Nusa Penida 2024: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay & Essential Travel Tips
Nusa Penida is an enchanting island located southeast of Bali, Indonesia, it's known for its eye-catching natural beauty. It's part of the Nusa Islands, which also include Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. Nusa Penida is the largest of the 3 islands and is an extremely popular tropical destination for many tourists. Many tourists and backpackers visit the island to explore its breathtaking viewpoints, the most famous landmarks being Kelingking Beach and Angel's Billabong. Nusa Penida is still relatively underdeveloped, but this comes with a slower pace of life and fewer crowds compared to Bali itself. Nusa Penida offers a perfect escape for travelers seeking adventure, relaxation, and amazing, tropical scenery.
Getting There:
You will need to travel by boat to get to Nusa Penida from Bali. The easiest and fastest way is to take a fast boat from Sanur. This boat trip should vary from 35-40 minutes.
You can book tickets on a number of different websites such as -
Once you get to Nusa Penida, The best way to travel is either by car or scooter/motorbike. You can rent motorbikes/scooters once on the Island, or for people less confident riding, you can hire a driver for the day or however long you decide to stay in Nusa Penida. You can rent a bike through a website such as Bikago, or you can rent one from a local business or through your accommodation if you are staying in Nusa Penida for more than one day. You can also hire a driver through different websites such as Klook and GetYourGuide, but again, you can hire from a local business or through your accommodation once you get on the Island if you want to be more flexible with your travel plans.
Accommodation:
If you choose to extend your stay in Nusa Penida beyond a single day, rest assured that there are plenty of accommodation options available.
For a range of accommodations, from hostels and private villas to homestays, consider exploring top sites like Booking.com, Airbnb and Hostelworld.
We decided to stay in a place called The Peace Arta Bungalow. The price ranges from around $15USD per night (£13GPB) which is very reasonably priced. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful during our stay, you could book breakfast with them in the evenings and this would be brought to your room the next morning. We were also able to rent a scooter with them during our stay, which only cost around $5 per day and fuel is very cheap in Nusa Penida. The accommodation was quite basic, but very clean and had everything you needed. It was also about a 5 minute walk away from a convenience store which was great.
Top things to do and see in Nusa Penida:
There are a number of different day excursions you can choose from in Nusa Penida. You can choose from
Snorkeling
Swimming with Manta Rays
Spend a full day visiting some of the best locations of the East and the West of the island, including the world famous Kelingking beach, the iconic Diamond beach and Molenteng Treehouse.
You can book these tours through websites such as GetYourGuide, Viator and Tripadvisor.
From personal experience I would recommend booking an overnight stay in Nusa Penida, there is a lot to do and see on the Island. I personally believe that 1-2 nights is plenty of time to see all that Nusa has to offer.
My partner and I did a self-tour around the island. It gave us more flexibility and time in the locations we wanted to see most and we weren't on a time schedule which was great.
If you decide to do a self-tour around the island, the best locations to visit the
West of the Island:
East of the Island:
If you love history then you can’t miss Goa Giri Putri Temple!
Some of these locations will charge for entry or parking and will only accept cash. So make sure to bring cash to Nusa Penida as there aren’t many ATM’s around.
The cost of entry to most places is 5,000 IDR ($0.36).
Insider Tips:
Start your day early - I would recommend this to anyone who is wanting to avoid large crowds and tour groups, typically most tourist destinations tend to get busy from 9am onwards. So if you want to beat the crowds, rise up nice and early!
Always carry cash - Nusa Penida mostly uses cash, there aren’t many places that have card readers or ATM’s. It's best to get cash from an ATM either before arriving at Nusa Penida, or just as you get off the Fast boat/Ferry.
Bring your own snacks - Unlike mainland Bali, Nusa Penida doesn’t have many convenience stores and there’s no option for food/shop delivery either.
Wear comfortable and appropriate footwear - Nusa Penida is perhaps not the best place to wear flip-flops (speaking from experience!). Most places at Nusa Penida are only accessible via foot, the terrain is very hilly and the descents can range from challenging to extremely difficult. I would advise wearing some comfortable trainers with good support and grip, and pack some flip-flops for when you get to the beach.
The descent to Kelingking beach - My partner and I were very surprised by how steep the descent was to get onto Kelingking Beach. The further you go down, the fewer railings there are to hold onto, and the steps are extremely steep and can be quite slippery. Something else to bare in mind, is the walk back up. It was quite strenuous and tiring, so you need a good level of fitness to actually get onto the beach itself. However, if you are just wanting to take some photos of the beach, the best viewpoint is Paluang Cliff. This viewpoint is located just before the descent down to the beach.
We would recommend visiting Nusa Penida to anyone that is travelling to Bali. It really is a hidden gem that offers a diverse range of experiences for every type of traveler. Each corner of the island presents a new opportunity for discovery and adventure. Nusa Penida provides a laid-back vibe and a sense of unspoiled beauty that can be hard to find in more tourist-heavy destinations. Whether you're a solo adventurer seeking thrilling explorations, a couple looking for a romantic escape, or a family wanting to make unforgettable memories, Nusa Penida welcomes all with open arms. So pack your bags, grab your camera, and prepare for an adventure that will leave you with stories to tell for a lifetime. Nusa Penida is not just a destination; it's an experience that captures the heart of all who visit.
Thank you for taking the time to read about our adventures in Nusa Penida! I hope this guide inspires you to explore this incredible island for yourself.
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