Key Takeaways
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Nusa Penida is an island located on the southeast coast of mainland Bali. It takes about 20-40 mins to reach there by high-speed boat, depending on the port you choose.
The places and views of this island will make you question yourself, “Am I seeing what I’m seeing?”
Even if you have not visited this island before or Googled it, you would’ve seen its pictures online for sure. The T. rex cliff is one of the most photographed and Instagrammed places on earth!
If you’re wondering whether the trip is worth it, this guide lays out everything you need!
- Top attractions
- Prices
- Parking rentals
- Tips
How to Reach Nusa Penida from Bali?
Travelling to Nusa Penida is pretty simple with a few steps.
The first step is to take a Bali to Nusa Penida ferry/speed boat.
Either start from Sanur Port (around 20 km from Seminyak) or
Kusamba Port (around 40 km from Seminyak) to reach Penida Island. Multiple speedboat companies transport people from the mainland to Nusa Penida Port.
- Ticket Prices: They range from 117,000 IDR to 200,000 IDR (approx.). Speedboat tickets can be purchased online on 12go.
- Duration:Sanur to Penida – 40 mins, Kusamba to Penida – 20 mins
- Timings: Sanur to Penida – From 6:30 am to 5:00 pm, Penida to Sanur – From 7:00 am to 5 pm.
Pro Tip: It’s better to book your seats on a boat early by a day or two. In this way, you’ll get confirmed seats, and it might be cheaper. Booking needs to be done early, especially on weekends, festivals, national holidays, and in peak seasons.
Ferries That Accommodate Vehicles
If you wish to take your scooter with you, you can use the public ferries known as ‘Roro’. There are two ferries from Padang Bai Port (11 km north of Kusamba).
- Ticket Prices: 150,000 IDR for 2 people and a scooter. (approx.)
- Duration: 90 min (approx.)
- Timings: Padang Bai to Penida – at 10:00 am & 2 pm, Penida to Padang Bai – at 8:00 am & 12:00 pm
Pro Tip: If you want to opt for ‘Roro ferries’, it is mandatory to reach there at least 30-40 mins earlier. You’ll have a long queue to buy the tickets and load your scooter.
List of Things to Do in Nusa Penida
Read one by one to understand what each place looks like and the experiences awaiting you!
Kelingking Beach
This is a place that you would’ve definitely seen on Instagram in videos like “Places on Earth that feel unreal!”
The beach has a gigantic cliff towering up to 180 m. Exciting part? The cliff looks like a silhouette of a T. rex dinosaur! But in contradiction, ‘Kelingking’ means ‘pinky finger’ in Bahasa Indonesia.
Kelingking Beach is ranked #39 on the list of the Best Beaches in the World 2024 by the magazine ‘50 Best Beaches’.
You can either admire the beautiful cliffs and beach from the top or hike down the steep staircase, which will take about 30 minutes.
Since it’s a popular place, expect a heap of tourists trying to click the perfect picture from the top. You can even see people climbing trees to get a good shot.
Note: Be extremely careful while clicking pictures or posing, as the cliff is steep. One wrong step will end in disaster.
The beach down there is just stunning, with cliffs around you, creating a massive cove along with sparkling blue water crashing in front of you! I wonder how this extreme beauty can even exist!
Make sure to carry a water bottle and wear shoes for the hike. During middays, there will be local vendors selling light snacks and cold drinks on the beach with limited supplies.
Note: Waves at Kelingking Beach are STRONG. Nobody is permitted to swim at the beach after a series of deaths of tourists.
Broken Beach
Before anything, Broken Beach is not a beach; it’s a rock formation.
On the extreme west coast of Nusa Penida lies a natural formation that is known as the Broken Beach. It is a cliff in the shape of a bridge, creating an arch naturally. In simple terms, it is a massive hole in a cliff, with a lagoon inside and an archway that lets water in and out.
The rock structure just looks unreal, but structures like this are more common than you expect. A similar example can be found in Mauritius, known as ‘Pont Natural’. French for ‘Natural Bridge’. And also another one right here in Penida, talked about below.
You can walk on the arch with a tiny pathway going around the cliff.
Note: Be extremely careful while walking and always have an eye on the waves. Some waves are super high and strong; they can easily pull people away with them.
Angel’s Billabong
If you visit Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong comes as a buy 1, get 1 free, as they are located close to each other.
Picture a canyon, but filled with seawater; that is exactly what Angel’s Billabong is. Crystal clear water on limestone rocks facing the ocean with tall cliffs on either side.
Angel’s Billabong was once an amazing place to swim, but after the events of injuries, it is now officially prohibited to swim for visitors’ safety.
And if you are wondering about food, there are multiple cafes and stalls selling quick bites such as corn and coconut.
Pro Tip: Go during sunrise for great skies and fewer crowds, and there will be no one to collect the parking ticket charges, 50k saved.
- Parking Charges: 50,000 IDR (For both Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong)
Goa Giri Putri
The idea of “being inside a mountain to visit a temple, it doesn’t even sound real, but Goa Giri Putri temple is a real-life example of such fantasy.
The cultural backstory of Nusa Penida is interesting. This island is known as the ‘Black Magic Island’ by the locals. Folklore says that a demon causing diseases and chaos in mainland Bali was forced away to this island. And it’s said that his spirit lives on the island to date.
And historically, the island used to be a prisoners’ colony in the 18th century. And received another nickname as ‘Bandit Island’
Even today, locals of Bali fear the island’s spirits. However, if they fall ill, they visit the Goa Giri Putri temple to be cleansed.
From the parking, you’ll have to climb about 50-80 steps to reach the priest who welcomes you and directs you to a small hole. Yes, a literal crevice in the middle of two boulders.
It is so small that you have to duck in and crawl. Carrying backpacks will make it rough and tough. After crawling for a few feet, you’ll suddenly be in a gigantic chamber. It’ll look like a movie set of “Journey to the Center of the Earth”!
The chamber will be about 300 m long and 15 m high! Will feel like you are in a whole different ecosystem. And there exists the temple, an active sacred temple.
- Entry Fee: No entry fee, but a donation of your choice.
- Parking Charges: 50,000 IDR
Trembling Beach and Natural Pools
There are two pools in the area. The first one is the largest, while the other one has a great view of Trembling Beach. They are located next to cliffs, under trees, providing sufficient shade and breeze to cool off.
The path down to the beach is extremely rocky and bumpy. If you wish to take your scooter down, make sure you can handle the ride. If not, locals offer services to take you up and down for a small fee.
It is a secluded area in the southeastern part of the island, so you can expect fewer crowds than at the other attractions. However, the place is popular among the locals. Also, there are shops selling food and souvenirs at the top, so snacks are sorted.
- Ride fee by locals: 50,000 IDR.
Diamond Beach
Nusa Penida’s Diamond Beach is a gorgeous beach with the perfect shores to sunbathe and read a book. The tides are rough on this side, so swimming is not recommended. However, you do need to climb down for about 15 minutes on the limestone staircase with ropes as the railings, so be extra careful.
Just like a lot of beaches on Nusa Penida, swimming at Diamond Beach is prohibited. You will spot a wooden board on the stairs that says so. Better to experience the shallow water on the shore.
Diamond Beach and another one known as ‘Atul Beach’ are popular, next to each other and slightly far off from main attractions like Kelingking Beach and Broken Beach. So, it’s better to have a dedicated day to cover these two together.
- Diamond Beach Swing: A popular spot offering great views of the waters and the diamond-shaped cliff! Right next to that is also a photo frame that is designed to look like a bird’s nest.
- Fun Fact: Diamond Beach acquired its name due to the diamond-shaped/pyramid-shaped humongous limestone cliff at the beach.
- Swing Fee: 100k
- Entrance Fee: 35,000 IDR (For both Diamond & Atuh Beach)
Atuh Beach
Unlike Diamond Beach, Atul Beach is a bit more commercialised with sunbeds, but note that it’s truly worth it. But here also, you can’t escape from the staircases to reach the beach from the cliff.
A peculiar-looking, gigantic rock with an arch is just a bit offshore of Atul Beach. People think it looks like a woman’s heels or an elephant’s. During low tides, a lot of marine life is said to be around the rock.
The beach has sunbeds, umbrellas, beanbags, food, coconuts, beers, and snacks for the ultimate relaxation.
The main thing to consider before heading to Atul Beach: tides.
High tide and low tide make a huge difference in how the beach looks and what your experience there would be like.
Hide tide
- Spectacular blue waters
- Great place to swim or play in the water
- Instagram-worthy photos
Low tide
- Beach rocks will uncover themselves.
- You can walk near the huge rock with an arch.
- Large place to explore
I would recommend experiencing the beach during both tides. However, if you are short on time, it’s best to decide for yourself depending on your interests.
Tip: Tide information can be found on the ‘World Beach Guide’. Check this out, and also ask around the locals for the tide status.
- Sunbeds Rent: 100,000 for 2
- Parking: 50,000 IDR (For both Diamond & Atuh Beach)
Snorkelling and diving at Crystal Bay
Finally, a beach where you don’t need to climb down a staircase.
A west-facing beach perfect for sunsets, and it has an abundance of coral life, making it the best spot for diving! When you enter the beach, you will spot rows of deckchairs and a few cafes. Great place to chill after hours of travelling and swimming.
You can also find vendors on the beach offering snorkelling gear like masks, snorkels and fins for rent.
If you are not confident venturing into the sea on your own, you can join a guided boat tour that takes you to designated spots with trained instructors. Just a few metres away from the shore, you can find rich marine life.
- Mola Mola fish (giant oval sunfish) (best visibility is from August to October).
- Manta Rays
- Green turtles
- A school of fish in bright colours of yellow, blue, and orange.
- Pink corals
- Brightly coloured sea snakes. (Don’t worry, stay away and you’ll be unharmed.)
- Sunbeds Rent: 200,000 IDR
- Snorkelling Gear Rent: 50,000 IDR
- Parking: 50,000 ID
How to Travel Around the Island?
There are two ways to travel around Nusa Penida.
Private Car with Driver: You can rent a car and a driver to get your family around. Won’t recommend it if you are alone due to safety concerns.
Scooter: It’s a great way to explore small roads and gives you the freedom to go wherever you want. However, Nusa Penida’s roads are in poor condition, with narrow, broken, or unfinished roads.
Riding here can be challenging, so drive carefully and with caution. But honestly, as Indians, I don’t think it will be a big problem for us.
Scooters can be rented near the Nusa Penida Port, which costs anywhere from 60k to 100k IDR per day. Make sure to haggle.
Conclusion
Nusa Penida is one of the most beautiful islands on the planet. It is just stunning, gorgeous, raw, wild, and one will feel a lot closer to nature here than anywhere else.
An island where each corner has a paradise waiting for you! An island which is not too far away from the mainland, an island with a lot of attractions, and can be roamed around with scooters.
I’m also sure that this island is part of your bucket list now. Whenever you are ready to pack your bags, either solo or with a loved one, contact Dimaak Tours for hassle-free travel.
Let us plan so that you can just relax and enjoy your trip!
Frequently Asked Questions on Things to Do in Nusa Penida, Bali
Is it worth visiting Nusa Penida Island?
It is absolutely worth visiting Nusa Penida Island. In fact, it is a must-visit island while you are in Bali. Sister island of Bali, but in a completely different form. This island is more raw, less commercialized, and wild!
How long does it take to travel from Bali to Nusa Penida?
The duration depends on which port in Bali you choose from. Bali to Nusa Penida ferry from Sanur to Penida takes 40 mins & Kusamba to Penida takes around 20 mins.
Can I do Nusa Penida in one day?
You can visit Nusa Penida for one day, but it is not recommended. There are a decent number of things to do in Nusa Penida, and with just one day, you’ll be barely able to cover two attractions.
