The beautiful, exotic Nusa Penida island lies just 15 miles from Bali, the most famous tourist destination in Indonesia.

Nusa Penida is a much smaller island than Bali, but it has some of the best scenery in the entire Bali province (which it’s part of). It’s definitely one of the most beautiful places to visit in Indonesia.

The island can be visited on a day trip from Bali (same day return), but it’s better to stay and spend at least a few days sightseeing. There are so many awesome photogenic spots, hikes, and other things to do in Nusa Penida!

Nusa Penida Day Tour Packages

We can plan your trip to Bali and Nusa Penida complete with hotel transfers, fast boat tickets, island tour, and same day return to Bali.

These tours visit some of the top sights in the Nusa Penida island, including Kelingking Beach, Broken Bay, and more. We work with some of the best tour guides on the island, so don’t hesitate to reach out. Fill out our Trip Inquiry Form for more information.

Where Is Nusa Penida?

Nusa Penida is a small island located southeast of Bali, Indonesia. The distance from Bali is about 15 miles (25 kilometers).

It has two small neighboring islands sitting right next to it called Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, and together these are known as the Nusa islands, but Nusa Penida has become the most famous of the three because of its scenic cliff views and stunning beaches.
 

Getting To Nusa Penida

From Bali, the only way to reach Nusa Penida is by speedboat or ferry, with the speedboat journey taking about 45 minutes or so. There’s no airport in Nusa Penida, so the closest place to fly is the international airport in Bali (DPS).

There are a bunch of speedboat companies in Bali making the trip to Penida daily, and they all depart from Sanur Beach at various times. If you’re staying in Ubud, Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, or elsewhere in south Bali, you can also drive over to Sanur and catch a boat.

The beautiful blue salt water and limestone coastline of Nusa Penida

Visiting Nusa Penida Island – Tourist Fee

There is an entrance fee for tourists arriving by boat to Nusa Penida, and it’s intended to pay for better infrastructure on the island.

You’ll pay this in cash when you first get off the boat in Penida, and the fee is 25k Rupiah for adults and 15k for children. It gives you entry to all three of the Nusa islands: Penida, Lembongan, and Ceningan.

This ticket also gives you entrance to all of the main attractions and beaches on Nusa Penida, so you don’t have to pay a second fee at Kelingking Beach.

Overall, it’s great because in the past you had to pay a small entrance fee at every tourist spot in Nusa Penida. That was a bit tiresome. Nowadays, you pay once at the harbor and you’re done.
 

Transport: How To Get Around On Nusa Penida

Even though Nusa Penida is a much smaller island than Bali (with about 4 percent of Bali’s land mass), it’s still not exactly tiny. You can expect to spend hours driving around if you want to see the best sights on each corner of the island.

Just like in Bali, you have two main transport options for exploring Nusa Penida: motorbike rental (self drive), or private driver.

Many of the roads in Nusa Penida are still very rough and narrow, so motorbikes are not a good idea. If you decide to rent a motorbike, remember to wear a helmet, honk your horn before hills and blind turns, and be prepared to pull over to the side to let cars pass. There’s not a lot of room on the road.

Scooters are also easy to rent from your accommodation (or other places) in Nusa Penida.

Short taxi trips (like hotel transfers to/from the dock) can also be arranged.

Unfortunately the Grab and GoJek ride hailing apps are not yet available in Nusa Penida (only in Bali), but maybe that will change eventually.

What To Do In Nusa Penida

• Kelingking Beach

The Kelingking Cliff is the most famous view in Nusa Penida, and probably one of the most iconic views anywhere in Bali.

This is an incredible ‘T-Rex’ shaped rock sticking out over the ocean, with perfect turquoise water splashing around it. The first time you look over the edge of the cliff and see this view, it really is breathtaking!

After you’re done admiring the scenery at the Kelingking Cliff, there’s also a path to go down to the beach at the bottom.

The hike down to the beach is a major workout, a bit scary, and takes at least two hours roundtrip, but you’re rewarded with one of the best white sand beaches in Nusa Penida Bali.

• Paluang Cliff Viewpoint

Everyone goes to Kelingking Cliff, but there’s another spot located very close to it with its own amazing scenery, called Paluang Cliff. It’s just a five-minute drive from Kelingking.

Paluang may not be as well known as Kelingking, but that’s part of the appeal. It’s a great alternative spot that gives you views of the Kelingking T-rex from the other side, without the crowds.

There are swings and photo platforms at the Paluang Cliff, plus a Balinese temple with a quirky car shrine, called the ‘car temple’ of Nusa Penida.

• Broken Beach

For most visitors to Nusa Penida island, one of the first stops will be Broken Beach. This is a cool circular cove formed in the rocks, complete with a leftover arch.

This area is also one of the popular hangout spots for the manta rays, so you’ll most likely get to see some rays floating around in the sea nearby.

The bottom is filled with turquoise water from the waves coming in, and there’s even a small white sand beach. You can’t actually go down to the beach, just admire from above, but what a cool view it is!

There’s a few old local legends associated with this place that say it was created either by a giant’s footsteps or by an angry sorcerer. It’s definitely a very unique kind of formation.

• Crystal Bay

One of the popular spots on the west side of Penida is Crystal Bay. This is a good hangout or suntanning spot, and it has plenty of food and drink shacks for refreshments. Snorkeling gear can be rented here, or you can just sit around and chill out while eating some chicken satay.

The great thing about Crystal Bay is that it’s one of the best spots to catch the sunset in Penida.

• Banah Cliff Point

The great thing about Banah Cliff Point is that it actually has half a dozen different view points along the cliffs, and at each view point you can walk right up to the edge of the cliff and look down at the waves crashing on the rocks.

From these cliffs you can usually see a bunch of tiny manta rays and speedboats floating around on the ocean below. You can also see the Banah rock, a doughnut shaped rock sticking out of the ocean. Great stuff!

• Tembeling Cave & Beach

The Tembeling beach and forest is a hidden spot tucked away in the cliffs on Nusa Penida’s west coast, with a natural pool and small waterfall to enjoy.

There is an awesome sea cave that opens up to a view of the huge cliffs on the coast, but this place is also becoming popular for the Tembeling natural pool, which you can take a dip in and relax.

The access to this beach is a bit tricky, but it’s definitely a cool spot to visit in Bali!

• Atuh Beach

This is one of the nicest beaches on the south end of Penida island. Unlike Suwehan Beach, Atuh is not a secret and there are sunbeds, beanbags, and a couple of nice food and drink shacks here.

The highlight of Atuh Beach is probably the big elephant-shaped rock in the ocean (locals say it looks like a stiletto), and the big variety of sea life that can be seen trapped in the rocks at low tide.

• Nusa Penida Treehouse (Rumah Pohon)

Have you ever wanted to sleep in a wooden tree house and wake up to the sounds of the ocean? Here’s where you can do it. The room and bed are very basic, but the views and location are out of this world.

You’ll fall asleep to the sound of geckos chirping in the trees, and wake up to an incredible sunrise over the Raja Lima islands, with dolphins and manta rays swimming and jumping in the distance.

• Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach, named after the pointy diamond-shaped rock on the beach, is another utterly incredible “cliff beach” on the southeastern coast of Nusa Penida island.

It’s accessible since late 2018, when a path down to the beach was carved into the side of the cliffs. You can occasionally spot lizards to dolphins and manta rays.

This place is also becoming popular thanks to the scenic swing, where you can take pictures while swinging between two palm trees over the beach.

• Teletubbies Hill

The center of Penida island has these big round hills named after the background scenery from the Teletubbies kids show.

They look kind of like the Chocolate Hills in Bohol Philippines, and using a drone here gives you some unique perspectives.

If you come here during or just after the rainy season (roughly December to April), then the hills are a perfect green color.

Between April and May, the hills are a more yellow color, but still neat to see. During the summer however, the hills will turn dry and brown, so they won’t look as nice.

• Suwehan Beach

Looking for a hidden beach with perfect white sand and turquoise waves? Suwehan is one of the best hidden beaches in Penida.

The hike down to the beach takes about 30 minutes and it’s exhausting, but very worthwhile. There’s also a cool pointy rock that looks like a Christmas tree.

This beach is a hidden gem that still isn’t included in most Nusa Penida island tour packages, but you can get there with a scooter or car charter. Be careful because the road is quite rough.

• Suwehan Tree House

In 2018, the locals built some tree houses at the top of Suwehan cliff. There’s four of these tree houses now, and you can stay the night in them!

Don’t expect luxury, but there’s an outside shower/bathroom and a small food shack for ordering meals, and the beds look comfy. The best part is that you have a stunning view of the ocean and cliffs, and it’s just a short distance from Suwehan Beach!

This is a Hindu temple inside of a big limestone cave, located on the east side of Penida. To reach it, you have to climb more than one hundred steps to the top of the hill.

• Goa Giri Putri Temple

After crawling through a tiny hole in the side of the mountain, the inside opens up to a huge cave about 300 meters long, with high rock ceilings!

Hindu ceremonies are still performed here, but it’s also open to tourists. Exploring this cave is an interesting experience, for sure.

• Nyanyad Beach

This is a mostly unknown beach on the south end of Nusa Penida, with a small temple and giant hills on both sides of the beach.

The road to Nyanyad Beach is a bit tricky to find, but well worth the effort. Google Maps will try to steer you onto a wrong road that leads to a lighthouse.

Once you reach the parking area for Nyanyad, the hike down to the beach only takes 15 minutes, with concrete steps all the way, and the beach has perfect white sand!

This spot is another hidden gem that isn’t included in most Nusa Penida island tour packages, although you can get there with a scooter or car charter.

• Peguyangan Waterfall

If you want to try a sketchy, remote Nusa Penida hike with steep paths to get your adrenaline going, this one is for you.

Peguyangan is a small waterfall and natural swimming pool at the bottom of some cliffs on Nusa Penida island, and you reach it by climbing down hundreds of steps on a bright blue stairway.

It’s not for the faint of heart, but the ocean and cliff views here are incredible, which is why I’d rate it as one of the best hikes in Nusa Penida.

There’s even a neat little ultra scenic hotel at the top of the cliffs called Waterfall Inn, with stunning views of the whole area.

The blue stairs to Peguyangan Waterfall — possibly the craziest Nusa Penida hike!

Best Nusa Penida Photo Spot

It’s hard to pick the best Nusa Penida photo spot, but I’d say it’s probably a toss-up between Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach. Both are amazing.

Two other great photo spots in Nusa Penida would have to be Suwehan Beach and the Nusa Penida treehouse. These are stunning, and Suwehan is still pretty underrated.
 

Best Nusa Penida Beaches

If white sand is the main thing you’re looking for in Bali, then you’ll want to check out my complete Nusa Penida beach guide, which has a list of all of the very best Nusa Penida island beaches.

Obviously there are the famous beaches like Kelingking, Diamond, and Atuh, but there are also quite a few others that are not so well known.

Nusa Penida Hike List

Probably the most epic Nusa Penida hike is the famous Kelingking Cliff, where you can climb down a steep stairway to reach a pristine white sand beach at the bottom.

Another good Nusa Penida hike is Tembeling Beach And Forest, which has a nice mix of jungle and beach scenery, plus a sea cave and natural swimming pool.

If you really want an off-the-radar Nusa Penida hike, check out Batu Siha Beach. The path is intense and exhausting, but there’s a white sand beach at the bottom.

The hiking trails in Nusa Penida tend to be very short and intense, because you’re usually climbing down steep cliffs to reach a secluded beach, temple, or waterfall at the bottom.

Unlike Bali, Nusa Penida island doesn’t have any mountains or volcanoes to hike. This also means waterfalls are scarce on the island, although there are a couple interesting ones like Peguyangan Waterfall.
 

Nusa Penida Island Map

Here’s a Nusa Penida island map you can use to plan your trip. You can click the icons to get more info on each point of interest, but keep in mind some of the locations on this map may not be approximate.

For more detailed information on how to get to each of the spots on the map, fill out our Trip Inquiry Form.

More Things To Do In Nusa Penida

The sights above are just a few examples of what to do in Nusa Penida. There are many more beaches, temples, and viewpoints to see all over the island.

Best Sunset Spot In Nusa Penida

There are lots of great sunset spots in Nusa Penida. The island has a long west-facing coastline, and pretty much anywhere on the west side is good for watching the sunset.

Two great options are Crystal Bay, which has a relaxing beach, and Amok Sunset, which is a nice restaurant with views over Nusa Ceningan. The views at Kelingking Beach or Paluang Cliff are also amazing.

Sunset time in Nusa Penida Bali can be anywhere from 6 pm to 6:45 pm, depending on the day and month. You can check that here.

For a good sunrise spot, check out the Nusa Penida treehouse, on the southeast side of the island.

Amok Sunset

Water Sports In Nusa Penida

The main water sports in Nusa Penida are snorkeling and scuba diving, and these are exceptional! The section below talks about these activities in a bit more detail.

Unlike Bali, Nusa Penida is not really known for good surfing or waves. However, two other good water sports in Nusa Penida are jet skiing and boat charters.

A boat charter can be great for snorkeling, fishing, or just relaxing while sightseeing around the coast of the island. You can also go on a jet ski tour around Nusa Penida. It’s an amazing way to see the epic coastline from a new perspective.

Traditional ‘jukung’ boats at Crystal Bay

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling in Nusa Penida

The coral reefs around Nusa Penida island are fantastic for diving and snorkeling, and you can even swim with manta rays, ocean sunfish (‘mola mola’), and all kinds of other colorful fish.

In fact, Nusa Penida is one of the best places in the world to swim with manta rays and giant mola mola fish. The latter can only be seen by scuba diving, but manta rays are easy to see while snorkeling near the surface.

For snorkeling, some of the best spots in Nusa Penida include Manta Bay, Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay, and Toyapakeh Wall. It’s possible to visit all of these spots in a day trip. There’s also an underwater Buddha statue, but sadly they don’t seem to be allowing access anymore.

Nusa Penida Restaurants

The flurry of tourism is bringing lots of new restaurants and cafes to Nusa Penida, so now it has a bunch of great options!

Here are just a few restaurant recommendations:

• Penida Colada: This was one of the first great restaurants on the island, with a big menu, beach vibes, good food and great presentation. This restaurant also gets extra points for name creativity.
• Secret Penida Cafe: Another nice beachfront cafe in north Nusa Penida with Western and Indonesian food.
• Penida Espresso: Great smoothie bowls. Nice for a hot day.
• Sweet Spot: One of the first indoor cafes on the island with air-conditioning!
• The Chill: Ocean view pool with no minimum spend! Nice atmosphere with a wade-up bar and swings.
• Amok Sunset: Fancy cliffside restaurant and bar with a pool, and great sunset views over Nusa Ceningan.
• Warung Nengah Mesin: This is a local warung in the south part of the island, so it’s easy to reach from many of the major sights.

Nusa Penida Massage & Spa

Nusa Penida doesn’t have a lot of massage places compared to Bali, but we are sure that will change over time as more tourists arrive. A foot massage is the perfect way to unwind after a full day of hiking or touring.

One of the best massage places in Nusa Penida would have to be Tejas Spa Warnakali, which has ocean views and is part of the Adiwana Warnakali Resort. You don’t need to be a guest at the resort to get a massage there; it’s open to the public.

For budget spa and massage places in Nusa Penida, some options are: Little Papaya, Juara Spa, and Dhipalia Massage.
 

Other Nusa Penida Tips

• Credit Cards: Almost all restaurants, hotels, and other charges in Penida are cash only. The best thing to do is bring plenty of cash with you from Bali.
• ATM: Penida still has very few ATM options. The most reliable seems to be the Bank BRI booth at Sampalan, but it only lets you pull 1 million Rupiah per try.
• Cell Service: Phone reception is strong with Telkomsel in most of the main areas of Penida, although you may lose service in some places while driving around because of the hilly terrain of the island.
• WiFi: The WiFi situation in Penida used to be very poor compared to Bali, but it has improved dramatically in the last few years, so most hotels already have good WiFi that can be used for browsing, streaming videos, and sending emails.
• Convenience Stores: There are lots of small mini marts, especially around the north shore, where you can buy cheap snacks, drinks, toiletries, sunscreen, and other such things. Sari Yoga Mart and Bagus Mart are two good options. However, their selection is much smaller than what you’ll find shopping in Bali.
• Language: The locals in Nusa Penida speak Balinese with a distinct dialect, and although many of them also understand Indonesian, they’re not schooled in English (unlike in Bali). This means most Nusa Penidans only know a little bit of English that they’ve been able to pick up from tourists, so be patient and come prepared to explain things by pointing or showing pictures.
• Mosquitoes: There is some dengue fever present in Nusa Penida, but it seems to be less common than in Bali, which is probably because of the drier climate in Penida. You won’t need bug spray for visiting the beaches or really any of the popular tourist sites. Also, luckily, there is no malaria in either Penida or Bali, so you don’t need to worry about anti-malarial medications. The entire Bali province is certified malaria free according to this Lancet study from 2018.

Is Nusa Penida Safe?

Yes, Nusa Penida is very safe!

There is barely any violent crime in Nusa Penida, and petty crime is also rare. As long as you take normal precautions you should be fine. It is a tight-knit community, and the locals are very kind and hospitable.

Balinese are religious people, so please don’t disrespect the temples or local culture. And do be careful if you hike any of the steep cliffs like Kelingking Beach!

Sekartaji Cliff Point

Nusa Penida Wildlife

Just like Bali, the island of Nusa Penida is full of wonderful wildlife, and if you’re lucky you might see some during your visit.

Animals living in Penida include bats, spiders, monitor lizards, and monkeys (Balinese macaques). You can see the monkeys at Kelingking Cliff and other places on the island. At the Goa Giri Putri cave, there are even two species of endangered purplish-orange crabs that live nowhere else on Earth except Nusa Penida island.

Nusa Penida is a bird sanctuary with many endangered bird species, including the very nice Bali starlings. Not many of these are left in the wild, so sightings are rare, but it’s hoped their numbers will improve.

Snakes in Nusa Penida include pythons, vipers, spitting cobras, and sea snakes.

In the main tourist spots of Nusa Penida, you aren’t likely to ever see a snake. If you do, treat it with extreme caution! Venomous snakes in Bali can be very dangerous and there’s no anti-venom available in Penida.

If you go snorkeling or scuba diving at Nusa Penida, you can get up close with the gentle manta rays and gigantic ocean sunfish (‘mola mola’), and all kinds of other colorful fish and coral. We’ve also seen sea turtles and dolphins in the waters around Penida.

Best Time To Visit

Nusa Penida has a drier and more sunny climate than mainland Bali, so any month is great for visiting.

The best time to visit Nusa Penida island really just depends on what you’re looking for.

Bali’s rainy season runs from November to April. It’s less crowded during this time, and the rain is mostly at night, but the weather during the day can be hot and humid at 90-95 F (32-35 C).

From May to August, the temps are a lot cooler, and it’s more breezy and sunny. This is the high season so it’s a little more crowded.

Penida is spectacular at any time of the year, but we think some of the best months for photography are March to May (right after the rainy season ends).

However, if you’re just looking for the nicest weather, May to August are the most comfortable months of the year.

The turquoise blue salt waters of Nusa Penida island

Is Nusa Penida Worth It?

If you’ve kept reading this far and you still aren’t sure whether you should visit Penida, then the answer is YES, Nusa Penida is definitely worth it!

This island has some of the best natural scenery anywhere in the Bali province, and some of the best views anywhere in Indonesia for that matter. It has great photographic spots, cliffs, caves, beaches, hikes, water sports, and more.

How Long To Stay

Don’t be a day tripper. There are so many great things to do in Nusa Penida. You need to spend at least 2 days to see the best highlights, even if you don’t do any snorkeling. For those interested in snorkeling or scuba diving, we recommend 3 or 4 days. Fill out our trip inquiry form for more info.
 

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