08° 44′ S, 115° 32′ E
Overview
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1. Diamond Beach
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2. Thousand Islands viewpoint
On the other side of Diamond beach, you will find Thousand Islands viewpoint. From this viewpoint, you can overlook Diamond Beach and the surrounding limestone cliffs towering out the ocean. On your way here, you will pass several viewpoints, which are all turned into kitschy photo spots, that you have to pay extra to take a photo from, including the famous Instagram treehouse, for which you now have to pay 75.000 IDR per person to take a picture. Thousand Islands viewpoint is located on the cliff passed the treehouse and offers an incredible open view of the limestone cliffs and the ocean. Luckily, you don’t have to pay extra to take a picture here.
Know that you have to descend a rocky path to this viewpoint and climb up again on your way back. Fortunately, you get a small bottle of water at the entrance and a wristband as a souvenir. Try to visit this viewpoint as early as possible in the day, together with Diamond Beach, when it is not yet so warm, but also for the most magical light and to beat the crowds.
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3. Guyangan Waterfall
You should not visit the Guyangan waterfall so much for the waterfall, but for the views of the hike to it. From the iconic blue stairs, you have an incredible view of the ocean and if you are lucky, you can see different animals swimming in the water. We saw several groups of up to a hundred dolphins and a turtle here! So you don’t even have to go all the way down to make this place worth a visit. The stairs are not for the faint-hearted, because they are quite steep in some parts. If you go all the way down, you can visit the holy temple and take a dip in the natural pool.
Due to the presence of the temple below, you are asked to wear a sarong, which they give you at the entrance.
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4. Sekartaji Cliff
One of the lesser known things to do in Nusa Penida is watching the sunset from Sekartaji cliff. You can consider this cliff as the little brother of Kelingking Beach, but without a beach and without the large crowds of tourists. It is a beautiful viewpoint with an impressive green cliff. You can enjoy a beautiful sunset here and if you are lucky, you can even see manta rays swimming in the clear blue water down below! But please, be careful and don’t go to close to the edges!
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5. Go Snorkeling or diving
With its fascinating underwater world, Nusa Penida is the ideal place to go snorkeling or diving. The coolest thing you can see in the water are the impressive manta rays. It is one of the most unique things to do in Nusa Penida. The size of the average manta ray here is 3 to 3,5meter which is huge! On the island and online, you will numerous companies that offer swimming, snorkeling and diving with and without manta rays. The most famous spots are Crystal Bay, Manta Bay and Manta Point.
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6. Kelingking Beach
One of the most popular things to do in Nusa Penida is without a doubt Kelingking Beach. It is a beautiful white sand beach with a gigantic cliff that looks like a T-rex. That is why this place is also known as the T-rex.
You can either enjoy this place from the viewpoint above or you can hike all the way down to the beach. It is a long, steep and challenging hike of around 40 minutes down and even more back up. The beginning of the trail is fairly passable, but the lower you go, the less of a trail it is and the steeper it becomes, until at one point you almost have to climb. If you decide to go down to the beach, it is not advised to swim here. There is a strong current and the waves can be very powerful and treacherous!
During the day it can get very crowded at the viewpoint, so we advise you to visit Kelingking Beach either at sunrise or sunset.
7. Teletubbie Hills
The Teletubbie Hills are some green rolling hills on the east side of the island. There are several viewpoints along the road that look out over the rolling landscape. You can also feel like a Teletubbie for a moment and take a walk through the hills. It’s completely free and a fun stop if you’re exploring the east of the island. The hills are the greenest and therefore the most beautiful during and just after the rainy season.
8. Broken Beach
Broken Beach is a unqiue place that looks as if the beach has sunk into the ground. There’s a natural arch, created by millions of years of erosion, that serves as the entrance to the beach from the open ocean. You can walk over this natural bridge and enjoy the views over the crystal clear waters. Unfortunately, you cannot descend to the beach itself. When you are at Broken Beach, you can at the same time visit Angel’s Billabong, which is located right next to it.
9. Angel's Billabong
Located right next to Broken Beach, you find Angel’s Billabong. It is a natural infinity pool in which you can take a refreshing dip and float, at least when the sea is not too rough. Be aware not to go too near the edge of the pool, because even when the sea looks calm, sometimes a wave can unexpectedly crash over the edge and you don’t want to get dragged into the ocean.
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10. Watch the sunset from Amarta Penida
Amarta Penida is a restaurant and bar, nesteld on the northwest edge of Nusa Penida. From this bar, you get a panoramic view of the bay and Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan. But the real highlight is the little version of Bali’s gate of heaven, but without the queuing and the man taking pictures with the mirror.
This bar is the perfect place to take some stunning photos with a beautiful background and at the same time enjoy some cocktails at a beautiful sunset. It is without a doubt one of best and lesser known things to do in Nusa Penida.
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11. Take a daytrip to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
From Nusa Penida, it is only a 15-minute boat ride to Nusa Lembongan. Ideal to discover the other Nusa islands! You won’t find any gigantic cliffs here, but the laid back atmosphere and beautiful beaches are worth a day trip. You can drive around on a scooter and cross the yellow to Nusa Ceningan. It is the ideal place to completely relax and escape the crowds on Nusa Penida.
General Information
Best Time to visit Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida can be visited year round, but the best time to visit is during dry season, from April to October, when the weather is dry and sunny. The landscape is at it greenest right after rainy season. So, if you want to see the island at its most beautiful, with the pleasant weather of the dry season, it is best to visit the island during the months of April, May and June. During the months of July and August, it is peak tourist season and you can expect the biggest crowds. From November to March, it is the rainy season and you can therefore expect a heavy shower every now and then.
How to get around
The cheapest way with the most freedom to explore all the awesome things to do in Nusa Penida is by scooter. This is also what we did. However, the roads on Nusa Penida are not in the best condition, sometimes steep very narrow. It certainly happens that another car or truck almost runs you off the road as they keep driving in the middle. You can often rent a scooter at your accommodation or at the harbor. Prices vary from 70.000 to 100.000 IDR to even 150.000 IDR per 24hours.
If you are looking for a safer option, we recommend hiring a private driver or book a complete Nusa Penida tour. Prices for drivers or tours are typically 550.000 IDR for a tour on west Nusa Penida, which includes Broken Beach and Kelingking Beach. For a tour on east Nusa Penida, they charge around 650.000 IDR, which includes Diamond Beach.
Where to Stay
Most accommodations, bars and restaurants are located in the northwest of Nusa Penida island. This is therefore more of the ‘bustling center’ of the island, where most things happen when you’re not exploring.
How many days for Nusa Penida
Many tours to Nusa Penida are often 1 day tours. However, we recommend that you stay at least 2, or even 3 days if you also want to see Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, to make the most of your trip to the island. If you also want to go diving or snorkeling, you can stay on Nusa Penida for up to 4 days. It’s a small island, but there is so much to see and do!
How to get to Nusa Penida
Since Nusa Penida is an island, and doesn’t have an airport, you have to hop on a ferry from mainland Bali. There are fast boats and ferries leaving from Sanur, Kusamba or Padang Bai to Nusa Penida. By fast boat, the journey only takes 35 minutes. You can buy your tickets at the port, but it is often cheaper to book them online in advance. You can choose for a one way ticket or a return. It is also possible to buy ‘package deals’ with an open ticket that includes a return ticket, pick-up and drop-off from your hotel. Alternatively, you can also take a Nusa Penida day trip from Bali.
Note
There's an entrance fee of 25.000 IDR per person for Nusa Penida, that you have to pay when you arrive at the harbor.
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However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
