Ultimate Nusa Penida Island Guide [Things to do, Attractions, Hotels, Hidden Spots, Nightlife & Tours]

Nusa Penida island in Bali is one of the best island destinations of Asia. A mecca for sun seekers and beach bums, this island made it to top of my Indonesian bucket list and HAD to be discovered.

During my three months in Indonesia, the rain gods played spoilt sport for the first two, making most outdoorsy adventure plans and hikes impossible to attempt. Plus Mount Ayung volcano was constantly blowing smokes, keeping tourism low and traveling sparse. With so much going on, my plan to explore Nusa Penida was put on the back burner.

Finally, during the last two weeks of my latest Indonesian escapade and after spending quality time in Lombok, I decided I simply had to tick off Nusa Penida from my bucket list before I head back to India. After all, visiting the nusa islands was my primary reason to visit Indonesia for the third time.

Surely you must’ve heard about these pristine set of Nusa islands (Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan) off the coast of Bali. They are still offbeat and not too commercial aka unexplored and hence sought after by travelers. Nusa Penida is the largest of these three islands.

So, if you are planning your epic getaway to one of the top islands from the lot and my favorite – Nusa Penida, here’s a complete travel guide to ensure you have the perfect trip. From Nusa penida hotels to things to do, attractions and underwater adventures – this guide covers it all.

Unmissable Nusa Penida Tours

One of the reasons why Bali retains the ‘top holiday destination in Asia’ spot, is because it has something for everyone. From quiet and quaint villages, iconic rice fields, white sandy beaches, crystal clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean, gorgeous waterfalls, rivers and secret canyons and even art and culture. Hence, it is recommended that you plan your Nusa Penidta tours precisely to make the most of the time and budget you have. 

Nusa Penida is popular for its picturesque cliff formations and stunning beaches. If you are heading to Nusa Penida for a day or two, booking your tours for Nusa Penida in advance would allow you to optimize your time and money.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the Nusa Penida tours you can try in 2022 – 

Snorkel with Manta Rays in Nusa Penida: This tour provides you with a never-before snorkeling experience in the Indian Ocean as you swim with the magnificent manta rays of Nusa Penida. The tour includes pickup from your hotel in selected areas of Bali and then snorkeling in Crystal Bay, Toyapakeh and Gamat Bay. The tour also includes lunch at Paradise Bay. Here’s my personal experience of snorkeling with these gentle giants. Convinced? Click here to book this tour now.

Highlights of Nusa Penida via Speed Boat Tour: If you are not into snorkeling and are running short of time, exploring Nusa Penida via a speed boat is a great idea. The tour provides a fantastic way to know more about the island and explore the iconic Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach and more. Click here for more info and availability. 

A Day Trip to East Nusa Penida: This tour allows you to capture the scenery and landscapes on the east side of the island. It allows you to visit and explore the white sands of Diamond Beach. Stroll up to Thousand Island View Point and Teletubbies Hill in your leisure time. Explore Atuh Beach which is a hidden gem on the east coast of the island. Click here to explore east Nusa Penida.

A Day Trip to West Nusa Penida: This tour takes you on an adventure trip on the western side of the island. Soak in the gorgeous scenery and sweeping panoramic views of the ocean as you explore the popular Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach. With this 10-hour day tour, you also get swimming and snorkeling opportunities in popular water holes such as Manta Point Nusa Penida, Mangrove Point Nusa Penida and Wall Point Nusa Penida. Click here to book this epic tour. 

A 2-Day Complete Tour of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan: Initiate your Nusa island adventure with a speed boat transfer to Nusa Lembongan. Snorkel at the top three spots in Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. The mangrove tour follows after an inclusive lunch. The tour also includes a visit to Devil’s Tear, Dream Beach and Panorama Point. Stay overnight in Nusa Lembongan (all-inclusive) at a beachfront accommodation. On Day 2, you get transferred to Nusa Penida where you explore popular beaches and cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean. Click here for this spenldid itinerary. 

These tours offer certified guides, hotel pickup and drop off facilities, and in some tours lunch and accommodation is inclusive allowing you to get the best tour of Nusa Penida. You can check out all Nusa Penida top tours here.

10 Fun and Adventurous Things to do in Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida has a lot to offer for a first time visitor. Here is my pick of top 10 things to do on Nusa Penida island and also a few things I missed.

Walk on T-Rex Back at KelingKing Beach

Wondering what to do in Nusa Penida? Well, the popular Kelingking secret point beach is one of the top attractions of Nusa Penida so it should be your first stop. This huge rock shaped as T-Rex makes your Instagram photos pop and if you decide to climb down the umpteen stairs to the actual beach, then a great workout as well. Nestled on the west coast of Nusa Penida, missing Kelingking is simply not an option.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Jyotsna Ramani 🌎🛫 (@wanderwithjo)

Swim in Natural Pool of Angels Billabong

Angels Billbong is just a 15 min bike ride from Kelingking beach and can be covered on the same day. In fact I would recommend covering the entire west coast attractions on same day to avoid riding the potholed roads again. This crystal clear natural pool is perfect for early morning swimming or late noon selfies (I would prefer the former).

For more info on Angels Billabong, read my full post here. 

Snorkel with Gentle Giants of the Sea – Manta Rays

One of the most sought after Nusa Penida things to do is taking a boat to Manta point for one of the best snorkel adventures of your life. Imagine being in the water with the amazing Manta rays? Its such an incredible feeling. Plus, your tour will have several bonus attractions like underwater Buddha temple and other epic snorkel spots.

Click here to read about my entire Nusa penida snorkeling story and and watch the video here – 

Gawk at the Stunning Arch of Broken Beach

Broken beach aka Pasih uug is another point of interest in Nusa Penida which drives tourists and day visitors in hoards. This lovely arched cliff makes for unbeatable 360 degree views. With its close proximity (just 2 mins) from Angels billabong, both attractions can be easily combined in your Nusa penida day trip.

Click for full post on Broken Beach and photography tips to this popular Nusa Penida attraction. 

Mingle with the Locals

Locals here in Nusa Penida, like everywhere else in Indonesia are extremely friendly. As I rode down to the south coast of the island which cuts through jungles and remote villages, all kids were waving at me and adults smiling. It shows Indonesian’s warm and welcoming attitude towards tourists. I stopped for coffee at a tiny warung en-route and was showered with smiles. In my broken bahasa Indonesia (local dialect), I tried to talk to the family and their two kids (in pic below), bought the kids some candy and set off on my adventures again.

Enjoy a quiet beach day at Atuh beach

Atuh beach was my favorite beach in Nusa Penida. Absolutely fantastic clear blue waters, white sands, a bit remote (but not stranded) with sun beds and warungs selling everything from local/western food to beer, softdrinks and coconut water. What else do you need? The only challenge is the short 10-15 mins climb down an array of stairs but – totally worth it!

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Jyotsna Ramani 🌎🛫 (@wanderwithjo)

Read full post here – Atuh beach, the Untouched Paradise of Nusa Penida

Try Mouth Watering Street Food at the Night Market

Some of the BEST food I tried in Nusa Penida was that in the night food market. Everyday they have small portable food stalls selling all sorts of local delicacies from the popular Nasi Goreng to the lesser known Martabaks.

Needless to say, I headed straight for the Martabak (stuffed , friend flat bread) stalls twice during my 5 night stay on the island and absolutely loved them. Nusa penida night market won’t break the bank and is perfect for foodies and travelers who like to taste local delicacies.

Climb down the Blue Stairway to Peguyangan Waterfall

Okay quite honestly this was the most daunting adventure in Nusa Penida for me, personally.

Just looking at those long winding, never ending blue stairway to the lovely attraction of Peguyangan, made me dizzy. I probably made it half way down before I decided to go back up but as a solo traveler who is prone to misadventures, I decided it wasn’t wise to push my luck. With no tourists around and all the horror stories going around the island during my stay (of accidents and deaths), I believe it was a logical decision to make (especially since I missed booking my travel insurance for my entire three month trip – eek).

Anyways, the views just from above were totally worth driving all the way for. Though, if you are with a friend or ina  group (or atleast see people around) just go down and see the actual attraction too 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Jyotsna Ramani 🌎🛫 (@wanderwithjo)

Ride Around Nusa Penida on a Bike

This is both one of the riskiest and most fun ride of my life. No wonder many contemplate riding a bike in Nusa Penida.

The horrible potholed roads to the Broken beach and Angels billabong prepared me for exploring rest of the island with ease. Once I conquered those broken paths, every other road simply seemed like a piece of cake. However, if you haven’t ever driven a bike or scootie before, I would highly recommend NOT to drive on the island at all.

This is perhaps the worst place to learn how to ride or for beginners. You are better off hiring someone you can pillion behind or make a friend in your hostel and be ultra sweet so you can tag along 😉 Another option is to rent a car for your full day Nusa Penida trip.

Enjoy Live Music at Penida Colada

This was my daily evening ritual – head to Penida colada for happy hours as I watched the sunset over 1+1 cocktails and later enjoy the fantastic live music. Hands down, one of the best bands I have ever heard and the boys are fun and always engaging the audience. If you like to sing or play an instrument, go play your hearts out and be a rockstar for a night. Surely the best spot for Nusa Penida party (or as close as it can get!).

Other things to do in Nusa Penida which I haven’t personally explored would be visiting the umpteen Hindu temples and viewpoints this island has scattered everywhere. Be it the unique cave temple of Goa Giri putri or the car temple of Pura Paluang, Nusa Penida has something to satiate your spiritual cravings too. I also missed the lovely crystal bay which is one of the top Nusa Penida attractions, so would recommend a quick visit if you can squeeze in into your itinerary.

More Fun Things to do in Nusa Penida (Not personally tried)

Seen these spots on so many fellow bloggers/ Instagrammer profiles that I already want to go back and explore them too.

Tembeling: the Natural Pool at Nusa Penida

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Neringa | Luxury Travel & Lifestyle (@nerri.travel)

This crystal clear natural pool of sweet water on the west side of the island is one of the best-kept secrets of Nusa Penida, especially because it is so much different from everything else 

A ten minutes motorbike ride(only for the very experienced drivers) from the beach or a thirty minute walk up a steep slope and a five minute walk down a flight of concrete steps will bring you to this freshwater pool.

This hidden gem in the jungle is mainly a spot for locals to frolic in, so mostly you will be the only outsider here. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the cool clear waters and then wander down to the nearby beach to relax.

Stay at Rumah Pohon Treehouse

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Yasmine 🎬 Créatrice de contenu & UGC (@yasminesingh_)

This uniquely located treehouse rests on top of a small cliff and offers surreal 360° views of the ocean. The Rumah Pohon Treehouse is just a five minutes walk from Atuh beach and is one of the most sought-after accommodations on Nusa Penida. Needless to say, the visit requires planning as the treehouse is booked months in advance.

The mountain that just out is known as the Thousand Island Viewpoint as it offers spectacular views of Batupadasan and Berubah islands and the coastline in either direction. The rooms at Rumah Pohon are very basic, but remember you are paying for the views from the balcony and not the amenities.

Tip – If you just want to go for the killer views, you can even go and take photos for approx $3. However, be prepared for long queues. 

Pay obeisance at Pura Puncak Mundi

Situated about 530m above sea level, Pura Puncak Mundi is the highest point in Nusa Penida and home to three beautiful Hindu temples. It can be accessed by thirty public transport or bemo taxi rides from Nusa Penida.

Apart from the monkeys who are the permanent inhabitants of this place, one can admire the stunning architecture of the Pura Puncak Mundi temple as well as the two other temples namely, Pura Beji and Pura Krangkeng.

Take photos from Teletubbies Hill

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Made Wijaya (@germantourguide_bali)

This photography hotspot in Nusa Penida is popular for pre-wedding shoots because of the incredible landscapes surrounding the area. The mounds of undulating hills covered in verdant green grass makes it for an ideal getaway for those looking for peace and relaxation.

Teletubbies Hill can be reached from Nusa Penida by a fifty minutes trip by speedboat across the Badung Strait from the Bali mainland.  From the harbor, you can rent a scooter for about 75000 IDR a day to access Teletubbies Hill.

Putri Giri Cave Temple

Also known as Pura Giri Putri, this temple is one of the principal attractions of Nusa Penida. There are six different temples inside the main cave, with each having its own function. The temples are situated on the north-eastern part of the island, about five kilometers away from the Sampalan Harbor.

The entrance to Putri Giri is on a narrow rock face and one needs to stoop down quite low to gain access inside. Prior to that, the visitors need to climb up a 100-step staircase to reach the entrance. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a perfect place to meditate 

Nusa Penida Tour Options and Itinerary

The only guided Nusa Penida tour I would suggest taking is to see Manta rays at Manta point because you simply cannot hire a boat and do it yourself.  Apart from that, you can pretty much ride around the island on your bike and visit all Nusa Penida points of interest on your own, just paying the nominal parking fee and gas.

If, however, you are not confident riding a bike, I would highly recommend renting a car or taking a tour guide you can pillion with on the bike. Rates range from $10 – $40 a day based on your requirements, number of people and tour options.

Basically, I would suggest minimum four days stay on Nusa Penida if you would like to cover all top spots. Here are some tour options if you want to follow my Nusa Penida itinerary. Though, I kept a free day in between to simply relax , which you can too if you have time –

Day 1 West Coast – Your Nusa Penida day trip would be incomplete if you skip the popular spots on the west coast of this island. These three attractions are simply un-missable – Angels Billabong, Broken Beach and Kelingking. Start your day early as roads are bad and navigating is hard.

Day 2 East Coast – Next day, you can explore the lovely Atuh beach on the east coast. If you have more time you can go further to Suwehan beach as well.

Day 3 Waterfalls in South – On my third day exploring Nusa Penida island, I head off alone to explore the south part of this pretty destination. Peguyangan waterfall along with the sacred temple is the highlight of the south.

Day 4 – Snorkeling with Manta Rays – I kept my last day free to snorkel with these gentle giants. This was one of my main reasons of choose Nusa Penida (over the other two islands, though its easy to take a day trip from Nusa Lembongan to Manta point as well). My experience was totally worth it and I would highly recommend this to kick start your day. You get free by early noon so you can club it with a short hike to a viewpoint as well.

Where to Stay in Nusa Penida for the Best Nusa Penida Hotels

If you want to make friends, I would recommend booking a popular hostel in Nusa Penida like the Full moon bungalows where I was staying. It was easy to find travel mates to explore the lovely island with.

I was extremely lucky to make a friend on my very first night (Actually within 10 mins) of stepping into my dorm room at Full Moon Bungalows. Plus you can enjoy live music in evenings here which is excellent for making new friends and getting intel on tours (that’s how I found the cheapest and best boat guide for my Manta ray tour). Full moon is also centrally located and its important to be close to food, restaurants, nightlife and night market in this quiet island. Practically everything shuts down by 2300 hrs.

So after making friends, I decided I didn’t want to stay in a dorm. For the same low rate of a dorm bed, I found a lovely guest house just 2 mins from Full Moon, called – Yuda homestay. If you drive around a bit you can find private rooms for less than 150,000 IDR ($11) but I was extremely happy with my simple guest house at Yuda in this price point.

If you want to go a tad fancier and want a swimming pool, then try the highly rated Bintang bungalow for a mid-range stay option.

However, I think the pandemic hit some hostels hard  as I cannot find a listing for Full moon bungalows online anymore. So I selected top rated hotels in Nusa Penida for all budgets for you to look at –

Best Luxury Resort for Families – The Tamarind Resort Nusa Lembongan

Best Luxury Resort for Couples – MAUA Nusa Penida Bali

Best Mid-Range Accommodation for Families – Semabu Hills Hotel Nusa Penida

Best Mid-Range Accommodation for Couples – The Mesare Eco Resort

Best Mid-Range Accommodation for Solo Travelers – The Kama

Best Budget Hotels for Families – La Roja Bungalows

Best Budget Hotel for Couples – Pradana Beach Inn Luxury

Best Budget Hotel for Solo Travelers – Wait Garden Cottage

Must Read – Complete Guide to Best Places to Stay in Nusa Penida!

You can also compare vacation rentals across all platforms like Airbnb, booking etc to find the best deal.

Where to Eat in Nusa Penida

With plenty of local warungs, beach shacks serving scrumptious sea food and chilled beer as well as healthy eating options with live music at Penida Colada, there is no dearth of choices for foodies. Warung jungle and Warung pondok are highly rated options on the island but I much preferred the night market for cost effective and delicious local street food.

For coffee, Papila’s coffee house would be my top choice. Then there are quite a few wood fire pizzerias sprinkled around the island as well. So there is always plenty of grub going around. Try eating with the locals sometime as they love BBQ’ing fish and having guests over.

Nusa Penida Nightlife

Nusa Penida is a quiet island and nightlife is more or less restricted to its handful of live music spots. If you are coming from the neighboring islands of Bali, Gili Trawangan or Kuta Lombok, you will find nightlife in Nusa Penida to be pretty much – non- existent!

There are two bars offering live music every evening from 1900 hrs – Full moon bungalows and Penida colada. The band at Penida Colada is pretty amazing and they sometimes play in other bars/ dive centers on the island as well. Its a good idea to go to Colada early (during happy hour/sunset) and follow the band as that is pretty much the only thing to do in Nusa Penida at night to stay entertained.

Even though Nusa Penida party scene is pretty drab, locals are friendly and welcoming. Don’t be surprised if you get invited to a house party or BBQ dinner scenes. Those are the best ways to enjoy a few evenings on the island. Plus if you do feel the urge, head to the nearby Nusa Lembongan island which seems to have a more thriving nightlife scene going on.

Nusa Penida Travel Information

Here’s some important Nusa penida travel information to help plan your trip to the island.

Nusa Penida Weather

Nusa Penida is relatively drier than the island of the Gods (Bali) and hence way hotter. During my 3 months in and around Bali, I felt Nusa Penida was the only spot that almost gave me a heatstroke. I even heard of a girl who had to be airlifted from Kelingking beach due to a heatstroke – eeks.

So if you are planning to visit Nusa Penida, be sure to carry clothes that breathe, hat/cap, ample sun screen and well, be prepared to get sun burnt, still!

Nusa Penida weather is mostly hot and dry but from Mid-Dec to Mid-feb it sees quite a few showers. Hence, its best to travel after that.

Best months to visit Nusa Penida are said to be July, August and September as they are relatively cooler. However, right after the monsoons would surely be “greener”.

Nusa Penida Map

As you can see on this Nusa Penida tourist map, the island is pretty small and located in close proximity from Bali so there are different ways to reach the island to start your explorations.

How to reach Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida from Bali

If you wish to go to Nusa Penida from Bali you have a choice of harbors. You can take a ferry from either Padang bai, Kusamba, Sanur or Benoa. However, I would highly recommend taking the boat to and from Sanur for convenience and choice of timings. Arrive harbor as early in the morning as you can to avoid hiring a  fisherman boat like I had to.

Nusa Penida from Lombok

This was my choice of route as I was chilling in Kuta Lombok for few weeks prior to visiting Nusa Penida. I had to take my ferry back to Padang bai (I had booked a round trip from Bali before so this worked out well). Little did I know there was no ferry to Nusa Penida in afternoon or evening from Padang Bai. Obviously there was a lot of wrong information online about how to get to Nusa Penida and at the ferry office. So, I ended up paying 500,000 IDR ($36) to charter a fisherman boat to reach Nusa Penida just around sunset.

They can charge upto double that amount so you have to really haggle for a good deal. Although, I must admit I totally enjoyed the experience as I admired a rainbow on my left, setting sun on my right and Mt Agung behind me. Stunning scenery which I enjoyed on my own – worth it!

Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan

You can take a charted day trip boat from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida or simply a public ferry around 0600 hrs at the harbor. I haven’t taken this route so cannot confirm/deny the information or timings.

FAQs

What is Nusa Penida Famous for?

This stunning island boasts of unique and interesting Hindi temples and mind blowing cliff formations and natural blue green lagoons.

Which is better Gili Islands or Nusa Penida?

Well like everything else this is totally a personal choice. For me, Nusa Penida was unique, offbeat and a little challenging so I enjoyed it more than the 3 Gilli islands.

Can you Swim in Nusa Penida?

Many beaches of Nusa Penida are simply gawk-worthy. However, there are amazing beaches to swim at like Atul beach or the natural pool at Angel's Billabong.

Finally if you are still wondering ‘Is Nusa Penida worth visiting‘, then the answer is a big fat – YES!