Nusa Penida Island Bali
The most commonly seen pictures available online of Nusa Penida island is a viewpoint that overlooks a piece of land that looks like a T-Rex. The Nusa Penida island has gained a lot of exposure over the last couple of years and is a short ferry ride off the central Bali Island. In this travel guide, we will provide you with options of getting there and recommend things to do, see, explore and visit while on the island.
Getting there
1) TAKE A PRIVATE NUSA PENIDA TOUR
One of the easiest ways to see all the island offers is to book a private tour from the main Bali island. Many travel agencies offer daily deals to visit the island, which includes a speedboat transfer, private car with a driver, and lunch. These packages do make sense if you have only a day and plan to return to Bali’s main island on the same day. Most of the tours leave Bali from Sanur Beach on the southeast coast of the island. Some tours do include a hotel pick and drop, but please be mindful that if you live away from Sanur, this will increase the overall cost of the tour and will reduce your shut-eye the previous night as most tours leave early morning from Sanur.
The day tours mainly cover the main spots like Angel’s Billabong & Broken Beach, Kelingking beach aka T-Rex Beach, lunch at a small restaurant, and will end with spending the afternoon at Crystal Bay allowing you to cool off with a nice swim.
These private tours are an excellent way to see the island. However, please keep in mind that during peak tourist season, it can feel like quite a rush, leaving very little time to take in the sites. It’s more of a photo tour where they take you from one point to the other, giving you time at each place for a quick photo session, and then off you go onto the next spot.
You can find top Nusa Penida Island day tours from Bali here
2) DO IT BY YOURSELF
Another option for those who prefer to do things on their own and explore places as they go, you can always visit the island by yourself. There are ferries that ply between Sanur Bali and Nusa Penida island daily every two hours from 9 am onwards with the last ferry at 5 pm. Make sure you keep track of these times and check these with the operators on the day of your travel. Once on the island, you can hire a bike from a rental shop at the port.
Quick Tip : If you wish to visit the island by yourself, please be sure you have a good handle on riding a bike as the roads on the island are in a deplorable condition. Please make sure you are wearing a helmet for your safety when venturing these roads.
Exploring Nusa Penida Island
Nusa Penida has a lot to offer, and generally, one day is not enough. It would take you a minimum of 2 to 3 days to thoroughly enjoy the island at your leisure and visit all the below places.
1) Kelingking Beach
Kelingking beach is the famous T-rex beach, and the only way to visit the beach is the long and strenuous trek down and back up. The path to the beach is very steep and can be quite severe, so make sure to have enough water, and if you are not up to it, it’s better to enjoy the views from the top. The beach down, though, is beautiful, but the water can be quite rough, so do not go in unless you are 100% sure you can manage. There are many spots on top too, along the cliff, which offer a beautiful view and can make perfect spots for a nice sunset picnic.
2) CRYSTAL BAY
Crystal Bay is one of the most popular beaches on Nusa Penida, mainly because the waters here are a lot calmer than the other places, so it is safer, too. It is a good option for snorkeling and diving. It is better to visit it in the morning, as the afternoons and evenings get quite crowded, though the sunsets here are spectacular and something to see if you are staying on the island overnight.
3) ANGEL’S BILLABONG & BROKEN BEACH
Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach are just a 5-minute walk from each other. These are 2 of the most famous spots on the island, so expect to see many tourists.
4) BANAH CLIFF POINT
If you are looking for stunning viewpoints on Nusa Penida island, this should be at the top of your list. There are two main viewpoints here, and one is easier found than the other. The first is as you arrive and the second is a little further if you follow the path through the bushes, you will arrive at a few stairs which will take you to the second spot.
5) ATUH BEACH
Atuh beach is another beach on Nusa Penida island, which will leave you amazed no matter if you choose to look at it from the top or hike down to the beach. For the best views, make sure you visit the beach during the high tide to avoid the exposed rock. The hike here is not as strenuous as Kelingking. There are also a few stalls on the beach that have beers, nasi goreng, and fresh coconut water.
6) RUMAH POHON TREEHOUSE & THOUSAND ISLAND VIEWPOINT
Another famous insta-spot on the Nusa Penida island is the Rumah Pohon Treehouse. It is a stunning treehouse which offers the perfect shot. While here, you can also visit the thousand island viewpoint, which is the perfect place to wind down and enjoy the surreal views that Nusa Pendia has to offer.
Overall, Nusa Penida island is a must do if you are visiting Bali. It is better to visit the island in the low season or off-peak periods as it has gotten famous over the last couple of years and can get very crowded. Try to spend a few days here to allow you to soak up the sites and the island.
Do you think we missed anything? Got any questions? Let us know in the comments below …
