All you need to know before a trip to Nusa Penida
After you enjoy the bustling party of Kuta or Seminyak for some time, you might need a quiet and relaxing retreat. Nusa Penida Islands might be what you're looking for. Check out our ultimate guide to traveling on this beautiful Bali island.
Getting to know Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is actually a district in Kelungkung Regency of Bali Province situated right on the South East of Bali island which includes the three islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and the largest of them all, Nusa Penida.
There are arguably some differences between these islands, depending on your vacation preferences. If you’re into shopping, surfing, and socializing, then you will love Nusa Lembongan with its great surf spot and restaurants, while Nusa Penida will provide a more adventurous experience. However, the development of accommodations, commercial establishments, and other facilities over the years has already fulfilled the visitor's needs during their stay on Nusa Penida island.
Nusa Penida is the biggest out of the three Islands in the southeast Bali
Image from Google Maps
What we will cover in this article is the island of Nusa Penida, famously known for its various natural wonders, including stunning ocean-view cliffs, unsullied beaches, and adventurous diving spots.
What to prepare?
Expect to involve yourself in many water-related activities, which is why we recommend some water-friendly preparations. For the basics of a tropical island trip, you must prepare swimwear, sunscreen, a camera, towels, sandals, extra clothes, and extra cash.
For cash, you just need to bring a few to moderate amounts, enough for getting you across and renting a vehicle, as there are already many ATMs and money changer services on the island.
Do not bring too much cash to Nusa Penida
Image from Freepik
If you are on a tight schedule, it is best to prepare a trip plan so that you can tick every destination on your list in Nusa Penida. You can visit the island at any time of the year, but the best time for a Nusa Penida vacation is during the dry season from May to September. During these months, the weather is very pleasant with a temperature of about 250C.
How to get there?
There are several options for transportation from mainland Bali to Nusa Penida island.
- Roro Ferry (Roll On Roll Off). If you’re the type to savour your journey, enjoy a longer trip, or simply want to travel the whole of Nusa Penida with your own beloved ride, then you can try this Roll on Roll off ferry. This ferry only sails twice a day at 08.30 a.m. and 17.30 p.m., and to ride this ship, you first need to board from Padangbai Port in Karangasem Regency, in eastern Bali which will take you an hour trip to reach Nusa Penida island. It usually costs 35.000 IDR for an adult and an additional 30 thousand if you also bring a motorbike or scooter and 250.000 IDR for a car.
The ferry from Padangbai can bring heavier loads including your vehicle
Image from Alamy
- Traditional boat. The second alternative option for crossing to Nusa Penida is by sampan or jukung which is usually used by the fishermen. This traditional means of transportation will take 1 hour to reach Nusa Penida Island. There are many crossing points that can be used to cross to Nusa Penida by traditional boat, namely through the port of Kusamba which will land at the port of Toya Pakeh, the port of Banjar Bias will land at the port near Nusa Penida sub-district office, the port of Tri Buana that will land you at Tambak port, and the port of Kusamba village will land at Tambak port as well. The fare to cross from Kusamba harbour to Nusa Penida is IDR 55,000 per person.
Traditional sampan from the beach of Karangasem
Image from Unsplash
- Fast boat. This is the most common and popular means of transportation from the mainland to Nusa Penida. These fast boats docked and go from Sanur, Denpasar, which is probably closer to your hotels and villas and will cut your trip by half to reach Nusa Penida compared to the previous two transportation. The tickets are ranged from 75.000 up to 200.000 IDR.
A fast boat from Sanur
Image from Flickr
What you can do Nusa Penida
There are tons of activities you can do once you off the boat.
- Take a stunning photo of the iconic cliff at Kelingking Beach. It is one of the most famous spots in Nusa Penida, even Bali as a whole. Featuring many stock photos of Bali’s tourism, Kelingking Beach's main attraction is the rocky coastal cliff that is overhanging the azure Indian Ocean. With more effort, you can enjoy the white sand beach the whole way down the cliff.
The iconinc cliff at Kelingking Beach
Image from Freepik
- Snorkeling or diving at Crystal Bay. This is the most well-known spot for scuba diving on the island which also provides fins, masks, and snorkels on-site. Coupled with the beautiful sunset on the sandy beach, it will be an excellent conclusion for your day trip.
A view from a warong in Crystal Bay
Image from Unsplash
- A real-life aquarium at Gamat Bay. Although smaller than its sister bay, Crystal, the Gamat Bay will offer a more immersive underwater experience, with the all-year-round flock of manta rays, mola-mola (sunfish), and sea turtles. The sea current on this spot is rather strong, so the bay is more recommended for professional divers. But you can still see the mantas or mola-molas passing through from the top of the cliff.
Gamat Bay is a wild size aquarium
Image from Alamy
- A social hub at Penida Colada Beach Bar. To finish off the list, you can enjoy the most popular bar on the island, located right on the beachfront of Nusa Penida. Tropical beverages coupled with stunning views of the ocean are perfect to conclude your trip to Nusa Penida island.
A tropical drink by the northern coast of Nusa Penida
Image from Unsplash
As one of the most beautiful and iconic islands in Bali, Nusa Penida will ensure a steady increase in visitors. Combined with more development of facilities on the island, Nusa Penida will present even more opportunities for property investments. If you’re interested to look for more of these opportunities in Nusa Penida, check out our selected catalogue of properties on the island here.
