Beyond Bali: A Traveler’s Guide to the Hidden Gems of Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida is a picturesque island located in Indonesia, southeast of Bali. Praised for its stunning natural beauty, it boasts rugged cliffs, turquoise waters, and dramatic beaches that look straight out of a movie. While Nusa Penida is known to be a more remote and rugged version of Bali, it is the perfect addition to your travel itinerary if you are exploring Indonesia.

Even though I had an amazing time on the island, there were a few things I wished I knew before going so I could fully prepare myself. If you’re planning a trip to Nusa Penida, consider these travel tips below.

*Please note that some of the links in this blog are affiliate links, which means I would make a small commission if you decide to purchase any of the products I suggested. Your support is greatly appreciated!

What to Pack For a Trip to Nusa Penida

Before packing your bags and boarding your flight to Nusa Penida, be sure you are fully prepared for your trip with these products listed below:

• Bug repellent
• Body sun screen
• Face sun screen
• Water shoes
• Beach towel
• Backup phone battery
• Reusable water bottle
• Day backpack
• Waterproof bag
• Waterproof phone case

Things to Do in Nusa Penida Island, Indonesia

Don’t know what to do on Nusa Island? In this section, I’m going to be covering all the spots you’re going to want to put on your Nusa Penida itinerary. 

Kelingking Beach

Kelingking Beach in east Nusa Penida , often referred to as T-Rex Beach, is one of the most iconic spots on the island. Its famous cliff formation resembling a T-Rex dinosaur attracts adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike. In fact, it’s probably the main reason why so many people travel from Bali to Nusa Penida in the first place. 

While most people enjoy the view of Kelingking cliff from above, brave travelers take the treacherous route down to the beautiful beach for a unique perspective. Even though the clear water may be inviting, it’s also one of the most dangerous beaches in southeast Asia due to the deadly currents and powerful waves. If you still decide to do the hike down, make sure you go at low tide 

Day Trip to Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan

Yes, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are different islands. But they both are incredibly close and can make for a great day trip. All you have to do is take one of the many fast boat options available and you’ll be able to check out these more quaint and romantic islands. If you decide to go, I highly suggest checking the fast boat times and booking your tickets in advance. 

Crystal Bay Beach

Crystal Bay on Nusa Penida island is a great spot famous for its beautiful beach front and clear water. Crystal Bay Beach is also known to be one of the best sunset spots on the island, fitting perfectly on your Nusa Penida itinerary. Lot’s of divers also come to this area to try and see the famous Mola Mola fish as well. 

Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach is another gem on Nusa Penida’s coastline. With its pristine sands and towering cliffs, it truly is a picture-perfect destination. Accessible via a steep stairway, the effort is well worth it for the mesmerizing views. We even saw a manta ray from above while we did the hike down!

Even though it’s definitely worth a visit, I highly recommend coming early. This place gets incredibly crowded from 10 am onward. To get to this beautiful beach, you have to climb down sketchy rock stairs that are carved straight out of the cliff. While it’s challenging as is, it can become incredibly dangerous with so many people all climbing up and down at the same time. If you want to enjoy this spot all to yourself, I highly suggest getting here by 9am or earlier. 

Atuh Beach

Atuh Beach is known for its stunning rock formations and panoramic vistas, and is also located right next to Diamond Beach. Many beach-goers come here to relax, unwind, and soak in the natural beauty of Nusa Penida. However, it’s not the nicest beach on the island in my opinion. 

Broken Beach

Broken Beach is a beautiful rock formation that is definitely worth the visit. This rocky arch offers incredible views of the crystal clear water below. Even though you can’t swim here, the views alone are worth the visit. 

Angel’s Billabong

When you’re at Broken Beach, be sure to check out Angel’s Billabong as they are right next to each other. This popular spot on Nusa Penida island is a natural pool that looks like it seamlessly blends into the ocean. While you may be tempted to dive into the natural pool at low tide, it is forbidden as it can be extremely dangerous. 

Manta Bay

I’m including Manta Bay on this list just because I have to but I wouldn’t necessarily suggest it. Nusa Penida tour companies will promise you a Manta Ray experience like no other, however, it was quite a disappointment when I went myself. Maybe we weren’t lucky with our trip because we went in the afternoon and only saw one Manta Ray. But still, that wasn’t even the worst part. What I really didn’t like about this excursion was that Manta Bay was extremely dirty. While there were no Manta Rays, there was plenty of floating plastic and debris. For me, I’d rather skip on the Manta Rays than have to go swimming in this water again.

Thousand Islands Viewpoint

Thousand Islands Viewpoint offers a mesmerizing panorama of the tiny islands and vibrant waters surrounding Nusa Penida island. It’s a fantastic spot to appreciate the beauty of the region from above.

Peguyangan Waterfall

While we didn’t make it to Peguyangan Waterfall, a lot of people recommend coming here if you’re looking for adventure. Even though this tiny waterfall may be anticlimactic, the views of the surrounding crystal clear water and dramatic cliffside makes it worth it. Keep in mind that this hike is also known to be a sketchy and difficult climb. If you choose to do this hike, make sure you’re properly prepared. 

Drive Through Teletubbies Hill

One of my favorite areas of the island was when we went for a drive through Teletubbies Hill. While this area isn’t advertised so much by any of the tour companies, it offered some of the best views of the island and was by far the most enjoyable stretch of scenery for an afternoon motorbike ride. There’s also lots of beautiful villages that you get to pass through. If you have a free afternoon, I highly suggest making a drive along this scenic route!

Other Beaches and Viewpoints to Check Out: 

• Manta Point
• Banah Cliff Point
• Gamat Bay
• Sewehan Beach
• Secret Point Beach
• Sanur Beach

Places to Eat on Nusa Penida

These were just a few of the spots we enjoyed while on Nusa Penida:

• Orion Bakery
• Coco Penida
• Penida Colada Beach Bar
• Secret Penida Restaurant and Bar

Where I Stayed on Nusa Penida

There are lots of accommodations on Nusa Penida. I booked almost my entire trip on Booking.com and found great accommodations through this platform. When it comes to knowing where to stay, consider booking accommodations in more crowded areas if you don’t have a motorbike as it will be hard to get to the center by foot. We stayed at Bila Penida Resort & Farm and it was a great hotel for our couple-day stay.

What to Know Before You Go to Nusa Penida: Practical Advice and Tips

Expect Extra Fees

While Indonesia in general is very inexpensive, there are a lot of small hidden fees you can expect. Even as soon as you step foot on the island, there is a 25,000 rupiah fee just to enter. You will also have to pay a small fee every time you go to one of the iconic spots around the island such as diamond beach, Kelingking beach, or Angel’s Billabong. these fees are usually less than a euro, but it’s still important to always have cash on you.

Come to The Island With Cash

If you are traveling from Bali or any larger island, try to come with enough cash on hand for your stay. While you can still find ATMs and money exchanges, there are far less options compared to Bali. Even though some restaurants and tour companies take credit cards, cash is definitely preferred.

Book Ferries in Advance 

Unlike Bali and Lombok, there are only a few ferries a day that travel to other islands from Nusa Penida. Because there are far less options, it’s highly recommended to book your tickets at least 2-3 days in advance. Websites like 12go.Asia are great for checking the ferry times or for booking your ticket in advance. Another easy option is to ask your hotel to arrange the ferry ticket for you (just know you will be paying a premium to have your hotel book your reservations.)

Arrange Your Own Reservations

This is an important point – if you are reserving tours or taxis, you can always reserve with your hotel, but you will be paying a higher price. The up side to that is you know you can travel with confidence and be 100% sure your travel plans are solid. However, If you are looking to rent a motorbike or do a snorkel tour, walk into town and explore your options ahead of time. Talk to the different tour companies to see what the average prices are for whatever excursion you’re planning. If you really want to get a good discount, I highly recommend making friends with your taxi drivers. These guys will be more than happy to help you reserve tickets for ferries or tours because they also get a small kick back. From my experience, this is where we found the cheapest prices.  

Download WhatsApp

If you are an American and are still not on the WhatsApp game, you better get on it. Taxis, hotels, and all other locals you will need to contact use WhatsApp and it’s the easiest way to connect with Balinese people. I highly recommend getting the app set up before going over there so you have no issues with communication. 

Explore Early 

Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach are just two of the many spots that draw thousands of travelers to this island each year. While these dreamy spots are definitely worth the visit, it’s important to know that they can be incredibly crowded as well. Even though it may not feel as though a lot of people are staying on Nusa Penida island, day trips from Bali bring over hundreds of tourists each and every day. So with that being said, go early. Being able to have these beautiful spots all to yourself is well worth the early wake up call. Another suggestion is to go to these places at sunset, however, you might not have time to hike down to these beaches if it gets too dark.

Prepare for Dangerous Roads 

Driving a motorbike in Bali is one thing. Driving on Nusa Penida is a whole other challenge. These roads are way narrower and more challenging compared to the main island. There are crashes all the time here and there was even a death while we were on the island from a motorbike crash. If you are not comfortable driving, I wouldn’t suggest it. While it’s definitely more money, you can always hire a driver for the day to go around and see all the spots. And always always use a helmet.

Choose Sneakers Over Sandals

Most of the beaches are difficult to access on Nusa Penida island. Some of the beaches you need to climb down difficult and rocky terrain to get to the sand. If you are touring the island, wear sneakers instead of sandals so you are always prepared to climb. We saw lots of people struggling wearing sandals and ended up having to climb barefoot because they were sleeping on the rocks too much.

There’s A Lot of Pollution

While this isn’t something that should completely prevent you from coming, it is something you want to be aware of. You will see a lot of trash floating in the water, not just at the touristy spots, but really all over the island. I think it’s important to keep this in mind to adjust your expectations just so you’re not disappointed when you get there. 

Wrapping Up

Nusa Penida is a gorgeous island, however, there were a few things I wish I knew ahead of time before booking my trip. So if you’re planning your vacation to Nusa Penida, be sure to keep this advice top of mind so you can properly enjoy your Indonesian adventure!