Nusa Penida Travel Guide For A Perfect Island Getaway: Top Attractions, Hidden Gems, Tips and Transportations
If you’re looking to see magical landscapes from cliffs, visit natural infinity pools, swim in a quieter turquoise-colored ocean, and have a chance to encounter the beautiful ocean creatures Manta Rays and Mola Mola fish, then you need to visit Nusa Penida – the largest island among the three Nusa islands.
This Nusa Penida travel guide provides everything you need to know about planning a trip to Nusa Penida, including Nusa Penida’s top attractions, how to get there, transportation options, the best seasons to visit, and the best areas to stay. Hope this can help you to plan your Nusa Penida trip easily!
List of Contents
- 1.Nusa Penida Attractions
- 2.Snorkeling Spots in Nusa Penida
- 3.How Many Days Are Enough to Travel to Nusa Penida?
- 4.Where Are The Best Areas to Stay in Nusa Penida?
- 5.How to Go to Nusa Penida from Bali?
- 6.How to Get Around in Nusa Penida?
- 7.The Best Area to Stay Before Going to Nusa Penida from Sanur Harbour
1.Nusa Penida Attractions
This map displays the scenic and popular attractions of Nusa Penida, mainly located on the west and east sides of the island. And a few less known spots on south west of Nusa Penida.
Places To Go on The West Side of Nusa Penida
The west side of Nusa Penida is more popular than the east side. The following spots are considered as the must go places in Nusa Penida.
1. Kelingking Beach: the picturesque famous T-rex.
2. Angel’s Billabong: the instagram famous natural infinity pool.
3. Broken Beach: best to shoot drone footages, as you can actually see a broken circle from the sky.
4. Crystal Bay: a palm tree paradise and an amazing spot for a swim and enjoy some fresh drinks.
Places To Go on The East Side of Nusa Penida
Even though there are many must gos on the west side of Nusa Penida, I love the east side the most!!!! Because usually there are fewer people and you can pretty much access to all beaches there! Plus, the views from the cliffs here are just breathtaking and given the adventurous vibe. Places I recommend you to visit are as follows:
1. Atuh Beach: a hidden beach between 2 steep cliffs that require a little hike but offer a great view and nice swimming spot. You can also find a little beach restaurant here
2. Atuh Cliff: a view point where you get to see both Atuh Beach & Diamond Beach.
3. Diamond Beach: a stunning beach with breathtaking view and diamond shape rocks. The stairway going down to the beach is a social media perfect picture spot.
4. Thousand islands viewpoint: another view point to see the wide view of beautiful sea and little islands.
Check this article for detail informations of Atuh Beach & Diamond Beach, including the easiest way to get there.
Places To Go on The South West Side of Nusa Penida
Here are 2 off the beaten spots in the south west:
1. Tembeling natural pool, beach, forest
2. Banah Cliff : Locals recommended this place as the best spot to watch sunset, I didn’t make it due to the time limit, but if you get time, check it out!
2.Snorkeling Spots in Nusa Penida
For people who love underwater world, don’t miss out on the chance to encounter MANTA RAYS or MOLA MOLA FISH in Nusa Penida on the snorkeling tour. The snorkeling spots that the tour usually go to are Manta bay, Manta point, Crystal bay, Gamat bay, Wall bay.
Manta Bay: This is one of the spots where manta rays feed themselves with plankton and get cleaned by fishes. Some locals said the chance to meet manta rays is higher if you go earlier than 9 am, while others say that manta rays are always there but you need some luck because they are wild animals.
Crystal Bay: We saw many coral reefs here.
Gamat Bay: The water is crystal clear, and you can see different species of fishes here. I really love it!
Toyapakeh Wall (Wall Bay): This is where you get to see lots of tropical fishes and corals.
Regarding snorkeling gear, if you don’t have a snorkeling mask or fins, don’t worry because usually, the equipment is included in the tour package. But I highly suggest that you bring or get your own mask and snorkel for the best fit and hygiene reasons.
Note: if you want to see Mola Mola fishes, the best chances to see them is usually from June to October.
3.How Many Days Are Enough to Travel to Nusa Penida?
I truly think this island has so much to offer and I loved it. If you have the time, and want to discover all the above places without feeling rushed, I recommend staying for at least three days two nights. As each side of the island can take you the whole day to enjoy.
However, if you’re short on time, you can still experience the best of Nusa Penida by taking a day trip to Nusa Penida from Bali (which includes snorkeling and popular west-side attractions) or taking a snorkeling day trip to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan from Bali (which includes lunch). Both trips include ferry tickets and snorkeling gear. Or you can even book a private and customise day tour.
Check 3 days 2 night Nusa Penida itinerary to know detailed informations about each attractions and how to fit all above places in your trip.
4.Where Are The Best Areas to Stay in Nusa Penida?
Now that you know the locations of all the attractions in Nusa Penida, you can choose your hotel based on where you want to go the most, what view you would like to see, what facilities you wish to have.
- WEST SIDE is closer to the famous attractions and Toyapakeh port. It is also a great area for watching sunset!
- EAST SIDE is quieter but very beautiful, and easy to visit Diamond beach and Atuh beach. Also if you wake up early you can catch the sunrise !!
Personally, I stayed in the NORTH WEST of Nusa Penida because I wanted to have an ocean view to wake up to. Most of the hotels on the north side are right next to the ocean, and the road here is smoother! More importantly, there are lots of ocean view restaurants around here, and it’s easier to access both the east and west side of Nusa Penida, which saved me a lot of time!
The resort I stayed at was Apit Lawang Villas & Resto, with helpful, fun & friendly staff, and it is next to the ocean with the view of volcano Mount Agung!
5.How to Go to Nusa Penida from Bali?
Fast Boat to Nusa Penida
You can easily take a fast boat to Nusa Penida from Bali or from other islands.
Following are the ports in Bali and Nusa Penida respectively:
- Kusamba : choose this port if you set off from Amed, Ubud areas.
- Padang Bai: choose this port if you are already at the blue lagoon area for snorkeling.
Sanur : This is actually the best option, because there are more boat companies with various departure schedule options. Choose this port if you are coming from the airport, Sanur, Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, Kuta areas.
Important: Make sure you wear shorts and flipflop when boarding from Sanur port otherwise you will get well wet! It’s because there’s no dock, so it requires a few steps walk in the ocean to reach the boat.
And there are 3 ports in Nusa Penida:
- Toyapakeh(Banjar Nyuh): choose this port if you stay at hotel in the west area.
- Sampalan: choose this port if your hotel is in the north or east areas.
- Buyuk: you can also choose this port if your hotel is in the north or east area.
Where To Book The Fast Boat Tickets To Nusa Penida?
To book and secure your fast boat tickets in advance, you can easily check the availability and book it here. They’ve got many options for fast boat companies, schedules, and ports, and they are relatively cheaper than other platforms for the exact same fast boat operators to Nusa Penida!
For the fast boat I took was with Mola Mola Express. It was a pleasant 50 mins journey, not wavy at all! And the boat is clean, with open windows.
Following are the little tips from my personal experience:
- Try to avoid taking a boat at noon time, it is better if go in the early morning or after 2 pm! Current is really strong (on my return trip I took the fast boat at noon time, and had a bit of seasick). Also, if the weather is bad, like storming, do not take the boat!!
- Better arrive at the port 30 mins before departure because there are many operators, it may take a bit of time to figure out where your operator is. For example, Mola Mola Express wasn’t located at the sign of Sanur port, but at 2 mins walk to the left from it, and I had to ask the people at the port for the direction.
6.How to Get Around in Nusa Penida?
There are 2 ways to do it, from my personally experiences, I’d suggest you to book a private driver to explore the west side of Nusa Penida, and rent the scooter/moped to visit the east side of the island. Check this post for the full itinerary for Nusa Penida.
1. Rent a Scooter/Moped With or Without A Driver
You can rent it at the harbour where you get off (there are many rental shops at Toya Pakeh harbor), or ask for help from the hotel staff.
- Without a driver, it usually costs around 70K-85K IDR for 24 hours. I rented my for 70K per day.
- With a driver, prices are usually around 120K IDR per day.
Important: If you are going to ride a scooter by yourself, make sure to ask for a helmet and check the condition (for example flat tires ) of the moped/scooter before setting off on the road. And be careful when you drive, as the road is rough and bumpy, especially when going to main attractions like Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong, and Broken Beach.
If you are not sure about driving a scooter by yourself please drive slowly (I was pretty scared, so I drove super slow, LOL).
Alternatively, you can arrange for a car with a private driver so you can travel with no worries!
2. Book A Private Car With A Driver and Customise Your Trip in Nusa Penida
As the weather is really hot and the road on the west side of Nusa Penida is very bumpy, I highly suggest you book a private car with a driver for exploring the west side of the island, and better arrange it before you arrive the island so you can relax and experience the most while you are there.
Book yours and customise your itinerary HERE
For easily plan your Nusa Penida itinerary without hassles, check THIS POST.
7.The Best Area to Stay Before Going to Nusa Penida from Sanur Harbour
For optimal convenience, it is advisable to stay near your departure port. If you are departing from Sanur, it is best to choose a hotel or hostel in Sanur to avoid the stress of waking up too early and dealing with traffic.
Personally, I arrived in Bali at midnight and opted to stay at Made House in Sanur for a night. While it is not fancy at all, it was sufficient for a quick rest, and its location was perfect – only a 10-minute walk to Sanur Port. The price was around 90,000 IDR/night for a clean bunk bed with amenities like a curtain, bed light, and plug, as well as access to a swimming pool and friendly owners.
If you need transportation from the Bali airport (Denpasar) to Sanur, you can ask the private driver Korma (+6281236161398 via WhatsApp or phone). He is a polite and friendly local, and the ride takes about 30 minutes. It was 250K IDR when I took it. However, it is advisable to confirm the price with him again, as the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the tourism industry in Indonesia.
Have a super trip in Nusa Penida!! 🙂
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