Nusa Penida

Welcome to The Paradise Island ! Nusa Penida is also called The Paradise Island and we vouch for it. It is one of the three Nusa Islands where the other two are: Nusa Lembongan Nusa Ceningan. With its rugged landscapes, pristine beaches, and awe-inspiring natural wonders, Nusa Penida stands as an untouched gem awaiting discovery. Nusa Penida is not a Balinese territory. It is an independent island in the archipelago of Indonesia. Due to its nearness to Bali, it forms a wonderful getaway. Since, it not very popular among the tourists like the Gili Islands yet, it offers substantial relaxed atmosphere. Slowly, the tourist activities are picking up on this island as well. Still, it is a beauty to explore.

How to Reach

You may take a day trip to the island and cover majority of the popular tourist spots. Many tour operators offer day trip inclusive of lunch. There are options of a 2 day 1 night trips as well, where the tour operators will arrange your stay, sightseeing and meals also. Or, you may go exploring the island on your own. If you are going there by yourself, we recommend staying overnight at the least. Sanur, Padang Bai and Kusamba are the ports in Bali while Toya Pakeh (Banjar Nyuh) Buyuk and Sampalan are the ports on Nusa Penida island. Buyuk and Sampalan are located on the northern part of the island and are very close to each other whereas, Banjar Nyuh (Toya Pakeh) is on the western part.

Ports & Boats

Sanur is the most convenient port in Bali as it is close to many tourist places and there are any boat operators here. There are many speedboats operating between Sanur port to one of the three ports in Nusa Penida. Another speed boat port near to the southern part of Bali is the Serangan port. It is located on the Serangan island and not exactly in Bali but is easily accessible by road. Kusamba port also has frequent boats but it is convenient only if you are staying on the eastern part of the island. Padang Bai port operates big ferries that carry vehicles. If you have a vehicle which you want to take to Nusa Penida, you will have to book a ticket on a car ferry. Different speed boat operators take you to different ports. It takes about 40-45 minutes to reach Nusa Penida from Bali.

Tickets

The best advice is to take the speed boat. The ports are developed with easy boarding and landing facilities. They are fairly comfortable with 3/3 or 4/4 seating arrangement. Some of them are air conditioned while some are not. Please confirm this before booking tickets. You can see pictures of the boats on the website of the operators. The boats are exactly as shown in pictures. The ticket price is roughly around 150.000 IDR one way from Sanur for foreigners. The timings of the different operators also vary. We advise you to book tickets online from the website of the boats or tour operators or choose Klook for booking the tickets. It is much cheaper, convenient and you can pay in INR without worrying about currency exchange. Do not book from the tour operators around Bali as they charge double the price. It is very difficult to book tickets from the counter since they get sold very fast.

There is another piece of advice. Do ensure that the boat’s landing port is near your hotel. It is beneficial in two ways, first you may get a free pick up and drop by your hotel and second, you may leave your luggage at the hotel lobby on the check out day and explore the remaining places. Also if you are sea sick choose a seat at the back. Do not keep the window panes open as the water might get in.

Schedule of boats

Following is the list of recommended speed boat operators and the ports they operate between:

There are several other operators as well but they have lesser and infrequent boats. Having said that, please check them out if none of the above suit your schedule.

How to Explore

Nusa Penida is divided into two parts with respect to tourist activities: West and East. Most of the one day tours cover either the West or the East or mixed spots. A 2 day tour is required to cover every famous spot in Nusa Penida. Even more days are required to cover every beach and every viewpoint. East Nusa Penida is more populated and has many accommodation options ranging from outright budget friendly to luxury resorts. West Nusa Penida also has fairly well priced accommodations. Although the west side being more popular, has more expensive resorts than the east. Overall, there are good budget homestays all over Nusa Penida.

Our homestay was close to Sampalan beach and accordingly we booked seats in the Wijaya Buyuk speed boat which took us to Buyuk harbour. Our homestay host offered us free pick up and drop from there. We have provided a list of places where we stayed in this post.

You can rent a motorbike/scooter to explore the entire island or hire a taxi with a driver. A motorbike would cost you 75.000 IDR – 90.000 IDR per day while the taxi would take 1.000.000-1.100.000 to cover both parts of the island. Now, let us explore what to do in Nusa Penida:

Paluang Cliff

Paluang cliff is a tranquil place on the western part of Nusa Penida. It offers some of the most breath taking views in the island. You can see the back of the Kelingking cliff, popularly called the T-rex cliff and the bluest water we ever saw crashing on to the rocky beaches. The cliff has a difficult approach and is much less crowded than the other spots. There is a small park with 3-4 photo points with an entry ticket of 25000 IDR and then separate fee for each photo point. An open area adjacent to the park offers the exact same views of the cliff without the ticket. You can spend up to an hour just soaking in the view and the atmosphere. We visited this place first thing on our trip to the island and it set the perfect tone to what was to come next.

Paluang Temple

Have you ever heard of a temple of cars? Well, Paluang temple has two car shaped shrines. It is a unique temple architecture not just in Bali but all over the world. It is said that the vehicles shaped shrines represent the vehicles of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. This is an amusing temple to visit. The place also offers a beautiful sea view. If you are at the Paluang cliff do visit the temple also if it is open.

Kelingking Cliff (T-rex cliff)

This is the famous T-rex cliff of Nusa Penida. It is one of the most stunning natural landscapes in the world. The cliff extends into the sea in such a way that when you look from a far it appears as the head and neck of an actual Tyrannosaurus with open jaws. The cliff also has some 200 odd steps leading to the clear white sand beach below. If you wish to enjoy the beach, you may trek all the way down those steps. It takes about 15-20 minutes to go down to the beach. The steps are narrow and very high, each step about one feet high. The uphill trek will be a daunting task for the not so fit people. Also, it might not be a good idea if it is very hot. So, think hard before getting down.

If you go down to the beach it will take a total of around 2 hours inclusive of downhill and uphill trek. Most taxi drivers discourage you from going down and taking so much time but you can go there if you are early. There are several viewpoints of the cliff to click pictures. It is interesting to see some guides climbing up on trees to click that perfect picture for their clients. The place can get very crowded and sometimes it is very difficult to get good pictures as there will be a queue waiting behind you. Since, it is one of the most sought after destination, every effort is worth it.

Broken Beach

The broken beach is about half an hour ride from the Kelingking beach. It is a beautiful natural landscape. This beach is a circular cove with a natural arch on one side of the cliff. The combined effect is the appearance as the cliff collapsed to form the beach. On the other side of the arch lies the vast expanse of the deep blue sea as far the eyes can see. If you are lucky enough, you may sight a few dolphins playing in the sea. You may click innumerable pictures and still be unsatisfied. There is a unique charm about the place.

Angel’s Billabong

Nusa Penida is full of natural beauty. Angel’s Billabong is one of them. This is a natural infinity pool so called because of a local belief that an angel came to bathe at this place. These formations are created as a result of natural erosion of the cliffs by the waves crashing against them. A 5 minutes walk over the arch at the broken beach will take you to the angel’s billabong. The rocks are very rugged and sharp to sit on. You may get hurt if you are not careful. You may take a dip as well in this place during low tides. During high tides, waves may enter the inlet suddenly causing flooding of the pool which can be dangerous. This place is less crowded than most other places and hence a nice place to relax.

Crystal Bay

It is one of the most popular places to enjoy the beautiful sunsets in Nusa Penida. One of the most beautiful of the few beaches on the west side, it is the perfect place to end your wonderful day by taking a dip in the sea or just lying on the beach watching the sun set. Since, most of the beaches in Nusa Penida are on the eastern side, Crystal Bay is quite popular among the tourists. It may be crowded in the evenings but there is plenty of space to find your spot. You can get a drink or have corn from the shacks to bide your time. You may also rent a lounger if you like.

If you take a slight 20-25 minutes trek through the surrounding cliff at crystal bay you can access the pandan beach on the other side. This is the case with most of the beaches in Bali. They lie adjacent to each other and maybe accessible via a short trek route. The pandan beach is minimally crowded and good place to take a swim. Be careful though as the beaches are rocky and swimming in low tides may be dangerous.

Diamond Beach

Diamond beach is located on the eastern coast of Nusa Penida. It is easily one of the most stunning views. It is named after a diamond shaped rock jutting out at the beach. The clear white sand beach is accessible via a steep narrow stone staircase which is quite treacherous. A rope is provided for in place of railings. There are stretches where even these ropes go missing. This makes the trek quite adventurous. It will take somewhere around 20-30 minutes each way if you are quite fit. The entry tickets cost 25.000 IDR which includes access to Diamond beach, Jogglo’s viewpoint and Atuh beach.

Atuh beach

Atuh beach is located on the other side of the cliff diving it from the diamond beach. It is a cove surrounded by cliffs on two sides, sand beach and limestone rock formations into the water. There is a rock arch extending into the sea which adds to the already beautiful view from the beach. The beach is rocky and difficult to swim during low tides. It is also called a hidden beach as the beach is hidden by surrounding tree covered hills. It takes 10-15 minutes to climb down to the beach from the cliff. A beautiful beach to swim, relax and laze, Atuh beach attracts many tourists round the year.

Jogglo viewpoint

Jogglo viewpoint is a 10 minutes walk away from the diamond beach view point. This place gives a clear view of the Diamond beach on one side and the Atuh beach on the other. It can also act as a resting place after the trek to both the beaches.

Thousand Islands Viewpoint

Perched atop a hill in the eastern Nusa Penida, the Thousand Islands Viewpoint promises an unparalleled panoramic view of the surrounding archipelago. Gaze out over the Bali Sea as it sparkles in the sunlight, revealing a myriad of small islands dotted across the horizon. The viewpoint provides an extraordinary vantage point, capturing the essence of Bali’s northern charm. The Thousand Islands are a collection of tiny islets, each possessing its own unique charm. From the viewpoint, you can admire the intricate formations of these islands, adorned with lush vegetation, pristine beaches, and secluded coves. The islands seem to emerge like emeralds in the vast expanse of the ocean, creating a spectacle that resonates with serenity.

There are plenty of spots to click pictures on your own. You may roam around a bit and explore the spots with best views and then take pictures. Tourists come here to witness the beautiful sunrise when the sky turns into warm hues. This place is also a photography paradise. The entry tickets cost 15.000 IDR which includes a 200ml water bottle but there will be additional fee for every photo station.

Rumah Pohon Treehouse

The famous Rumah Pohon treehouse is a beautiful photo point within the Thousand Islands viewpoint campus. It has become popular because of Instagram pictures. Nevertheless, the views are really beautiful and it would be once in a lifetime experience to get a picture here. Once you enter the Thousand Islands Viewpoint there is a ticket counter for pictures at the treehouse. The ticket price is 75.000 IDR. A professional photographer takes your pictures. If the queue is short your turn will come within 10-15 minutes. If it is long, it may take up to 1 hour also. You also get a limit of some 5 clicks for which you cannot take forever. It is an organized way to manage crowds. We have a tip for you if you do not want to spend 75.000 IDR.

There is a small shrine a little far from the treehouse where you can get the same views, without the treehouse though, for free. There are many other places in Nusa Penida like Pura Goa Giri temple, several other beaches and a few waterfalls too. If you are on a scooter, you may explore them at your own pace. If you have hired a taxi, you may ask your driver to take you to these places. In that case, they may ask for extra charge. Overall, Nusa Penida was the highlight of our Bali trip.

Apart from these there are many beaches, turtle points, snorkelling and scuba spots scatteres all over Nusa Penida. The drive to the eastern coast is along the sea and you will get beautiful views of the beaches and sea from many places.