Nusa Penida is one of the spots in Bali that was on the top of my bucket-list. Why? Nusa Penida is an undeveloped, raw version of the beautiful nature that Bali used it be before it became a hot international tourist destination. Yes, there are a lot of tourists that visit Nusa Penida, BUT the island is still largely undeveloped and a great escape to adventure in nature.
Nusa Penida is remote without being hard to get to and it offers some of the most stunning scenery. With dramatic cliffs, iconic beaches and a wild tropical landscape, it leaves wanting to come back for more!
Find out all of the best spots in Nusa Penida in this travel guide for your day trip or overnight stay (and your perfect Instagram spots!)
Planning a trip to Bali? Check out my Uluwatu Travel Guide and guide to 4 Places in Indonesia that aren’t Bali
HOW TO GET TO NUSA PENIDA
Nusa Penida is a separate island from Bali, but still considered to be part of the Bali province. To travel to Nusa Penida, you must take the ferry from Sanur which is 30-40 minutes from the Bali Airport. Once at Sanur, there will be different ferry options to choose from at around $30. Drive times and traffic can be unpredictable, so I suggest giving yourself enough time to arrive. The ferry takes around 45 minutes to Nusa Penida from Sanur.
If you choose to book online, check out the schedules here.
If you’re planning a day trip, start your day as early as possible with the first ferry out from Sanur. Nusa Penida is a small island with a lot to see, but each point of interest is a distance! The roads here are largely undeveloped, so be prepared for a long and bumpy ride. Traffic can also be bad on the few roads that connect the island. I highly recommend spending the extra money and hiring a personal driver upon arrival who will tour you around Nusa Penida. This is much easier than renting a motor bike and struggling down the roads on the island even if you are very experienced with driving one. Prices for a full day trip vary between 400,000 IDR to 300,000 IDR per person ($20-$30 USD) if you do some haggling.
WHAT TO DO
Nusa Penida is full of natural beauty and epic landscapes. There are a handful of hot spots to go to on the island that you will want to add to your list! Check out my favorites below:
NUSA PENIDA TREEHOUSE
The Nusa Penida Treehouse or “Rumah Pohon Tree House” is one of the most famous spots in the island! The view onto Diamond Beach is out-of-this-world. There is a 5 minute hike to get to the spot and there is typically a small line to take a photo here, but it goes quickly. Entrance to the treehouse is 50,000 IDR ($3.50 USD).
You can also opt to stay overnight at one of the other treehouses at the property. Find our more here.
DIAMOND BEACH
Diamond Beach is on my list of top 10 most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. The water is crystal blue and the jagged “diamond” landscape is truly unique. The view from above is just as impressive as the view below, but the steep stairs down are tricky and can get crowded. The hike is fine for a beginner like me, but there are some difficult parts throughout the way. In total, the hike takes around 20 minutes down and 20 minutes back up. Entrance to Diamond Beach is 10,000 IDR ( $0.75 USD) and parking is 5,000 IDR ($0.35USD).
Once you make the trek down to the beach, take a dip in the water, relax and enjoy! If you’re feeling extra adventurous, take a swing over the rocks in the Diamond Beach Swing pictured below! Prices are 100,000 IDR ($7.13 USD) for the swing and 50,000 ($3.56) for the nest photo-op.
KELINGKING BEACH
Undoubtedly the most iconic view in Nusa Penida is Kelingking Beach. This is that T-Rex shaped beach you’ve probably seen on your Instagram feed 100x over, but it never gets old!
The famous viewpoint where you can capture the perfect photo of the dinosaur-shaped coastline below is easily accessible, BUT it is a very challenging hike down to the bottom of the beach and takes quite some time to get all the way down with difficult stretches in the path.
I opted not to hike down to the bottom so we could fit other spots in our itinerary, but if you stay overnight in Nusa Penida or have more time, I would say it’s worth it! To give you an idea of the trek, it takes around 40-60 minutes to get down and around 120-180 minutes to get back up. Entrance to Kelingking Beach is 10,000 IDR ( $0.75 USD) and parking is 5,000 IDR ($0.35USD).
ANGEL’S BILLABONG
Angel’s Billabong is a natural infinity tide pool that only comes around when the tide is just right and safe enough to enter the tide pool. As with all tidal pools you need to arrive at the right time of day. The best time to visit is during low-tide and you will need to check the tide report using ahead of your visit. Entrance to Angel’s Billabong is 5,000 IDR ($0.35 USD) and parking is 1,000 IDR ($0.07 USD).
BROKEN BEACH
Broken Beach is on the same trail as Angel’s Billabong and is a beautiful natural cliff arch over the turquoise blue water. You can hike onto the arch or snap a photo from the viewpoint!
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK IN NUSA PENIDA
There are many local warungs (cafés) on the island to grab a quick bite at, but if you have time make a stop at insta-worthy Secret Penida Cafe for some good food in a cute island atmosphere.
