A trip to Bali is incomplete without visiting the famous Nusa Penida islands! The Nusa Islands are a cluster of three islands comprising of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and the Insta famous Nusa Penida! Though the three islands have a charm of their own and are worth visiting for different reasons. But, if you have limited time on your hands, I would highly recommend checking out Nusa Penida.
In this blog, I bring to you three the perfect travel guide for 2 nights 3 days! So lets get started ☺️
Travelling to Bali soon? Check out my Bali Starter Guide here – This post contains everything I know about Bali – things to do before you go, best places to visit and more.
Map of Nusa Penida
The island of Nusa Penida can be categorised into 4 zones – North, South, East and West. Amongst the four zones, the South, East & West are the popular ones, offering some insane and beautiful attractions. There are beaches up north but the place mostly consists of hotels and airbnb’s.
How to reach Nusa Penida
The island of Nusa Penida is a ferry ride away from mainland Bali. From Bali you can get fast boats from two ports – The Sanur Port and Kasumba. I would recommend taking the Sanur Port as it has been recently renovated and is managed quite well. You can easily get the tickets online either from 12goasia or klook.com (I got my tickets from klook). The speedboats have specific timings and the last speed boat leaves around 3 pm.
The total journey via speed boat can be from 35 mins to 50 mins!
Pro tip: Always read the reviews before booking your tickets and the ratings of the boat!
West Nusa Penida
Kelingking Beach
Have to start with the best beach recommendation – the Kelingking Beach. This T-Rex shape beach is an out of the world experience. Reach here either early morning or just before sunset to get this spot all to yourself as it gets pretty crowded. No matter how many times you see this place on social media, the first glance of this beach is sure to take your breath away.
You can hike down the mountain to reach the beach but the hike is treacherous least to say. After a point there are literally no stairs so don’t forget to wear really good shoes. The to and fro hike will take approx 2 hours!
Broken Beach
Next on the list is the Broken Beach. As the name suggests this beach has a broken arch through which you can see the waves crashing. The place is truly mesmerising and is a sight to behold.
During the day this place can get really crowded and there are people thronging on the photo spots, so you have to very patient!
I would highly recommend walking on the arch and reach the other side to get an incredible view of the ocean and also spot some turtles!
Angels Billabong
Of all the popular beaches on the west side of Nusa Penida, this is my least favourite. Now, don’t get me wrong, it is beautiful and has a natural pool but compared to other beaches, won’t recommend spending a lot of time here. Consider this more like a photo spot.
On account of recent accidents, the access to the natural pools have been closed. Always be very alert while visiting this place as the waves can get very strong and crash super hard against the walls/shore (I guess!).
Crystal Bay
This rocky beach heaven is the perfect place to end your west Nusa Penida tour. Going here during sunset is truly pristine!
This beach being highly accessible as it involves no hikes is popular among tourists! You can go here snorkelling or just chill and sun bathe. There are a bunch of shacks to get some food and stores to buy some knick knacks.
If you are someone who loves to swim and is intrigued by marine life, do indulge in some snorkelling. The clear waters are perfect to spot some beautiful corals and fish spotting
Note: Beaches on the west side do not have any entry fees atleast I didn’t pay any. But make sure you check when you visit!
East Nusa Penida
Diamond Beach
As the name suggests, this beach is truly a diamond of the east side of Penida. The first glance of the beach will convince you that your trip to the Penida islands is worth all the money spent and effort made.
The main beach can be reached after a short hike and on most part you would find stairs except the last 20 meters where you will have to climb down (and climb up!). There are proper ropes and the water is super pristine!
Entrance fees: IDR 25,000 and IDR 10,000 towards parking for car
Atuh Beach
The Atuh beach is right next to the Diamond Beach and easily accessible as its connected well with steps (Again recommend wearing really good shoes). This beach is rocky but offers some beautiful views and ofcourse the pristine waters.
The beach also has cafes to grab some food and drinks and beach beds to relax on. The cafes close before 6 pm so if your plan is to chill then come here before that. The water isn’t ideal for swimming as its very rocky!
Rumah Pohon "Tree House"
An impressive tree house located on the edge of the cliff, this place is quite famous amongst tourists.
This is one of the many spots which requires quite a hike to reach but the path is very scenic with amazing views of lush green landscapes and the endless sea! The treehouse has no official timings so you can reach at anytime. I would recommend hitting the spot early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Once you enter the tree house there is not much to see. There is an old mattress on the floor and no other amenities. Visit this place if you want some dreamy pictures!
Entrance fee – IDR 50,000. For photos you will have to pay an additional IDR 75,000.
South Nusa Penida
Tembling Natural Pool
This place is truly an offbeat attraction in the south of the Penida islands. These natural pools are just the perfect place to relax and end your Nusa trip.
Reaching this location can be quite tricky as it requires a long trek through the jungle. Would highly recommend hiring a guide here and some motorcycles to reach this pristine location.
As the place isn’t easily accessible, you can practically find no people (very few people) making it the perfect spot to spend some quite time at the islands.
Tembling Beach
Located right next to the natural pools is the Tembling beach. The beach itself is small but its white sand, crystal-clear waters, and peaceful atmosphere make it a worthwhile visit. However, the currents can be really strong so make sure you only go in the water when it’s safe to do so.
There are also two swings located right next to the beach, perfect for taking some Instagram-worthy shots!
Where to stay?
When it comes to accommodation, Nusa Penida has some really affordable and high end options to choose from!
For my stay I chose the Tunjung Hill Cottages. The rooms were very comfortable with great facilities. The hotel is located at the hill top and has a great infinity pool overlooking the ocean. As the property was fairly new at the time of our visit, a few of the facilities were lacking but the super sweet hosts made up for all that. You can book the property here – Click to check out!
Apart from the above recommendation, some other properties that you can check out listed below for you –
a) Semabu Hills Hotel ($$$) – Click here to checkout!
b) Penida Bambu Green Suites ($$$$) – Click here to checkout!
c) BB Resort Villa and Spa ($$) – Click here to checkout!
Tunjung Hill Cottage, Reference image from Booking.com
How to get around in Nusa Penida
Roads in Nusa Penida are quite developed except certain stretches where it can get a little tricky to drive on. If you are a confident scooty driver, would highly recommend renting a scooty to get around the island. It is the cheapest mode of transport you can find.
If you are a group of friends, would highly recommend renting a taxi. Make sure you negotiate the prices well as they quote really high! For reference, we were a group of 6 girls and we paid IDR 175,000 per person for each day.
Other activities
This is one of the best places in Bali to indulge in snorkelling and scuba diving. If you are a confident swimmer I would highly recommend sparing a few hours to explore life underwater.
For people who can’t swim, they can indulge in some snorkelling. Make sure your instructor is aware of the fact and you listen to safety guidelines carefully.
You can either opt for to go in a group or opt for a private charter!
We paid IDR 250,000 per person for the snorkelling experience
Additional tips and information
Some additional tips for you to make sure your trip is super comfortable and successful –
a) Wear really good shoes! Most beaches require quite a hike and doing it in slippers/flip flops ain’t ideal
b) Carry your own water and make sure you hydrate
c) Don’t forget to wear and carry tons of sunscreen. Its an absolute must and non negotiable
d) Bargain, Bargain and Bagain. This island is quite famous amongst tourists so prices of certain excursions and activities can be hiked up. Always negotiate.
e) If you don’t wish to stay at the island you can also take a day tour. It would be rushed but worth it. You can buy day trips from Klook.com/Headout.
f) Carry cash! There are very few ATM’s on the island so make sure you carry sufficient cash.
g) Pre book your speed boat tickets and reach the port atleast an hour ago for a smooth ride.
h) Carry some munchies on you. Some hotels may be located at secluded regions.
Alright! That was a super long, power packed blog post and I hope you enjoyed it. If you like my recommendations and do end up doing everything, let me know how it went! I love reading your comments 🌴
Need more guides about traveling in Bali?
Very informative. Look forward to visiting the place.
Glad you loved the blog Shashwat! You should definitely visit ✈️