Best Things To Do In Nusa Penida And How To Get There From Bali

Nusa Penida leaves you speechless

We bet that you have heard of Nusa Penida as this small island located near the east coast of Bali became increasingly popular thanks to its unique landscapes, rocky cliffs, blue waters bustling with rich marine life and beautiful beaches. Whether you are into exploring natural wonders, diving in Bali, snorkeling or maybe just relaxing surrounded by stunning natural scenery, you will enjoy your time here.

From Bali to Nusa Penida

Here are our top picks for things to do in Nusa Penida, some useful information on how to get there from Bali and a tip on where to secure your cheap fast boat tickets to Nusa Penida.

Kelingking beach

Hands down, the most well-known and photographed place in Nusa Penida will not disappoint you. Even though this cliff shaped like T-rex is quite touristy you might quite possibly have to wait in line for your Instagram-worthy picture, Kelinging viewpoint is a truly jaw-dropping scenery that you will enjoy. From here, you can take a trek down to the Kelinging beach, however, this way is very steep and should not be underestimated. The first 10 minutes of your way down is on a sand path with a bad wooden fence and it is recommended only if you are not afraid of heights and equipped with drinking water. The route down might take about 40-60 minutes. As soon as you get here, you will be welcomed by a beautiful beach that is, sadly, not safe for swimming due to huge waves and strong current.

Snorkeling or diving with mantas in Nusa Penida

One thing that you definitely should not miss is a swim with these gentle giants that are known to guard the waters around Nusa Penida. This island has a cleaning station of beautiful manta rays and they enjoy hanging out in the shallow waters while being cleared from their parasites by smaller fish. Mantas can be found here all year round and are in a calm, welcoming mood. If you don’t have enough time to explore Nusa Penida but are keen on meeting these majestic creatures, you can book your snorkeling or diving tour and do a half-day trip with OK Divers to dive or snorkle with manta rays from Padangbai in Bali.

Broken Beach

Another stunning landscape that should not be left out from your itinerary while visiting Nusa Penida is the cove with archway known as Broken beach. Ocean formed it for many years and now the arch appears almost circular. A place to stop by for a picture as a reminder of how powerful and creative nature can be. You can take a walk from Angel’s Billabong to Broken Beach and it will take only around 5 minutes.

Crystal Bay

A popular place for swimming, relaxing surrounded by tropical palm trees or enjoying a sunset over a cold drink. But did you also know that you can dive here? As its name suggests, this spot has crystal-clear waters that are home to coral gardens with numerous tropical fish and during the dry season mysterious Mola Mola, too! For those who wish to explore the underwater world here, enjoy the diving at Crystal Bay or meet the weirdly beautiful sunfish, we organize diving trips from Padangbai in Bali with chances to spot all that beauty plus the manta rays in one day! You can book your dives with OK Divers here.

Thousand Island (Pulau Seribu) Viewpoint

A truly amazing viewpoint will take your breath with vividly green rocks resting among the blue waters, 200-meters high cliffs and small little beach at the bottom. Way to the first viewpoint involves around 10 minutes of climbing on the steep stairs, but the scenery is something to remember. There are also other spots to enjoy the panorama and most of them have fences to keep the tourists safe as the drop-offs are huge.

Diamond Beach

Nusa Penida is full of picture-perfect places and the Diamond beach has its well-deserved place on this list. Framed by impressively high cliffs, and huge rocks peaking from the blue waters, it looks almost too good to be true. Newly built stairs will take you down to the beach, with cliff hanging above your head. Even though it might sound scary, the hike down is not too difficult. However, please note that swimming here is not recommended as the waves and currents tend to be very strong. It is located near the Thousand island viewpoint and Atuh beach, making it a good combination for your day trip.

Atuh Beach

Often described as the best spots on Nusa Penida island, Atuh beach is a place worth your visit. The view from the top will already impress you with arch, rocks formations, huge cliffs, and white sandy beaches. As most of Nusa Penida’s hikes, also way down to Atuh beach is quite steep but luckily it takes only around 10 minutes. It is best to plan your visit here during the high tide as this is the only time when you can swim in the clear water here, while during the high tide there will be nothing but rocks.

Goa Giri Putri

Goa Giri Putri can be found in the North-East part of Nusa Penida and once you access through a small opening between the rocks you will enter a spacious cave temple with a magical atmosphere. What makes it different from other temples you might have seen around Bali is the praying spot resembling those of Chinese descent. This temple is frequently visited by pilgrims performing holy waters purification. They use raised marble platforms to take a seat because the floor is usually moistened from water dipping from cave walls.

Sunrise snorkeling at Toyapakeh and other locations

Doesn’t matter whether you are a morning bird or like to sleep in, sunrise Nusa Penida snorkeling is worth it waking up early. This tour starts in Padangbai, Bali and is a great choice for those who don’t have enough time to explore the island but still want to have a glimpse of stunning landscape and rich underwater life. You will depart from OK Divers Resort and Spa and experience a ride by traditional boat called jukung while appreciating the lovely sunrise over the sea, views on the east coast of Bali and white beaches of Nusa Penida. After this natural theatre finishes, you will explore vivid corals and tropical fish at 4 snorkeling spots: Gamat Bay, Mangrove Point, SD, and Toyapakeh. For those longing to immerse themselves into wild nature, ťhere is also kayaking in the mangrove forests of Nusa Lembongan, where you will find yourself surrounded by lush nature and explore 2 islands in one day. You can book your Sunrise snorkeling Bali tour with OK Divers here.

Getting to Nusa Penida

Fast boats heading to Nusa Penida depart from Padangbai every day at 2 pm and the pier is located just a 1-minute walk from OK Divers Resort & Spa, which is a great place for staying overnight in Padangbai. Negotiating the ticket prices from local vendors might be a stressful experience and tickets could be even sold-out during the high season. That is why it’s recommended to secure them from a reliable seller, such as OK Divers Resort & Spa. What’s more, if you book a room at OK Divers at this resort, you will get a 50% discount on your return ticket changing one of the ways in to a free ticket to Nusa Penida. In case you need only a one-way ticket, you are entitled to have a 25% discount as a resort guest.

The departure times might vary due to weather and water conditions as well as different seasons and we recommend you get information on up to date schedules, for instance by contacting OK Divers. Another useful tip would be to choose a trustworthy operator such as Eka Jaya with larger, air-conditioned and safe boats. Check OK Divers special deals for price details.

If you wish to go early in the morning, you can choose the other reliable operator called Wannen Bali whose fast boats leave Padangbai at 9 am and stop at Banyar Nyuh in Nusa Penida. The journey from the south of Bali or airport to fast boat harbor in Padangbai takes approximately 1,5 hours and it is always better to have a little rest before hopping on a ferry. To ensure a stress-free vacation, especially if you are traveling with children, we recommend you spend a night at OK Divers Resort and Spa, which is the go-to choice of travelers heading to Nusa Penida.

Alternative trip: explore Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan!

Besides the famous Nusa Penida, there are also two smaller islands nearby called Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, each with their own vibes and atmosphere. Just continue your ride with Eka Jaya a bit longer and the boat will take you to Yellow Bridge in Nusa Lembongan. It connects this island with Nusa Ceningan and offers a very nice walk with pleasant views.

Wannen Bali finishes its route in on Mushroom Bay in Nusa Lembongan known thanks to a wide selection of cozy restaurants and hotels. Nusa Lembongan has also few great surfing spots, a stunning rock formation called Devil’s Tears, nice beaches, lush mangrove forests and relaxed spots for grabbing a bite, making it worth visiting. Do not forget to secure the cheapest fast boat tickets provided by OK Divers and enjoy everything that these islands have to offer.