One of the most popular things to do when travelling around Bali is to visit the nearby Nusa islands, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. Nusa Lembongan is by far my favourite of the three, so here is my guide to what to do and see on Nusa Lembongan.
Getting Around
Lembongan is quite a small island and can be explored completely on foot if you have the time and don’t mind walking in the heat. It takes a little over an hour to walk from one end of the island to the other. However, many of the points of interest are quite spread out and would require some zig-zagging around. Depending on how long you would like to spend at each stop, it would potentially be quite difficult, although not impossible, to cover everything on foot in the same day.
There are no cars on Lembongan and most “taxi” services are done in small pickup trucks with seats in the back. There are, however, a number of other options for getting around the island. The most popular is to rent a scooter. Daily rentals are not expensive, the roads are mostly pretty good, and the traffic is much easier to navigate than on Bali. For anyone who is reasonably confident driving a scooter, this is probably the most practical and inexpensive option.
It is also possible to rent a bicycle or an e-bike. They are not as widely advertised as they are on some other islands such as Gili T, but there are a couple of places dotted around the island, some hotels have a limited number available for hire, and those who don’t will be able to advise on where to find one.
The final mode of transport available, and the one which I opted for on one of my days there, is to hire a golf buggy/cart. It was easy to drive, battery operated and with automatic transmission, and meant that I could cover a lot more ground than would have been possible by walking.
Devil’s Tears
Devil’s Tears is a cove that can be found on the southwestern coast of the island. It forms a blowhole where the waves come crashing in and then spit forcefully back out, creating a mist, or “tears.” It is also considered to be one of the best sunset spots on the island, because of its western facing location and the reflection the setting sun casts on the tide pools.
I have found that the best way to get to Devil’s Tears is to go to the parking area at Dream Beach and follow the paved pathway that runs between the two locations. It is also just a short walk across from Sandy Bay at the other side. There is no paved pathway to the Sandy Bay side, but it is a safe route and suitable for anyone with a moderate fitness level, and makes it possible to see all three areas with minimal travel distance for anyone who is walking from one to the other.
Dream Beach
Located on the southern coast of Lembongan and just a short walk from Devil’s Tears, Dream Beach is considered to be the best beach on the island for swimming. It is a popular spot with a couple of hotels facing out onto it so you certainly won’t have the place to yourself, but it is clean and the waves aren’t too aggressive, making it the best spot on the island for a dip.
Sandy Bay
A short walk to the other side of Devil’s Tears lies Sandy Bay, a short, clean stretch of beach. It is western facing which makes it another great spot for sunset. It is also home to Sandy Bay Beach Club. With its beachfront pool, and a decent food and drinks menu, it is one of my favourite spots on the island for sunset dinner and cocktails.
Mushroom Bay Beach
Home to a cluster of beachfront restaurants and a couple of accommodation options, Mushroom Bay Beach is a popular spot to spend a few hours. The sea here is calm but there are a lot of boats, making it not a great beach for swimming or sunbathing. Head to the Mushroom Cafe which overlooks the sea from its high perch at the northern end of the beach. The food isn’t anything special, but they have a pool and a cocktail happy hour, and its elevated location means it has the best sunset views of anywhere along Mushroom Beach.
Nusa Lembongan Lookout
On the stretch of road linking Mushroom Bay and Jungut Batu, the two main areas on the island, there is a small lookout with a perfectly clear view down over Jungut Batu beach. It is definitely worth a quick photo stop while travelling around Lembongan.
Jungut Batu
The bigger of the two villages on the island, Jungut Batu has a much more local feel, although it is still home to lots of accommodation options and everything else that you might need for an enjoyable visit. I personally prefer the more laid back vibe of Mushroom Bay, but Jungut Batu has a lot to offer and is home to the mangrove forest. It is also where most of the boats to and from Bali will arrive and depart.
Mangrove Forest
Once you have passed through the main stretch of Jungut Batu, the road curves around and runs along the northern end of the island, eventually taking you to the mangrove forest. There are warungs and a couple of small shops dotted along the side of the road, and this is also where you will find Agung Beach Club, with its slightly Caribbean feel and views out over the water. The road does get a lot bumpier and less well maintained, so be careful if you’re driving a scooter.
Yellow Bridge
Nusa Lembongan is actually attached to the neighbouring Nusa Ceningan by a yellow bridge which can be crossed on foot or by bike (but not by golf buggy/cart), so once you’ve finished exploring Lembongan, why not pop across the bridge and see what the smallest of the three Nusa islands has to offer?
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