Located about a 30-minute boat ride from Bali, Nusa Penida is the largest of the three Nusa islands and definitely feels like paradise on earth!
With so many things to see and do on the island, it can be hard to see everything on a day trip. For this reason, I recommend sticking to the west side of Nusa Penida, which is home to some of the most unique attractions.
From breathtaking viewpoints to T-Rex-shaped cliffs overlooking stunningly blue waters, a natural infinity pool, and pristine beaches, a day trip to Nusa Penida from Bali is an absolute must!
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to plan an epic Nusa Penida day trip, including the best places to visit, how to get there from Bali, how to get around the island, tour suggestions, and other helpful tips.
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Planning a Nusa Penida Day Trip
If you prefer to visit Nusa Penida as part of a guided tour, you have the option between a group or private tour. Both will take you to Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach, and Crystal Bay.
If you have the budget, I highly recommend booking the private tour as you’ll be able to customize your itinerary and choose how long to spend at each attraction.
Below are a few recommendations for Nusa Penida day tours from Bali:
Another option is to book a snorkeling and sightseeing tour. After a pick-up from your hotel in Bali and a boat transfer to Nusa Pena, you’ll spend the first half of the day snorkeling at four different spots, namely Manta Bay, Gamat Bay, Crystal Bay, and Wall Point. After lunch, you’ll then visit all the top attractions on the west coast.
DIYing your day trip to Nusa Penida
For those who don’t want to visit as part of a tour, you can easily customize your day trip. Below you’ll find all the best places to visit. Make sure to follow the same order if you want to skip the crowds and maximize your time at each attraction.
Kelingking Beach
The first place I recommend visiting during your day trip to Nusa Penida is Kelingking Beach. This is because it’s the most popular attraction on the island and thus the most crowded. Plan to get there at least before 9.30 a.m to avoid the crowds.
The view from the top of the T-Rex shaped cliff offers a breathtaking panoramic view and the white sand beach below is absolutely stunning! It’s no doubt the most beautiful photo spot in Bali.
Most people only visit the viewpoint area but if you’re fit and not afraid of heights, you can also hike down to the beach.
Note that the hike is quite hard due to the steep steps but well worth it for a chance to see the beach up close.
There’s no entrance fee except for a small parking fee of IDR 5k.
Related post: Complete guide to visiting Kelingking Beach
Angel’s Billabong
The next stop is Angel’s Billabong, a natural infinity pool located about a 40-minute drive from Kelingking. The pool boasts crystal-clear water and is definitely a unique spot to swim in (during low tide only!).
When the tide is high, gigantic waves crash into the pool, making swimming extremely dangerous. There have been a few accidents before so make sure to always follow the guidelines and only go into the pool when swimming is allowed.
Again there’s no entrance fee except for a small parking fee of IDR 5k.
Related post: Guide to visiting Angel’s Billabong in Nusa Penida
Broken Beach
Another unique place to visit is Broken Beach. It’s located within the same area as Angel’s Billabong and can be reached on foot in less than 5 minutes.
Here you’ll find a little cove surrounded by tall cliffs except for the natural arched bridge that allows water to flow in and out. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to go down to the beach but you can still admire the view from above.
Related post: Visiting Broken Beach in Nusa Penida
Manta Ray Viewpoint
If you turn right towards the cliffs about halfway in between Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach, you’ll find the Manta Ray viewpoint. If you’re patient enough, you can spot Manta Rays swimming in the ocean below.
Crystal Bay
The final stop on this Nusa Penida day trip from Bali is Crystal Bay. Surrounded by rows of palm trees, Crystal Bay is the perfect place to relax after a long travel day.
It’s also a prime spot for snorkeling as the bay is full of fish. I booked a snorkeling tour when I was visiting Nusa Lembongan and we stopped at Manta Point and Crystal Bay. I even got the opportunity to see some huge Mola Mola fish on the tour.
Just a heads up though, don’t expect a pristine white sand beach like you would see at Kelingking. Crystal Bay is rocky in places and the waves can sometimes be rough.
Honestly, it wasn’t my favorite beach but it was still nice to watch the sunset there. There are a few restaurants here as well as a couple of street food stalls along the beach.
If you have time, I also recommend hiking to Pandan Beach, which is more secluded. The trail can be found by taking the stairs on the left side of Crystal Bay.
There’s no entrance fee for Crystal Bay except for a parking fee of IDR 5k.
How to get to Nusa Penida from Bali?
If you’re not joining a tour, you’ll need to arrange transportation to Nusa Penida on your own.
You first need to take a ferry from Sanur in Bali. You can easily book your ticket online or go directly to Sanur Harbor. You’ll find several boat operators at the harbor but keep in mind that you might need to wait in line if you’re visiting during high season.
The boat will then drop you off at Toya Pakeh Harbor and the next step will be to hire a taxi with driver, join a guided tour, or rent a motorbike.
Note: The roads in Nusa Penida aren’t the best and are full of potholes! Only attempt to ride a motorbike if you’re highly experienced as it can be dangerous driving on these roads.
While most people choose to visit Nusa Penida as a day trip from Bali, you can also take a boat from Nusa Lembongan. You can buy boat tickets near the Yellow Bridge on Nusa Lembongan (click here for the location) for about IDR 50k.
I hope you found this guide to taking a Nusa Penida day trip from Bali helpful. If you have any questions, just ask in the comment section below.
Read more about Bali:
- Kelingking beach hiking guide
- Guide to Angel’s Billabong infinity pool
- Ultimate guide to Broken Beach
- Nusa Ceningan travel guide
- Nusa Lembongan travel guide
- Guide to spending 2 weeks in Bali