000 – about US$3.50) and just jumped straight into the cool water.
What makes Crystal Bay so special is that the corals are very healthy and they are just meters away from the beach. I saw various fish – unicorn fish, trumpet fish, rainbow fish, and a triggerfish which I quickly swam away from – just to name a few. There were also schools of small fishes among the colorful corals. It’s honestly as good as diving without the hassle of carrying heavy equipment!
I did not get a chance to go to Gamat Bay, but I heard this is also a good option for snorkeling! You can also check out Manta Point for a chance to swim with Manta Rays. I came here for diving before and we saw a few mantas.
4. Atuh Beach (Diamond Beach)
This beach is on the other side of the island from the harbor, so it takes a bit of effort to reach. It would have taken us 2 hours on the road one way, so we had to skip this time. But it looks amazing!
5. Tembeling Beach & Forest
Tembeling Beach is closer to the port than Attu, but it’s harder to get to. The road to the beach can only be reached by motorbike, but if you came by car you can hire some “ojek” (bike for hire) for Rp 50,000. Walking down is also an option.
6. Rumah Pohon Tree House
This place started as a simple rustic accommodation, but it has become famous as a photo spot. You used to be able to book the tree house and stay there, but ever since the place became popular, it turned into a paid photo spot. You can go there and pay Rp 75,000 to take a photo on the stairs.
Here is the Google Maps location for the Nusa Penida tree house.
7. Do some Scuba diving!
I would only recommend this as a whole separate trip since scuba diving will already take your entire day. A diving trip to Nusa Penida is very doable from Bali, with many dive operators going with their boats to Nusa Penida. I think it’s better to go straight from Bali instead of from Nusa Penida itself unless you’re planning to stay on the island.
As an advanced diver with 100+ dives under my belt – you bet I’ve dived at Nusa Penida before! Here are a few dive operators whom you can book Nusa Penida diving from:
- Gangga Divers Bali – Full-day diving which includes 2 dives, hotel transfer, all dive equipment, and lunch.
- Nico Dives Cool – You have to contact them directly to book a diving trip, but I did go with Nico when I went diving in Nusa Penida last time in 2015/2016. I had a great time with him! The diving equipment was in great condition, the boat was nice and clean, and he knows his way around the dive spots in Bali.
The famous diving points in Nusa Penida are Manta Point and Crystal Bay. They are the same spots I mentioned under the snorkeling section above, but they are famous diving sites too! Here are my quick reviews of the two spots:
Manta Point – It’s almost a guarantee that you will see Manta Rays at Manta Point, but it’s also a very crowded spot for that very same reason. If you make it down here, PLEASE do not touch or approach the Manta Rays! They are delicate beings and may run away if you do so, and you will ruin the experience for everyone. Aside from seeing Manta Rays, the diving site isn’t particularly beautiful and the visibility tends to be much better elsewhere. Only stop by here if you’re keen to see Mantas.
Crystal Bay – This is a famous dive spot, as it is the spot with the highest probability to see Mola-mola, aka the giant Ocean sunfish that are so round and flat that it resembles… a giant plate. But don’t hold your breath on seeing Mola-mola, I said it is the site with the highest probability, but they are very hard to spot so the probability remains very low. I’ve been to Nusa Penida twice for diving and haven’t had my luck seeing Mola-mola yet. Aside from that, it is a beautiful site with corals and a really good vis.
8. Chase some waterfalls
No trip to a tropical island is complete without a waterfall! The waterfall to visit in Nusa Penida is called Seganing Waterfall and Guyangan Waterfall. It requires a bit of driving to get to, so you can probably only visit if you plan to be in Nusa Penida for more than one day.
9. Visit the dark spirit temple Pura Dalem Ped
As I’ve mentioned at the beginning of this post, Nusa Penida is known to the local Balinese as the black magic island. The dark spirit is worshipped – and kept at bay – on this island, specifically at Pura Dalem Ped. This Pura (which means “temple”) is very close to the main port of the island, so if you have time before you leave, definitely give it a visit.
Another temple on the island you might be interested in is Pura Goa Giri Putri (Giri Princess Cave), which is located inside a large cave. The location of this temple is a bit further out, so again you can probably visit this if you’re staying on the island for longer than a day.
Leaving Nusa Penida
After Crystal Bay, we did not have time to do anything else. It was already 3:50 PM we had to rush back to the harbor to make it on time for our 4:30 PM boat.
Tip 💡: Be back at the port at least 30 minutes before your boat departure time! You’ll thank me later!
Remember how I mentioned above that I recommend being at the harbor 30 minutes before departure time and checking in at the ticket office? Here is why!
Leaving the island was CHAOTIC. As it turns out a lot of people were doing the same thing as us (booking the last boat out), and the boat was overbooked. After a 10-minute delay and crowding around the harbor not knowing what was going on, they started calling us by name one by one in the order of check-in.
If you get in and secure a seat, then you get to leave the island on that boat. If not, you have to wait for the second boat to come and pick up the leftover people. And that’s why it’s important to come early and check in!
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Alright, that was super long. If you end up doing any of my itineraries, please comment below and let me know how it went! I love reading your comments 😀
Need more guides about traveling in Bali?
Here are my other posts about Bali:
- RIMBA by AYANA Bali: A Family Getaway with a Toddler
- Indonesia e-VoA: How to apply from the OFFICIAL website
- Canggu Guide: All My Favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Chill in Canggu
- Bali Travel Guide for First-Timers From a Veteran Visitor
- Ubud Travel Guide: Things to do in Ubud, where to stay and what to eat
- New Year’s Eve in Bali: My experience celebrating NYE, Where to stay and go
- Seminyak Guide: Where to eat, shop and get a massage in Seminyak
- Nusa Penida Travel Guide: What You Need to Know Before Visiting
- Mount Batur Hike: My Experience Climbing an Active Volcano in Bali
I am planning to stay in Ubud for 4 days and on the 4th day morning ,checkout from central ubud and leave to Sanur Harbour
Was thinking of opting for this tour for 2N 3D trip
Our entire luggage will be with us , will that be allowed on the boat?
Hey Jagruti, I have seen people bring luggage on the boat. The tour operator should be able to help you
Hi we are going to Bali for our son’s wedding in Semenyak but want to stay somewhere else for 5 nights, he suggests 2 nights in Ubud which I am happy with but need to find another 2 nights somewhere else, preferably quiet as it will all be very full on.
I did look at Nusa Penida but as we will have a couple of large suitcases etc, the boat put me off. Unless the hotel in Ubud would store the suitcases, need to look at that. However can you suggest an alternative to Nusa Penida, so we don’t have too much travelling many thanks
Hi Melissa,
I have a group project that is about an island in Indonesia. I got Nusa Penida. Basically I just need to make a small travel brochure. Just to make it more accurate, as my friends and I never visit Nusa Penida, I would like to ask just a small summarization of what you enjoyed the most and what you think that Nusa Penida is most well-known for.
Thank you for giving us all this information as it helped me a lot to understand Nusa Penida better!
-Andrea
Thank you for your useful information, good advice and perfect experience.
Hi, My plan is to go to Nusa penida and stay there for 2 days.
Then travel to Gili and stay for 2 days
I will be able to carry my luggage all the way in the speedboats/fiery right ?
Hi Mellisa,
Is there any requirement of international license to ride a motor bike in Nusa Penida. I have a license from my country.
Also can we, my wife and our 5 year old son can ride together.
Hey Sanjeev, in my experience we have never been asked to show our license in Bali. I see locals ride with kids all the time and it’s doable, but it really depends on how confident you are as a bike driver! If you do this, please make sure he is wearing a helmet.
Hi Melissa
Other than an entry fee to the island. and a parking fee, are there any other fees to visit any of the sites on the island?
Hi Melissa,
thanks for a really interesting and informative post. We are planning to go for a couple of days with our suitcases.
Is it really possible with all these “boat problems”:)
Thanks and regards,
Katja
This is a great post, thank you for the breakdown. We are booking our trip for tomorrow
Thanks for the comment Andrew! Please let me know how the trip goes!
Hey hi
Can we return from nusa penida in the morning ? Or are all ferries timed for the evening ?
Hey, you can check the online ferry booking links I have above. looks like there are ferries going from Nusa Penida to Sanur even at 7am.
could be few year old review… but trust me just gone through (13/04/2022) amazing explanations answer for every question before you look for. Thanks a ton. I have booked to bali next month and I proudly say will defiantly follow your guidelines.
Thanks for your time for this.
Thanks for your kind comment! Hope you get to visit Nusa Penida.
Great piece of information, Thank you for sharing the updated one..
Never heard of this place but now I want to go!
Hi dear! This was so much helpful… Every bit of it!!!
No links were missed… Your blog answered all the questions I had in my mind!!! Kudos to you! Keep up the good work!
Hi!
I recently added Penida on my trip list! And me and my boyfriend are gonna take the boat from Gili air to Penida and stay there for 2/3 nights. We both are gonna have “big” luggage and we are gonna bring them with us. We want to hire one scooter in Nusa Penida and we thinking about to stay around crystal bay. My question is, how are we gonna get our luggage to the hotel room in Nusa Penida? And also hire a scooter by the pier because that’s the only place you can hire from, what I understand? That’s the only problem we have right now! Would be great if you have any ideas that can help us with that!
Hey Tindra, when I went there you can only hire it from the pier, but if you’re staying in a hotel you might want to ask if they can help hook you up with a scooter. Sometimes local have better connections. Your hotel might be able to help with the luggage too if you explain the situation. If not, there are cars for hire in the pier who would be able to take you and your luggage to the hotel.
great beach to visit and take photos
Can’t thank you enough for such a great compilations of useful information, especially the websites where I can book everything.
Hey Bea, thanks for the nice comment. Hope you enjoy Nusa Penida!
Lovely!
Very well written. i am planning my 1st foreign trip on my own.
I will write the elaborated comment after I plan and visit Bali 🙂
have fun! hope you will enjoy Bali!
Detail information. I am visiting this place in February so your article helps me to craft an itinerary.
Well, that was very much helpful since I am still planning my visit and reading as much as I can before finalizing anything.
Thank you for the insights. 🙂
Have fun in Nusa Penida!
Thank you for all the wonderful details. I also appreciate your candor about crowds, roads, climbing back up from Kelingking, places to stay, prices, and tour guides. Excellent blog!
Thanks Carra! Hope you enjoy Nusa Penida!
it is always happy to read post about nusa penida. thank you for the writing.
Thanks for sharing this article about nusa penida, it really helps local tour operator to get more tourists coming.
that was very good description
thank you so much
Hi. Thanks for this. have 2 yr old daughter , you think its ok to bring her along with us for day tour. My hubby , me and my daughter.
Thanks in advance
😉 Joyce
Hi Joyce, yes it should be fine to bring her along if you book the tour since you’ll be transported in a car. Just be mindful of your daughter while boarding the boat, as you MIGHT have to go about calf-deep into the water (depending on the tide) so you’ll have to carry her.
Thank you so much Melissa for such an elaborate article on nusa penida. It really helped me decide what I’ll be doing and what not. I’ll definitely be going through bali article as well. Really helped me so much. Much love.
Great to hear that 😀
Hey Melissa,
My friend and I will be staying in Nusa Lembongan for one night. On the first day we will be leaving Sanur at 9:30am arriving in Lembongan at about 10am and dropping our bags off at our hotel first before exploring…do you think there would be enough time to head over to Nusa Penida after that to see Kelingking Beach and one of the other sites Broken Beach/Angels Bilabong etc. and then making it back for a 4:30ish boat back from Nusa Penida to Nusa Lembongan. The second day we are doing Snorkelling for a few hours in the morning to have the rest of the day to relax on the island before heading back to Sanur.
How are you planning to get around in Nusa Penida? Are you renting your own motorbike?
It takes about 45 mins to get to Kelingking beach from the port, then 35-40 mins to get to angel’s billabong / broken beach from Kelingking beach. Then it takes an hour back to the port from Angel’s Bilabong. So it might be tight unless you’re really rushing from site to site. I would make sure you get to Nusa Penida latest by noon.
You should double check the timing last boat to Lembongan. I don’t have this information.
Thanks so much for the info! We will be hiring a private drive from the port. Those travel times are very useful indeed. Based on that I’d say we’d want to give ourselves an hour travel time between each point of interest and allowing no less than 4 preferably 5hours within Nusa Penida to comfortably see at least 2 sites with a bit of faffing about. Just as you recommended arriving no later than noon. Thanks again!
Hi Melissa,
How accurate Google Maps is? If it says 1 hour by car, should we rely on it?
Thank you.
Hey Kitti, for motorbike it was quite accurate, but for cars I would take it with a grain of salt since the roads are narrow and its harder for cars to go through.
hi melisa
cant seem to find out if you can hire a car with no driver in nusa penida we want to drive ourselves or a buggy do you know of anyone
hey Roxy, I don’t know if a car charter without driver is available, but maybe you can contact the car charter directly and ask if it’s an option?
Hi Melissa!
Thanks for your sharing.
But may I know is your transportation bought from Klook including all parking charges and fuel charges?
Hey Pei Jing, yes it includes parking and fuel for the day
very useful. Simple yet descriptive.
Hi! Its a relieve to read your blog! I was abit uptight to actually use package tour because of the unreasonable rate. I was gg around the net to find other ways to go by motorbike. And tada! Thank you for writing babe! Anw do you need a license for bike?
Hey Carya, no one will ask you for a license but you need to be very comfortable with riding a bike to be safe. In Nusa Penida, the roads are not smooth.
Hi,
This post was super helpful! I had a question, my husband and I are traveling to Bali in August we plan on staying in Ubud 4 nights then heading to Nusa Penida 1night then Seminyak for 3 nights. Traveling to Nusa Penida from Ubud will it be difficult with luggage? What are your suggestions with this.
Thanks!
Hey Vanessa, it should be fine with small luggage. It might be hard if your luggage is big since getting on and off the boat would be quite a challenge, not to mention the boat could be quite cramped as well.
Hi
Is renting a car comes with a driver?
yet it comes with a driver
Hi,
We will be travelling with a few small children and I am still recovering from surgery. Are there things to do/beaches to access that don’t require lots of stairs and walking?? I’m just trying to work out if it’s worth a short stay knowing we won’t be able to
Do big walks. Finding it hard to find much information online. Thanks!
Hi Marissa, most of the beaches I mentioned in this list, such as Kelingking and Crystal Bay, are actually close to a car park so if you think you can do the boat ride from Bali, then you should be fine.
Hi Melissa,
Your blog is very informative. We are a group of budget travelers as well and would want to DIY our trip to Nusa Penida. Is it easy to find taxi or transport from Kuta to Sanur port early morning?
Thanks,
Vivian
Hey Vivian, I was able to get a car via Gojek app. Try downloading it once you get to Bali!
Hi Melissa!
Thank you so much for your writings as it helps me a lot planning for my trip with my friends in July soon. But I’m eager to know where is the exact stop for the speedboat in Nusa Penida? Are there various jetty in Nusa Penida cause I want to find a stay near to the jetty in Penida. Tq in advance Melissa!
regards,
Hani
Hey Hani, I did include the location of the jetty above
Oh my eyes! Thanks Melissa!
Hi Melisa ,
Your blog helps me a lot! Thanks .
I’m going there this sept for 4 nights .
2 nights at ceningan and thinking another 2 nights in penida. Will it be too much ? I have to give up 1 night at Canggu. I visited bali last trip back in April . so this time I’m thinking to focus on the 3 islands this trip. What’s your suggestion? Thank you 😊
Hey Linzie, I think that should be okay if you are looking for a quiet, idyllic vacation. where else are you going this time?
Hi Linzie,
Let me know how you go, as I too am doing the islands this time. Penida – Lombok – Labuan Bajo (Komodo) solo with a large suitcase lol
Thank you for this detailed information! This is some of the highest quality content I’ve ever come across….
Hi Melissa
Thank you for sharing all this info! This and your other posts on Bali have been really useful in planning our upcoming trip to Bali.
I wanted to ask if you have actually used the Klook West Nusa Penida day tour yourself or Klook’s services in general? Their website has all positive reviews but when you read reviews outside of their website, it’s a mix of positive and negative. So I am just a bit skeptical and confused. I am really looking forward to this trip and would hate it if anything spoils the fun. Please let me know what you think about Klook.
Thanks!
Jasdeep
Hey Jasdeep, I didn’t take the tour for Nusa Penida. I DIY-ed as explained in the post. However I have booked tours with Klook in Phuket, Tokyo and Vietnam and I have great experience with all of them so far. That said I think the reviews are specific to each operator, so if you are looking at the review elsewhere I would try to look at the one that are actually providing this exact tour.
Thank you, Melissa!
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for your post – this is really useful. We go to Bali on the 18th June and have 13 nights. The plan is to spend four nights in Ubud, doing the Mount Batur sunrise hike, a “best of Ubud tour” – seeing the Monkey Forrest, the Bali swing, rice terraces, temple and waterfall, doing a traditional cooking class, a yoga class and Balinese massage at Karsa Spa.
Following on from this I have 3 days to fill before moving onto Gili T and Uluwatu (each for three nights)
I want to go to Nusa Penida but I feel like two nights would be plenty, as the island is small and I’m a fussy (& vegetarian) eater, I think I would struggle for meals for a few days. I was thinking maybe to go to Nusa Penida for either one night and then spend two nights on Nusa Lembongan before heading straight over to Gili T.
I’m a little worried about making the boats because we will have two weeks worth of luggage and it would be ideal if we were able to book them before, as if anything were to happen and we couldn’t board, we would have already paid for accomodation on the islands. Do you have any tips please?
Many thanks
Erin
Hey Erin, one night in Nusa Penida would be enough. If you want to book the boats earlier, you might have to pay extra but its worth it if you have a set schedule. You can try https://12go.asia/ but I personally haven’t used them.
Also if it’s anything like the Nusa Penida boat from Sanur, since you have luggage, you should arrive at the port 1 hour earlier to ensure space on the boat.
Hi, Erin! I am at Nusa Lembongan now and headed to Penida for a day. I left my luggage at the Guesthouse I am returning to in Ubud.
I also noticed the fast boat office I used (Glory) has many suitcases lined up in the back.
If you can repack for basic needs on Penida, it is SOOOOO much better! Travelled here last year with too much and it was overwhelming to say the least.
Hope you have a great time!!!
Shannon
Hey Melissa,
What a great post! It’s very useful in helping me to plan my Penida trip in June.
I have some questions for you. I’m going to Penida in June, which is consider a high season period for Bali. Do you think it still OK for us to book the ferry ticket on the spot at Sanur? I’m going to be at Sanur the night before. Do you know what time the boat company close?
& do you know any way that I can get to Gili from Penida? Or do I have to transfer back to Sanur in order to go to Gili?
Thanks for your help!
Hey Cici, I would try to call the boat operators for availability once you get to Bali (I’ve listed the name above, try to get help from your hotel to call them). Nusa Penida is getting more and more popular these days.
For Gili transport, Eka Jaya Fast Boat and Golden Queen Fast Boat goes to Gili T from Nusa Penida but I am not sure about the schedule or cost, since I have never done that before.
Hi Melisa
Thanks for your interesting & informative writing about Penida Island. I am pleased for your traveling descriptions. I am curious to tour the Island.
Thank you! I hope you get to visit the island soon!
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for your very informative detailed, It will soon help me a lot to explore Nusa Penida upon reading your article. My family of 4 expecting to visit Bali for 7D/6N, i do had pre arrange itinerary and upon reading your article, i change my mind and include Nusa Penida as my top priority list. Hope you dont mind if i ask question, Was it 100% guaranteed that we can purchased perry ticket on the day or 30mins earlier before departure ferry time or a day before? My main concern is, is there any max no of passenger need to accomodate on a daily basis based on 3 operating ferries you mentioned above, is there any instances that ferries already fully booked if we want to buy ticket on the same day as you did based on your article. Thanks you very much for the details
Hey Arnel, the boats are limited, but if you come early enough you should be able to secure a ticket. Perhaps you can call the ferry operators the day before to inquire on tickets availability. Are you doing it by yourself or with a tour? If you decide to do the tour, the boat ticket is already included.
Hi Mel,
Currently in Bali with my girlfriend and we want to do the day trip (without snorkelling) and our villa rep advised that package wasn’t available and it’s only one package.
Could you recommend the best website site or location to book the package in person that suits our needs?
I want to do it by scooter myself, as it’s the most authentic experience.
Thank you
Darcy
Hey Darcy, if you want to do it by scooter yourself then just follow my guide as I have outlined in this post!
Would this be the approved link / booking site for any tours ?
Thanks
Hey Darcy, I have a link to a tour that I recommend in my post above. But they will not take you via scooter, they would use a car instead. Have you read the post above?
Hi Melissa, was wondering if you know the timing and pricing of public ferries?
Hey Jen, sorry I don’t know about the public ferry. I don’t think they leave from Sanur, since the pier doesn’t seem to be able to support a big ferry. Maybe they leave from Padang Bai, which I’ve taken when I went to Gili but I don’t recall seeing anything about Nusa Penida. Sorry about that!
Hi Jen
As i know, the public ferry leaves from Padang Bai port, it has no excat time to leave, it depends when the ferry arrives on the port, between 11am to 1pm. And the passanger ticket price is IDR 30,000/person one way.
Thank you for this important info Dewa!
What a wonderful post and ever so helpful! I am traveling to Bali in September. I was leaning towards five nights in Ubud and two nights on an island. Up until I read this post I was going to stay on Gili Air but now I think I have changed my mind and will stay on Nusa Penida instead! I am traveling solo and I checked your link above for Pandawa Beach Resort but they seem to only offer multi-bedrooms; that is more than I need and more money than I care to spend. I am looking at Semabu Hills Hotel instead. Are you familiar with this facility? It has very good ratings. Also, while I’m in Ubud I plan to hire a driver for at least two days. Are drivers for hire in Nusa Penida, too? Do you think traveling solo (female) is safe in Nusa Penida? Thank you so much for all of this wonderful information!
Hey Cindy! Glad you are planning to visit Nusa Penida. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with accommodations there as I did not stay overnight. Just make sure to check what the review says. Nusa Penida is very safe, much like the rest of Bali so you won’t have issues traveling alone. Just exercise common sense and be vigilant as usual! There are cars for hire on the pier of Nusa Penida, you just need to tell them that you need a driver for more than one day. Or you can ask your accommodation to arrange it for you too.
Hi, Mel
You are such an expert of Nusa Penida. In our national web sites, it was hard to find some useful information about individual visiting of the island. Your post is super useful! Thanks for your all the efforts!!!
Hi Melissa,
Very informative post.
Can i take by laugage in the boat?
Regards!!
Hi Thanula,
You can, but I wouldn’t recommend bringing a big suitcase. Maybe a carryon or a backpack would be okay.
Wow, fantastic post!
Thanks for all the information, very detailed and helpful … and a pleasant read!
Hi Melissa,
Do you think I should do the Nusa Penida West package tour or just rent a driver when we get to Nusa Penida?
And do you know anything about the “island swing” at Nusa Penida? Where there is a swing on top of a cliff
It’s at Nusa penida but I don’t know where it is
Hi fellow Mel. I would go with the tour if you are planning to rent a car in Nusa Penida anyway, since the cost will end up being about the same as tour if you rent a car.
I don’t think the swing is at Nusa Penida. I think it is at Nusa Lembongan, a neighboring island.
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for detailed info for visiting Nusa Penida. We are planning to visit the same but just wanted to know that while stepping down for Kelingking beach do we require trekking shoes (for firm grip) or will crocs / normal sport shoes be equally good?
TIA..!!
-Anurag
Hi Anurag, I don’t think trekking shoes are required per se but definitely I would recommend sport shoes since it’s really steep at some points and you only have bamboo sticks to step on. That said, I did successfully hike down in sandals (which i don’t recommend.. haha)
Hi Melissa, we will going to Bali this coming April, but it’s have any tours can we just visit for two places only, Kelingking Beach and broken beach?
Thank you
Hey Nichole, Angel’s Billabong is right next to broken beach. If you only want to see these two places, you can still book the west penida tour but tell the operator that you want to skip the rest of the places. Otherwise you can just go to Nusa Penida (i have detailed how to do that) and rent a car once you are on the island. However I think the price difference isn’t going to be much compared to the tour.
This info is so useful n detailed. Thank you x 3
No problem Lissa! Have fun!
I think, your writing is very helpful for tourists who want to go to Nusa Penida. I am a native of Nusa Penida, thank you. we will always be waiting for all tourists to arrive
Is there surf over there? We are looking at staying over ther2 a few night but my partner is a surfer and would love some surf as well as other activities.
Hey Skye, I did not see many surfers in Nusa Penida, so probably not. I think the spots are in the neighboring islands – Ceningan and Lembongan.
Hi Melissa! Nice Blog about Nusa Penida! I’m leaving for Bali next month and will include this on my trip. My concern is, do i need to purchase ferry ticket online? or is it okay to go straight to Sanur early morning?
I’ve been checking ferry tickets online but it costs IDR 300,000/one way?? any advise on where and how to purchase ticket? Thank you and have a great day!
Hi Gio, in my experience it was okay to buy the ticket on the spot. Just arrive half an hout earlier from your desired departure time. We went to Sanur at 7am and was on the 7:30AM boat. For foreigners it should only cost Rp 150,000 one way.
This info can be found in the post above by the way 😉
Hi Melissa
Wow! It’s such a beautiful place!! But where is the recommended accommodation if we want to stay for 2 days? Thank you .
Hey Nancy, I did not stay on the island since I went for a day trip, but I would look at places from booking.com that have good reviews. Here is a list of places in Nusa Penida. They often have free cancellation policy up to a week before your stay, so I always book with them.
Hi Mellisa
Iam Putu from Nusa Penida, ..
Thank for your Nusa Penida Guiding ..
Just information about the fast boat ticket,, our guest experient is very difficult to get the ticket also if they buy directly is really expensive. Your guiding for booking online the ticket one day before departure is really easier.
But nobody don’t know where they will book online the ticket , We have information from the official fastboat company, Now Easy Booking Fast Boat Ticket from Bali to Nusa Penida with one click away. just visit (redacted) on this site will give 100% Money Back guaranteed . Maybe this information you can help to share for your followers so for future tourist is not complicated to Buy the ticket ..
And also help us to campaign for Keep Clean the Nusa Penida beach from the garbage .
thank you so much Melissa
I Hope you good and comeback to holiday in Nusa Penida island
Thank you
Hey Putu, thanks for checking out my website. I checked out your link, but it was providing the same amount as when buying directly (Rp 300,000 for a return ticket to Nusa Penida for foreigners). So I have removed your link unless your website can provide value to my readers. Thanks for understanding.
Hi Melissa!
How deep is the water you have to was in to get to the speedboat?
It wasn’t very deep, maybe about shin-deep but definitely didn’t reach my knees!
Hi Melissa, thanks for your informative post. My husband and I took Mola Mola express this afternoon, I’m 165cm and the water was mid thighs. Many people shorter than me had to sit in wet underwear. Thought this info would add to your comprehensive guide
that is indeed a good information. Thanks Ellen! I will add this to my blog.
Thanks, a lot you post helping me!! i plan to go there this April with mum and brother we would love to spend at night there and get back to Bali in the morning. we have a short holiday but will try to do the best holiday for mum.
I hope you’ll make it out to Nusa Penida!
Amazing post!! I was not sure which island should I visit near Bali. But reading this I already know my next destination! Thank you for very useful information!!
have fun in Nusa Penida 🙂
Hi Ms. Melissa, just a quick question. Do you happen to remember the departure time options going back to Sanur? I love your blog by the way! 😍😍😍
4:30pm was last return, before that I think they had options for 2:30 and 3:30pm. Last boat was chaotic though!
Great post! Super helpful for someone looking to visit Nusa Penida. Just wondering if its easy traveling with big suitcases, to get to the island, and to get around the island to suitable accommodation if staying on the island?
Hi devon, I think you would be ok with a big suitcase but could be challenging at times. How big of a suitcase are we talking about here? You’ll need to get them on the boat (we had to walk partly in the water to get on the boat). Once you get to the island, you’ll need to hire a car to transport the luggage around.
Hi Melissa! great photos and detailed experience you have shared here! really hope I can visit Nusa Penida in my next holiday in Bali. Just would like to check how long it takes to go to Crystal Bay by bike? And any food recommendations when you spent day-trip in Nusa Penida?
Thanks in advance!
i assume you are asking from the port? i think it was about 20-30 mins. the roads are paved well so it was pretty easy!
as for food… not much aside from the usual nasi goreng or mie goreng. there was only small warung type of place there. still good though!
Hi melissa I was wondering how you know how to get to Kelingking Beach via the bike is it easy to find
Hey Molly – yes there aren’t many other roads. we just relied on Google maps and road signs.
Wow! Amazed at the pictures and how you narrate your experience. Just a question, if I am going to rent a car, how much would it cost if I don’t want any tourists with me? I mean, I want to rent an exclusive car for me alone.
Hey Bryan, it’s possible to hire a private car for yourself, it will just cost you more money. This tour will take you to all of the places I mentioned above in your own private car and a tour guide.
OOh! Thank you Ms. Melissa for your prompt response. This greatly helps me on my plan to go to Bali on mid-May 2019.
Hi! Thank you for this review, it was really helpful, and the photos are beautiful! I have one question, just to clarify- when you drive to Kelingking Bay, can the car/taxi simply drop you off at the top for the view? I would love to see the view, but I have a bad knee, and that climb sounds like something I just wouldn’t be able to do! Thanks in advance!
Hey Kelly! Yes, the viewpoint is accessible by car since it’s next to a small carpark. So as long as your car can park there, it’s just a short walk away.
Thank you so much! Love your review, its been very helpful! We are booked to go, thanks for giving me some advice. I was excited about the view, but my knee won’t allow for the stairs!
no problem – hope you have fun! Let me know how it goes!
Awesome post! I’ll be there in December so looking forward to it!
Hi Melissa,
Your post is awesome & very informative 👍👍.
Im planning to visit Nusa Peninda in May, as per webserach there are two main ports at Nusa, which one do you recommend if im going to rent a scooter?
Thank you!
Hey Ishara, this one: https://goo.gl/maps/5qpNwDyyX7S2 is the one we went to with Maruti Express. There are tons of scooter for rental for Rp 70,000 a day there.
Hi Melissa,
I really liked this article and one particular picture was a place I’d visit and I love that place. 🙂
Thanks for visit Bali and sharing all your tips and experience while you Bali especially Nusa Penida. Really appreciated.
We had visit Nusa Penida last week. We got promo code then book online.
Nusa Penida is amazing places to go and we want back again someday. Organize our travel from Island Tour to snorkeling to see the Manta. It’s amazing experience while seen Manta.
Hi Melisa,
Really great post, I plan to visit here next summer and I was wondering if you have the link to the website to order the ferry tickets online as the one I found for Angel’s Billabong Fast Boat is for $450,000 Rp round trip.
Thanks
Hey Octavia, unfortunately, I don’t know of a good place that will give you a fair price online. The next best one is probably through https://12go.asia/?z=3208216, which is Rp 165,000 one way.
Hey,Melissa
Thank you for all of the information that you are giving to us!
I just want to ask a question..
I want to visit just Crystal Bay and The Tree house because I am really afraid of hights. So how can I manage that? If I am with a tour group maybe its impossible. You wrote that we can rent a car with a driver and we will be around 5 people in the car. So basicly all of us will decide where to go or? I am not asking for option private car just for me because maybe it will be too expensive..
Hi Katia, if you are renting a car with a driver it’s pretty much a private car, so your group will decide where to go and the car will just drive you around. I think that is the best option if you only want to visit those 2 places.