8 Things to Do in Nusa Penida

Just a 30-minute boat ride east of Bali and you’ll come across Nusa Penida – a beautiful island filled with gorgeous beaches, underwater activities, swanky beach bars, and cozy bungalows.  In this post I’m sharing with you my top 8 recommendations for things to do in Nusa Penida – a true tropical haven.  At the end of the post I answer some of the most common questions about visiting Nusa Penida and provide a bit more context on what you need to know if you plan to visit the island.

 

If you’re looking for more islands in Indonesia to visit, don’t miss…

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• The Best Packing List for Indonesia

 

1.  Visit Pandan Beach

I have to start off this list strong with Pandan Beach – somewhere that I did not read about online, but instead heard about from a local.  Trust me when I tell you, this is one of Nusa Penida’s best hidden gems.  The reason that I loved this beach was because there were very few people there (the most at one time was 14 people) and you can swim in the water (many beaches around Nusa Penida have very strong currents and it’s unadvisable to swim).

To get to Pandan Beach you’ll first arrive to Crystal Bay (make sure you have cash, parking for motorbikes is 5000 IDR).  Once you’re on the sand and looking out at the ocean, you’ll turn left and when you come to the cliffside you’ll notice a set of stairs leading up.  The hike is around 15 minutes and isn’t too hard (you’ll go up for a while, walk along a flat path, then descend down).  I do suggest bringing water as it can get very hot and depending on what time you arrive to the beach there isn’t the availability to purchase water until later.

Once you arrive you will have the option to purchase lounge chairs with an umbrella (100,000 IDR for a set of two), fresh coconuts, and around lunchtime you can purchase chips and other drinks.

I do recommend coming with water shoes (depending on the tide, there are rocks) and a lightweight towel.  Also, I arrived to the beach at 1000 and was the first there.  People started to arrive shortly after me but if you want to enjoy the beach to yourself then I’d start your climb at 0900 (or earlier).

 

2.  Check Out Diamond Beach

In my opinion, the most beautiful place to visit on Nusa Penida would be Diamond Beach.  However, I personally don’t think it’s worth it to hike down to the bottom, but instead I’d recommend viewing Diamond Beach from above.  Diamond Beach does not get as crowded as Kelingking Beach (I think this is because it’s on the east side of the island so it’s harder for day-trippers to get to) but it can still draw a crowd – especially in the afternoon.  To enter, you’ll need to pay a fee of 35000 IDR/person and you’ll get a small bottle of water (although I recommend bringing more if you plan to hike down to the beach).

The reason I don’t recommend hiking down to Diamond Beach is because it’s very dangerous once you pass the stairs; you’re required to essentially rock climb and use ropes to reach the beach.  And getting down isn’t the hard part, it’s getting back up.  Not to mention, once you reach the beach you aren’t “allowed” to swim (of course you can get in, but there are locals there that whistle if you go too far) because of the dangerous currents and sea rocks.  If you’re still set on going down, please wear sturdy tennis shoes and go very slowly.

 

3.  Beat Tourists to Kelingking Beach

Another gorgeous place to visit (and perhaps the most well-known) is Kelingking Beach.  Again, this is a beach I wouldn’t necessarily recommend climbing down to (there are hundreds of stairs to conquer if you want to reach the beach) but instead viewing from above!  This is by far the most visited attraction on Nusa Penida so it can draw quite the crowd.  To see it in all its glory, I suggest going early to take in the beauty and linger for a while.  The tourists really start to show up around 0900 but if you truly want this attraction to yourself, I recommend showing up around 0600.  (I arrived at 0700 and there were already some people there and many more arriving once I left at 0800).

To park at Kelingking, you’ll need to pay 10000 IDR.

 

4.  Watch the Sunset at AMARTA Penida

There are tons of fun beach clubs in Nusa Penida (mostly in the north), but I found this gem on the west side of the island and while I wouldn’t qualify it as a “club”, it’s a fun spot to relax, swim, eat a fabulous meal, and even get in the pool.  It’s also a great spot to watch the sunset!  And again, the food is fabulous so no matter what time of the day you go, make sure to stay for a meal.

By the way, as long as you’re purchasing food and/or drink, you can use the pool free of charge.

 

5.  Stay in a Bungalow

Many people visit Nusa Penida as a day trip from Bali, and if that’s all the time you have, then I say that’s fine.  However, if you have more time I would highly recommend spending the night (or a few) so you can really dive deep into the island.  Plus, there are tons of incredible, affordable accommodations to stay in which is a win!

I stayed on Nusa Penida for five days and checked into Meket Bungalows.  I would definitely recommend staying here as the scenery is beautiful, you’re near Crystal Bay, and it’s very quiet and peaceful.  With that being said, if you’re looking to stay closer to more restaurants and beach clubs, here are some more bungalows I’d recommend…

• Santen Beach Bungalows
• Merta Beach Bungalow by Bukit Vista
• Surya Chandra Beach Bungalow

 

6.  Swim at Crystal Bay

Crystal Bay is beautiful but it gets incredibly crowded.  The reason that I recommend coming here is if you simply want to go to a gorgeous beach, without doing any of the work.  I say this because there are a ton of gorgeous beaches in Nusa Penida, and a lot of them require a lot of physical activity to reach.  If you just want to lounge on a beach chair without working for it – Crystal Bay is your place.

 

7.  Spend a Day at a Beach Club

Just like Bali, Nusa Penida has some great beach clubs to hang out at!  Plus, some of them stay open pretty late which makes it the perfect thing to do in Nusa Penida at night.  Some beach clubs that I recommend include…

• Cactus Beach Club & Restaurant
• NOME Beach Club
• Penida Colada

 

8.  Dive/Snorkel with Manta Rays

One thing that draws people to Nusa Penida is the ability to snorkel and/or dive with manta rays.  And there are plenty of opportunities to do so on the island!  There is even an area in the south of the island called “Manta Point” where (at times) you can see manta rays without even getting in the water!

If you’re diving…

There are many dive centers on Nusa Penida, mostly located in the north with one center in the west – Reflex Divers Crystal Bay.  I don’t dive but my boyfriend used Reflex Divers Crystal Bay and he enjoyed them because they were informative and affordable.  Other centers he was eyeing include Scuba Junkie Penida and Temple Diving.

If you’re snorkeling…

If snorkeling is more up your alley, again, there are many opportunities to snorkel in Nusa Penida.  If you specifically want to see the manta rays, make sure you make that very clear to your guide and make sure that they are planning to take you to areas where you’re able to see them.  (Of course, these are wild animals and there is no guarantee).  Here are some tours you can take if you plan to snorkel…

• 4 Spots Snorkeling with Manta Rays
• Private Snorkeling – Enjoy the Manta Rays
• Nusa Penida by Private Boat – 4 Spots Snorkeling, Swim with Mantas, + Land Tour

 

Is Nusa Penida Worth Visiting?

Nusa Penida is absolutely beautiful and a bit more quiet than Bali, so overall I would say – yes.  However, if you have a physical disability you might be unable to enjoy a majority of the island so in that case, I would say it’s up to you.  The island is really quite difficult to navigate and get around even with a private driver.

 

How to Get to Nusa Penida

If you want to book a trip to Nusa Penida the best way is to go by boat from Bali.  I recommend 12Go so you can compare different options and choose the one best for you.  Make sure to check which port you’re departing from in Bali and arriving to in Nusa Penida so that you aren’t wasting time going to a port too far away.

 

BOOK YOUR TRIP FROM BALI TO NUSA PENIDA HERE!

 

How Many Days Should You Spend on Nusa Penida?

I would recommend spending two full days in Nusa Penida.  One day for exploring and one day for relaxing at the beach or a beach club.  If you have the time, I would even say to spend three days so you can explore the west in depth, the east in depth, and then relax at the beach or a beach club.  While Nusa Penida is small, it can be hard to get around so exploring the entire island in one day can be challenging.  Furthermore, if you don’t have the time, I still think it’s worth it to visit for just a day trip from Bali.

 

IF YOU WANT TO DO A DAY TRIP FROM BALI, BOOK A PRIVATE BOAT TOUR HERE!

 

Don’t miss…

• The Best Nusa Penida 2 Day Itinerary

 

 

The Best Time to Visit Nusa Penida

Rainy season in Nusa Penida lasts from November-January, and high season is from May-September.  Ideally, you’ll want to visit in that sweet spot between rainy season and high season.  I visited in March and did experience scattered rainfall – but nothing that deterred my travel plans.  Plus prices were cheaper and I was battling with fewer tourists to see some of the most famous spots on the island so it was a win in my book.

 

Where to Stay on Nusa Penida

I shared tons of great bungalows to stay in above, but if you’re looking for something a bit nicer, I would also recommend checking out  Maua Nusa Penida or Sea La Vie Resort.  While I stayed in the west part of the island, I might choose to stay in the north next time to be closer to bars and restaurants.

 

 

How to Get Around Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida is very challenging to get around, and unless you’re an experienced motorbike driver – I would be very careful about renting a motorbike.  While it could be tempting (bikes go for around 75000 IDR for one day) – the island is very hard to drive around.  Most roads are one way so when you go around sharp turns or you are going straight uphill you can’t see who is coming from the other side.  If you rent a motorbike, please wear a helmet as many tourists have died navigating the roads.

If you want to do a full day tour of the island (or just be transported from one beach club to the next), I would recommend Ketut.  He is very knowledgable about the island, speaks great English, and is both timely and friendly.  I couldn’t recommend him enough!  The best way to get in touch is to send him a message on WhatsApp – +62 812-3670-269.  If you hire him, make sure to tell him I (Kylee from Nebraska) said hello!

 

Indonesia Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Indonesia

 

If you’re considering visiting Nusa Penida, I hope you decide to!  The island is wildly gorgeous and worthy of a trip.  If you have any questions about these things to do in Nusa Penida or need help planning your travels, let me know in a comment below!

 

If you’re planning a trip to Indonesia, don’t miss…

• Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Indonesia
• The Ultimate 10 Day Indonesia Itinerary – Island Hopping Edition

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Nusa Penida, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinindonesia” or under my highlights for “Indonesia”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Indonesia” highlight

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