How to Take a Day Trip to Nusa Penida, Bali
You would not believe how EASY it is to take a day trip to Nusa Penida!
BUT FIRST, where do I start with Nusa Penida?
First of all, pictures don’t do it justice. Literally objects in photos are bigger than they appear.
You step off your fast boat and into the “harbor” aka the ocean and you are transported into another world. The vast landscapes and beautiful sights make this tiny island off the coast of Bali a bucket list must. This island was made famous by social media because of Kelingking Beach.
How to Take a Day Trip to Nusa Penida, Bali
A few years ago, Nusa Penida was pretty much untouched by the outside world, now the island thrives off tourism.
It still hasn’t been taken over by tourists but you can tell with the construction going on that this place is going to get busier and busier in the next few years.
Getting to Nusa Penida
You can take a ferry or a fast boat from Sanur harbor. (No, you do not need to stay the night in Sanur – you can easily find a driver to take you from Ubud or Kuta or wherever you are staying).
The best way is the fast boat, it takes 30-45 minutes and there are plenty of options at the harbor.
Book your spot ahead of time so you’re not stressing out at the last minute because the harbor is definitely crazy to say the least at 7:15am in the morning.
*Just a warning, you will have to climb down rocks into the ocean and then get on the boat.
Unfortunately, this trip is not for everyone as it is very difficult for people who cannot hike or walk long distances and sometimes you look at a ledge or you’re climbing onto a boat and you think, “gee, this doesn’t seem safe…”.
Also keep in mind that you will be going in the ocean with your luggage if you are spending the night, so please be aware of that too.
Also a warning to the day trippers that are bringing backpacks, wearing long dresses, or have expensive camera equipment.
**Don’t let it deter you from going, you can hold your back pack over your head just fine**
Getting Around Nusa Penida
Once you get there you’ll need transportation around the island.
You can’t walk because it’s too big (remember what I said, it’s bigger than it looks)!
Scooter
You can go the cheap route and rent a scooter for about $10 but I don’t recommend it unless you are very comfortable on a scooter.
I’m not talking about riding to and from work or going up the occasional hill. I’m talking about very narrow dirt and gravel roads with multiple bumps and turns and very steep hills.
I saw so many people stranded or pulled to the side of the road or struggling to slow down going down a steep hill while a car is driving up.
If you’re not comfortable driving a scooter then it’s no faster than a car.
Car and Private Guide
Your second option is to hire a guide with a car.
As soon as you get off the boat, there are guides yelling at you to pick them for a tour.
My advice is also to plan your guide!! You don’t have to worry about haggling a price or if the driver is even legit, you can just get off your boat and start exploring right away so no time is wasted.
The Classic Nusa Penida Day Trip
Now what is there to see on the island? Plenty!
If you are only doing a day trip then you need to pick and choose what you would like to do because all the fast boats leave by 5pm, so I will only highlight the main sights to see during a day trip.
Angels Billabong
Angels Billabong is about 40 minutes away from the harbor, making this location the perfect starting point on Nusa Penida.
This is a beautiful natural pool that is enclosed by cliffs.
The pool is created when the waves from the ocean crash over the side.
That being said, the waves are very strong and the current is strong if the waves are crashing into the pool, so if you see that, DO NOT GO INTO THE POOL because you can get sucked into the ocean and it has happened before. *Seriously, google it if you don’t believe me*
Your life is not worth the perfect shot.
You can check the tide times and your chances of playing around in the pool will be higher at low tide.
Broken Beach
Broken Beach is a short walk from Angels Billabong, about 7 minutes.
It’s not a bad walk either, so no hiking involved.
Broken Beach is unreal. It’s huge!
It’s a bay that has an archway with the waves crashing into it.
The archway was not always there and was created by the waves crashing into the side of the cliff. You can look down from the cliffs above but can’t walk down to the bay.
You can walk all around it, including over the archway and around the side of the cliff so you can get a better view of the ocean crashing into the cliffs and the bay.
Then you can walk back around and see the archway from a little bit further away.
Kelingking Beach
And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for.
This is the main event on Nusa Penida, your morning has been leading up to this moment and it’s totally worth it.
If you’re not excited about Kelingking Beach then why are you even on this island?
Seriously, everyone has to see this Instagram iconic viewpoint because it is breathtaking. I can’t even describe the feeling I felt when I first set eyes on the massive T-Rex cliff (which is SO much bigger than you would think it was in the pictures).
There will be a lot of people here, A LOT! All trying to get the same picture. Luckily everyone is respectful and you will get your shot with no people in it.
If you keep following the pathway down you will come to a very beaten “path” and a warning sign. This is the path you use to get down to the beach.
You will not have time as it takes about an hour and a half total hiking time. This can only be done if you spend the night or this is the only thing you are going to do on the island.. but why wouldn’t you want to see other gorgeous locations?
However, you can walk down this “path” a fair bit and get some really great pictures (you’ll just have to wait for other people to pass you and walk down if you want to get pictures without people in them).
Car Temple and the (backside) of Kelingking View Point
Ten minutes down the road is the entrance to Car Temple. It is literally a temple with cars inside it. It’s very nice to stop by and take a look around because you won’t see many tourists here.
Continue further down the road and you will come to the backside of Kelingking Beach.
This viewpoint is on the edge of the cliff (and there are no fences, so be careful), but it will give you glorious unobstructed views and you will most likely be the only person there no matter what time you go!
Crystal Bay
There’s a ton of beaches on Nusa Penida, but this beach is the closest spot to the harbor, so this will be your last stop and then you’re not getting stuck behind other cars, breaking down, or having something else go wrong while you’re 2 hours away from the harbor.
(Nobody wants to get stuck on an island with nowhere to stay!).
This beach is a nice bay with an island in the center. You’ll get light waves and hot sand, so enjoy this for the last hour of your day as you reflect on what just happened earlier. (Amazing-ness, that’s what!)
Leaving Nusa Penida
Of course, once you get back to the harbor, it’s once again chaotic, but as soon as you figure out where your boat is leaving from, you will just wait in line to board and you’re all set.
Please note that you may have to climb down ladders or steep stairs to once again walk into the ocean to get on a very rocky boat to take you to where your actual fast boat is parked.
Once you are at your fast boat, you will have to climb onto it. Like I said from the beginning, this trip is not for people who are uncomfortable with not having any kind of safety harness or regulations.
Nusa Penida is so beautiful and this gem needs to be on your bucket list now! Don’t worry…. it’s not too “mainstream” or “trendy” for you! This island needs to be seen with your own two eyes.
Is it your first time traveling to Bali? Here’s everything you need to know before you go!
If you have any questions about taking a day trip to Nusa Penida, feel free to contact me or drop me a comment below!
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