If stunning views, epic hikes and hidden beaches are your thing, then a visit to Nusa Penida should definitely be on your bucket list. Whether you’re planning a quick day trip or a longer stay, here is my guide to the best things to do on Nusa Penida.
The biggest of the three Nusa islands off the southeast coast of Bali, Nusa Penida is considered by many to be the most beautiful and the real must see on any visit to Bali. With jawdropping views and crystal clear blue waters, it certainly left an impression on me.
Getting to Nusa Penida
Getting from Bali to Nusa Penida is quite easy. There are several options, from private speedboat to fast catamaran crossings. There are a number of companies servicing the route from Sanur to Nusa Penida, all of whom offer a number of services daily. You can book online using a website like 12Go Asia, or you can buy your tickets at the harbour. Just make sure to buy directly from the service provider at the harbour itself. Your taxi driver might try to convince you to buy from an agent, telling you that you cannot buy tickets at the harbour. This is not true and you will end up paying a much higher price to the agent than you would if you bought directly.
Immediately upon your arrival on Nusa Penida, prepare to be pounced upon by local taxi drivers offering you transport to your hotel or accommodation. Unfortunately, the regulated transport providers like Bluebird, Grab and Gojek don’t operate on the Nusa islands, so the local taxi drivers are your only option. Make sure to do some research as to how far your accommodation is from the harbour so that you can negotiate a price that is fair for both you and your driver.
Where to stay on Nusa Penida
If you’re planning on staying a night or two, you should try to choose your accommodation based on what you want to see and do whilst you are there. Even though the island is quite small, the roads are bad, often making travel times between points of interest much longer than you might think. Plan your itinerary first, and book a hotel or hostel that makes sense based upon that.
Planning What To See And How To Get Around
Depending on how many days you have to spend exploring this beautiful destination, your wish list needs to be mapped out in areas or regions. If you’re looking at doing a day trip from Bali, you will usually have a choice of seeing either the east or the west side of the island. If you are staying for one or even a number of nights, most day tours offered for booking through your hotel will be designed in the same way.
If you have more than 2 days, or if you are planning on renting a scooter and having a couple of long, jam-packed days of adventuring, then there are lots of other amazing places that you can aim to see while you are there. Just remember that the roads are seriously sketchy in places, and you will be spending multiple hours at a time driving, so this is only wise if you are a confident and experienced scooter driver.
You also need to take into account whether or not your travel insurance will cover you if anything happens. Scooter accidents are very common in Bali, and especially on the questionable roads on Nusa Penida.
West Nusa Penida
Probably the most popular area for a quick day trip or a taster of what the island has to offer, the west side of the island is closer to the harbour, and is also home to some of the most famous and iconic viewpoints.
Angel’s Billabong
Found on the west side of the island, Angel’s Billabong is a stunningly clear tide pool that flows out into Manta Bay. At low tide, it is safe to swim. At high tide, swimming is not possible, but the view of the crashing waves can be spectacular. Try to plan your visit, depending on whether you want to swim or not, so that you you can experience it exactly the way you want to.
It is also worth noting that Angel’s Billabong is one of the most popular stops on the day trips coming from Bali, so I advise getting there early and beating the crowds if you want to get the perfect photo or have the place to yourself to have a dip.
Manta Point
Located off the west coast of Nusa Penida, Manta Point is one of the most popular spots for snorkelling trips from Penida and the neighbouring Nusa Lembongan. Snorkelling tours are easy to book, either online or through your hotel or hostel, and should cost around 200K IDR. Trips leave from Toyapakeh Bay, usually around 8:30 AM, and last two to three hours.
Seeing Manta Rays is never guaranteed, but for those lucky enough to have spotted and swam with these gentle giants, they say it is an experience they will never forget.
Broken Beach
Just around the corner, only a 5 minute walk from Angel’s Billabong, is Broken Beach. This distinctive arch was formed naturally by erosion over many years, resulting in one of the unique and extraordinary landscapes that Nusa Penida does so well. There is no railing and the drop is steep and dangerous. Keep a safe distance from the edge and remember that no photo is worth risking a serious accident.
Kelingking Viewpoint and Kelingking Beach
Probably one of the most well known views on Nusa Penida, especially for Instagram fans, is the T-Rex at Kelingking viewpoint. Definitely the most popular inclusion on any Nusa Penida tour, you certainly won’t have the place to yourself. Luckily though, there are a number of different spots where you can drink in the amazing views.
Instead of battling with the crowds at the main lookout area, I recommend heading over to the right where there is a well worn path with several stunning viewpoints. If you have a local driver with you, it’s likely that they will show you exactly where to go for the best views. There is no railing so be careful to stay back on the path and away from the edge, and watch out for monkeys. It’s well worth the short walk to get away from the hordes of tourists, and you’ll be much better able to enjoy the moment.
From the main viewpoint, there is a stairs leading down to Kelingking Beach. It’s not what could be described as a leisurely stroll. The steps are steep and uneven, and in the heat and humidity, your fitness levels will need to be better than average. Don’t attempt the hike down unless you have plenty of water and are sure you can make it back up.
Crystal Bay
The most popular beach on Nusa Penida, and a regular inclusion on any west island tour, Crystal Bay lies on the northwest coast and is also one of the first stops for most snorkelling tours. With much calmer waters than most of the island’s other beaches, you can actually swim and snorkel comfortably here, and its location also makes it popular for sunset.
There are sun loungers and umbrellas available for rent, or you can enjoy a drink or a snack at one of the little bars/stalls. Although it was nice to spend an afternoon relaxing at a beach that was easily accessible and didn’t require an epic hike to get there, I was quite underwhelmed by Crystal Bay. I’m not sure if it was because of the slightly overcast weather when we were there, but I just didn’t fall in love with it. That said, for anyone looking for somewhere to have a swim or a snorkel, or to spend a couple of hours relaxing, I would still recommend a visit.
East Nusa Penida
Although it is slightly less popular with tourists, due to being further from the harbour, the eastern side of the island is just as beautiful and worthy of visiting. As with the west coast, there are day tours available from Bali, although there are less to choose from, and most hotels and hostels can also help you to arrange a tour.
Diamond Beach
One of my favourite views in Bali, and definitely my favourite on Nusa Penida, is the view from the top of the steps looking down at Diamond Beach. I had seen it so many times on Instagram and YouTube, which can often result in a bit of an anticlimax when faced with the actual genuine article. The views of Diamond Beach didn’t disappoint though. Everything was working in my favour that day. The sun was shining and the water was a perfect aquamarine colour.
I attempted the walk down to the beach but only made it part of the way down before turning back. Although the steps were solid, there was no railing or rope to hold on to in places, and I was poorly dressed for the occasion in flip flops. With proper walking shoes or sandals, and a backpack that leaves both hands free, the hike/climb down might be more doable.
Atuh Beach
To the left of Diamond Beach is Atuh Beach. if you are exploring the island by scooter, make sure to see both beaches at the same time. Get Google maps to bring you to the parking area for Diamond Beach, and then you can simply walk across to Atuh Beach which is only a two or three minute walk. If you set the GPS to bring you to Atuh Beach, it might bring you to the other side. This is a long drive from Diamond Beach and will take a big chunk out of your day.
Like most beaches on Nusa Penida, Atuh Beach can be accessed by hiking down from the viewpoints on either side. If you are viewing the beach from the right side, i.e. Diamond Beach side, there is a beautiful view from up on the hill to your right as you are coming up from the Diamond Beach viewpoint.
Thanks for reading my guide to the best things to do on Nusa Penida.
Planning a trip to the Nusa islands? Check out my other Nusa islands posts:
What To Do And See On Nusa Lembongan
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