Offbeat Instagram haven in Bali
Nusa Penida Island is one of Bali’s many offbeat islands that many have recently come to know and love. Home to beautiful rock formations, clear blue waters, a huge array of marine life (read: dolphins) and chill vibes all around, it’s no wonder many flock here to experience the island life.
Did we mention almost every corner is an Instagrammer’s dream? Don’t forget to get your 4G SIM card because, pictures or it didn’t happen right?
Read on to find out how to take a day trip to this hidden gem!
How to travel to Nusa Penida Island
Since Nusa Penida is an offshore island, you will need to hop onto a boat from the main Bali island to get there. Speed boats depart from Sanur Beach and will ferry you to Nusa Penida in slightly under an hour. The speed boat ticket will set you back IDR 150,000 (~USD13) and these run almost hourly from 7am to 4pm.
These boat tickets are included in when you book your Nusa Penida tours on Klook!
#Klook Tip: Do note that the boats departing from Sanur Beach do not use a pier. This means you will need to walk into knee-high waters to reach the boat. We’d recommend wearing a pair of shorts and making sure all your belongings are safely tucked into your bag.
Getting around Nusa Penida
There are 2 ways of getting around Nusa Penida – motorcycle and a private car.
Many rent a motorcycle and travel around the island on their own. However, we would not recommend this as steep unpaved roads with plenty of potholes can be quite a challenge.
#Klook Tip: If you plan on renting a motorcycle, download a series of offline maps before heading over to ensure that you are still able to navigate your way around without internet connection.
If you are travelling in a pair or group, we would definitely recommend the Klook tour. The unpaved roads in Nusa Penida were rough with plenty of potholes and there were little to no street signs. The scorching sun can also be pretty merciless and a rest in an air conditioned vehicle is definitely a bonus you’d want to have.
Book your Nusa Penida tours on Klook and enjoy a hassle free day out on the island! With 2 way hotel and boat transfers as well as a local driver to take you to all the must hit spots, you won’t have to worry about being ripped off upon landing.
West Nusa Penida Tour Itinerary
- Get picked up from your hotel (pick up time depends on your hotel’s location)
- 7:30am check in at Sanur Harbour
- 8:00am board the boat and depart for Nusa Penida
- 9:15am arrive at Nusa Penida
- 10:00am visit Angel Billabong
- 10:30am visit Broken Beach
- 12:00pm visit Kelingking Beach
- 1:30pm have lunch
- 2:30pm visit Crystal Bay or go snorkelling at 2 of 3 spots: Crystal Bay, Manta Bay, or Gamat Bay
- 3:30pm return to the Nusa Penida Harbour
- 5:00pm return to Sanur Harbour and then depart for your hotel (end of the trip)
Nusa Penida highlights
Nusa Penida Snorkelling
One of the things you must do in Nusa Penida is go snorkeling! With such crystal blue waters, you’ll be missing out on a whole other world if don’t dive right in. While some of us might not have a diving license to swim to the depths of the ocean, snorkeling is a great option as many of these marine animals swim near the surface.
Even if you are a beginner swimmer, fret not! You can still experience the wonders of the ocean with the help of a life vest!
Here are some of the snorkel sites to visit:
1. Buddha Underwater – Pemuteran Temple Garden
The underwater Buddha is definitely a sight to behold! These Buddha statues were actually placed there by local artists Captain Paul M Turley and Chris Brown 10 years ago. The biggest Buddhist statue was 2.5-metres tall with smaller Buddhas alongside.
The currents in the water near the buddha statue were pretty strong so if you are not a strong swimmer, we’d recommend putting on a life vest!
2. Manta Point
Have you ever swam alongside a giant Manta Ray? Before you start panicking, Manta Rays are 100% harmless to humans! Due to their lack of spines, they do not have a single venomous bone in their bodies.
At Manta Bay, depending on seasonality, you can catch anywhere from 1-10 manta rays at a time! Swimming alongside these gentle giants is definitely something for the bucket list.
If you’re lucky (in our case we were extremely), you might even spot creatures like dolphins! We spotted a school of dolphins jumping out of the water and immediately threw on our masks and jumped in to chase them.
3. Crystal Bay
Not coined Crystal Bay for nothing, the crystal clear waters here are perfect for beginner snorkelers who want to catch sight of tropical fish but are afraid of the strong currents. As the waters nearer to the coast are relatively more shallow, you don’t have to dive deep underwater to catch sight of the fishes!
4. Nusa Penida Broken Beach – Pasih Uug Beach
Aptly named Broken Beach because of the huge concave in the middle of the cliffs, this beach is a sight not to be missed on your visit to Nusa Penida! From the cliffs, look down and if the tide is low, you might even spot some fishes swimming!
Walk across the natural rock bridge and watch the craves crash fiercely against it, forming foamy waves that cut through the turquoise waters.
5. Angel’s Billabong
Angel’s Billabong is just a walk away from the Broken Beach and these two sights should definitely be visited concurrently. Walk to the edge of the cliffs and because the waters are so clear, you can even see the colourful corals and marine life!
If you visit on a day with low tide, you can even swim in the pool at Angel’s Billabong. Swimming closer to the edge of the pool will make it seem as though you are at the edge of nature’s infinity pool!
Be warned that the tide can suddenly get higher and the waves that crash upon the cliffs are pretty strong so on days with high tide, you are strongly advised against swimming in this pool for fear of being washed out to sea.
P.S. If you dare, climb up one of the trees near the cliffs for an aerial view of the beach plus get that Insta-worthy shot!
6. Kelingking Beach
I’m sure you’ve seen a shot of this beach on Instagram! Kelingking Beach is probably the most popular spot in Nusa Penida and for good reason! With its beautiful cliffs and waters so clear you can even spot manta rays below! You have two options – climb to the top of the cliff or walk down to beach!
#Klook Tip: Be sure to wear shoes with good grip as there is no clear marked walking path or any railing to grab onto so it can get pretty slippery climbing up and down to the beach.
There is also a secret tree located at the top of Kelingking Beach that will get you the million dollar ‘gram shot as well as spectacular views of the beaches! Be careful while climbing up the tree because there are no safety nets below to catch you if you slip and all.
A Bali must visit!
Don’t forget to Klook yourselves the Nusa Penida tour to hit up all these beautiful spots and for ease of getting around, You will definitely want a 4G SIM card to stay connected at all times. After a whole day out at the island, look forward to filling your bellies on these Bali must eats!
