The famous and exotic island of Nusa Penida in Indonesia is not far from Bali. Many travelers who travel to Bali therefore also take the opportunity to explore the beautiful island of Nusa Penida for a few days.

With a length of 20 kilometers and a width of 12 kilometers, Nusa Penida is a lot smaller than Bali, so you don’t need too much time to explore the whole island.

You also want to explore Nusa Penida, but don’t know how to get there? When is the best time to visit the island? Or how you get to all the beautiful beaches? Then I would like to help you to plan your adventure on Nusa Penida in detail with this ultimate Travel Guide.

How long will you need

There are numerous day trips to Nusa Penida that are offered from Bali. In my opinion, a day is not enough to explore the whole island. So try not to book a tour, even if it sounds a little more relaxed at the beginning. Instead, take a little more time and explore the island on your own. That way you can see much more of the island.
To really see all the highlights, you need at least three days. If you want to travel a little more stress-free, you should take four days to explore Nusa Penida.

When to go

In itself, you can visit Nusa Penida all year round, depending on what you prefer.
The rainy season in Bali is approximately from Novemver to April. At this time, the island is not very frequented by tourists, which can be a great advantage for you. After all, at this time everything is cheaper and the attractions are not so crowded. In addition, most of the rain falls during the night, so you can still expect nice sunny days.
If you still want to be safe and take the best weather with you, you should visit Nusa Penida in the months of May to October.

How to get there

The only way to get to Nusa Penida is by ferry from Bali, as there is no airport on Nusa Penida. The ferries depart several times a day from the beach in Sanur. This is a small place southeast of Bali. Sanur is also not far from Denpasar and is therefore easily accessible by taxi or bus from the International Airport.
The journey by ferry takes about 30 minutes. You can buy the ticket for the ferry directly on the beach of Sanur.

Where to stay

Nusa Penida offers plenty of cheap accommodation, Airbnbs or hostels for travelers. Find the accommodation that suits you the most online on Airbnb, Hostelworld or booking.com. Book these a few days before you arrive in Nusa Penida.

How to get around the island

There are only two ways to explore Nusa Penida: either on your own with a scooter or you rent a car with a private driver.

Many of the roads on Nusa Penida are unpaved or very rough and narrow. Therefore, it is quite dangerous to explore the island with a scooter. However, this is the cheapest option.
However, it is safest to hire a private driver for a day. The cost is also not much higher than if you rent a scooter. Your driver will take you all day to the different beaches and places on Nusa Penida and show you the places if you like. You have no time pressure and can decide for yourself how long you want to stay anywhere. The advantage with a private driver is that he knows the island inside out and can therefore give you the best tips.

If you’re traveling alone, a private driver is not a bad idea, because he likes to take lots of photos of you and also knows the best angles.

Top Things you need to do on Nusa Penida:

Get impressed by the famous Kelingking Beach

I think anyone who thinks of Nusa Penida automatically thinks of the famous Kelingking Beach. From here you have a breathtaking view of the sea, the bay of the beach and the rock that looks like the head of a dinosaur. Whoever comes here as early as possible in the morning has the place all to himself. Because by noon at the latest, Kelingking Beach turns into a tourist hotspot. To get to the beach, you have to go down a longer and steep staircase. But the descent and the later ascent are definitely worthwhile with such a beautiful view.

Become speechless at Diamond Beach

Another must see place on Nusa Penida is definitely the Diamond Beach. I myself could not get enough of the sight of the blue water, the rocks and the palm trees.
Diamond Beach is named after the pointy diamond shaped rock on the beach. Here you can enjoy the view over the beach from above or, as at Kelingking Beach, go down a steep staircase that goes right along the cliff to the beach.

Take a beautiful picture at the Rumah Pohon Tree House

Not far from Diamond Beach is the famous Rumah Pohon Tree House. Anyone who comes to Nusa Penida would like to take a photo on the stairs with Diamond Beach in the background. To take a photo here you have to pay a price of 75,000 IDR and then you have one minute to take your perfect photo.
Since there are many tourists here, you get a number and then have to wait until you are called and it is your turn. But in a place like this, with a spectacular view, you can bridge the wait very well.

Have a view over Thousand Island

Right next to the Rumah Pohon Tree House is the View Point of Thousand Island. From here you can see Diamond Beach in the distance and enjoy the view over the spectacular nature of Nusa Penida. Here you can pass the time very well, if you wait for your photo in front of the Rumah Pohon Tree House.

Go snorkeling with Manta Rays

On the coast of Nusa Penida there are numerous manta rays with which you can swim. Especially in the Manta Bay bay, you meet again and again the spectacular animals. Make the most of your stay on Nusa Penida to discover Manta rays while snorkeling.

Stroll around Broken Beach

Broken Beach consists of an archway that wraps around the bay which allows the water to flow in and out of the bay. Here you can walk around the bay and admire it from all sides. Since Broken Beach is also not far away from Manta Bay Bay, you can also look for one or the other Manta rays here.

Visit the Angel Billabong Beach

Angel Billabong Beach is located right next to Broken Beach. It’s a natural rock lagoon with an infinity pool edge. Angel Billabong Beach got it‘s name from a mythic story that this place is a place for Angel bath. When it’s low tide, you can swim in the lagoon. When it’s high tide, the waves are really high and reach into the natural pool. So before you jump into the water check, if it’s safe to take a bath.

Relax at Crystal Bay Beach

Crystal Bay Beach is a not so well-known destination for tourists. So here you can relax on the beach and go swimming in the water without being in a crowd of tourists. Crystal Bay Beach is also a great place to explore the underwater world while snorkeling.

If you would like to find out what I experienced during my time on Nusa Penida click here.