Best Nusa Penida Things To Do: Tips for a Nusa Penida Day Trip

Nusa Penida, Bali is a natural wonderland. A far-away tropical island…that really isn’t so far away. Relatively undeveloped and rugged, Penida is one of three that make up the Nusa Islands. Situated in the Bali Sea between Bali and Lombok, the island abounds with surreal seascapes and captivating charm. Even on a day trip, visitors can discover the Best Nusa Penida Things To Do!

 

Top Nusa Penida Things To Do

The best things to do on Nusa Penida is visiting the natural attractions that dot the terrain. The wind and sea have carved the limestone rocks into breathtaking scenic landscapes. On a full day of exploration, tourists can easily take in the enchanting sights – from the best beaches to the iconic coastal karsts.

We navigated our way to the top things to see in Nusa Penida on a private excursion. Our Nusa Penida Tour featured the absolute best places to visit – and was a highlight of our 2-Week Bali Trip!

While visitors can explore the island on their own, we think the best way to savor the untouched beauty is on an organized Nusa Penida Day Trip. Later in the article, we are highlight the most popular adventures so that planning your tour of Nusa Penida is as easy as choosing which day of the week to go!

Top Tip: To help you orientate yourself, we share a Nusa Penida map marked with the top attractions later in the article.

 

#1 See Angel’s Billabong 

Angel’s Billabong Bali is one of the top things to see on Nusa Penida – and it was stop #1 on our tour. Angel Billabong is a natural sight; a long and slender tidal pool nestled between two giant volcanic boulders.

The shallow infinity pool is filled with translucent seawater that is brought in by crashing waves against the rocky cliff. Seaweed grows in the bottom of the tidal pool, which makes the teal water glow green.

 

Angel Billabong Nusa Penida Activities

The best thing to do at Nusa Penida Angel Billabong is to simply watch the powerful sea as it continuously fills the pool. 

Most tourists visiting Angel’s Billabong clamor around the inland end of the tidal pool for the perfect shot. However, after snapping a photo, we recommend climbing to the top of the cliff. During our trip, we wandered up to the summit and found a place to watch the enormous waves crashing against the rocks. Just off shore, playful dolphins swam in the sea, making the stop at Angel’s Billabong even more memorable!

When the sea is calm and the tide is low (of which it was neither during our trip), visitors are allowed to swim at Angel’s Billabong. However, you do so at your own risk, as sneaky waves can quickly pull swimmers out to sea.

 

#2 Visit Broken Beach 

From Angel Billabong, continue your Nusa Penida sightseeing along the dusty path to the next sight: Broken Beach Bali. Although inaccessible due to steep cliffs, the crater beach at Broken Beach itself is very much intact.

The name, Broken Beach, refers to the gaping hole in the rock wall that stands between the beach and the sea – and it’s one of the most mesmerizing Nusa Penida attractions. 

Formed over time, the limestone rock eroded under the deluge of crashing waves, leaving only a natural arch bridge connecting the land at the top of the cliff. Like steady breath, waves from the sea flow rhythmically through the ‘broken’ rock, every swell refilling the hallowed beach with luminous turquoise water.

 

Explore Nusa Penida Broken Beach

When approaching Broken Beach, veer to the left, taking in the view of the rock formation and beach from the north side. The vantage point of the bridge from across the crater is the best place to take photos. 

Moving clockwise around the circumference, divert along the trails to the craggy coastline. From this viewpoint, watch as wave after wave smashes against the cliffs, sending spray high into the air. 

Finally, cross over the natural arch bridge. Standing atop the rock, take in views of the open sea. Then, complete the loop around the marvelous Nusa Penida tourist spot, taking in one last look at the natural spectacle!

 

#3 View Kelingking Beach 

Looking down on the famous Kelingking Beach is a highlight of any trip to Nusa Penida. For many visitors (us included), the carved coastline is what prompted taking a Penida Island day trip – and the iconic beach did not disappoint! . 

Kelingking translates to pinkie – as in, pinkie finger…and that’s exactly what the slender, slightly curved, peninsula looks like. It also looks somewhat similar to the head of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, which has earned it the nickname T-Rex. Whatever you call it, there is no denying that the mountainous peninsula is an astonishing sight and a Nusa Penida must-see attraction!

 

Things To Do at Kelingking Beach 

Kelingking Beach ranks as one of the top places to visit in Nusa Penida because of the exceptionally unique coastline – and the best way to see it is from above. The contrasting, vibrant colors – the bright green foliage, the deep blue cerulean sea, the cream-colored sandy beach – create a postcard-perfect scene.

Fortunately, there are numerous vantage points along the clifftop overlooking Kelingking Beach (none of which have railings!). We recommend venturing to the right of the parking area. Continue walking until you find an (hopefully) unoccupied clearing with fantastic views of the peninsula. 

Trekking down to the beach is one of the highly rated things to do in Nusa Penida Island. A wobbly built bamboo staircase enables tourists to climb down from the cliff’s edge. We passed on the frightful experience, but heard the trek down takes about 40 minutes, with the hike back up taking about an hour. 

 

Restaurants at Kelingking

A handful of restaurants sit on the cliff above Kelingking. The sea-view restaurants offer breakfast and lunch featuring traditional dishes, like Nasi Goreng and avocado shakes. Note that lunch is often included in the Nusa Penida tour price – and the meal may very well be at one of the Kelingking restaurants. Our was, and it was tasty!

 

#4 Watch Nusa Penida Manta Rays

Giant manta rays are frequent visitors in the clear waters surrounding the island and watching them is one of the top activities in Nusa Penida.

The aptly named Manta Point Bali and Manta Bay – which are both found along the southwestern shore – are well-known areas for where the manta rays can be spotted. Snorkel tours frequent the coves to give tourists a chance to swim with the gentle sea creatures, but you don’t need to be in the water to see them.

 

Spot Manta Rays from the Clifftop

The rays can also be spotted from the shore – so bring your binoculars! While we were taking in yet another amazing viewpoint of Kelingking from Paluang Cliff, we witnessed five graceful manta rays swim into the bay below!

We watched in awe as the animals elegantly swam through the glassy water. With a 10-foot span, we could clearly see the manta rays move in choreographed patterns in the shallow cove.

 

#5 Swim at the Best Nusa Penida Beach

A perfect place to wrap up a full day Penida Island tour is at Crystal Bay. The popular Nusa Penida beach is ideal for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing. The deep bay faces northwest with views of nearby Nusa Ceningan. A single rock island, Pulau Batumejinong, which is occupied by a temple, sits in the middle of Crystal Bay.

We spent our time on Crystal Bay with our feet in the sand – and on the trail. Due to our misunderstanding about beach time being included in the tour, we were unprepared (as in without swimsuits) to get in the water. Big mistake!

Instead, we walked the length of the beach from right to left. At the left end of the beach, we found a staircase leading up the hill. We exerted some energy climbing the steps in the heat of the day, but found a ‘secret’ bay, Pandan Beach, at the end of the trail. Although not completely unknown to tourists, it is somewhat of a Nusa Penida hidden gem!

 

Snorkeling Nusa Penida at Crystal Bay

If snorkeling is on your Nusa Penida To Do list, then Crystal Bay is a great place to do it! Getting to most Nusa Penida snorkeling sites requires a boat. However, that isn’t true at Crystal Bay where visitors can swim with the fish straight out from the beach.

As snorkeling is one of the top Nusa Penida things to do, we were kicking ourselves pretty hard for not only going on our day trip without swimsuits, but also without our snorkel gear. We highly recommend bringing both on your tour – and, if you don’t have snorkel gear, there are several beachfront shops that rent masks, snorkels and fins.  

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More Nusa Penida Attractions and Things To Do

Our 1-Day Nusa Penida Tour allowed us to see the prime sights along the West Penida coastline. That said, there are many more things to do on Nusa Penida, Bali! 

 

Peguyangan Waterfall

A sacred and religious site, Peguyangan Waterfall boasts multiple waterfalls and natural pools. These sights overlook the sea and are accessed by a steep staircase that clings to the side of the cliff.

 

Car Temple (Pura Paluang)

A quirky temple with two replica cars as part of the shrine, Pura Paluang is one of the unusual Nusa Penida attractions. Regardless of its unconventional shrine, it is a religious place and proper attire must be worn. 

 

Banah Cliff Point

Providing dramatic views of offshore islands, Banah Cliff Point is a top spot for sunset and spotting manta rays. 

 

Atuh Beach

A sandy beach with eroding rock formations, Atuh Beach is a fun place to relax and take a dip in the sea. Nearby Diamond Beach is beautiful from above and can be accessed by steep, narrow stairs (and sometimes a rope). 

 

Thousand Island Viewpoint

Thousand Islands Viewpoint – also called King Five and known as Rumah Pohon Treehouse Viewpoint – is an elevated vantagepoint offering panoramic coastal views of the sea and rising karsts. There is a small fee to enter and lots of stairs!

 

Goa Giri Putri Temple

A sacred temple housed inside a cave, Goa Giri Putri Temple is an interesting tourist attraction. The cave is accessed via stairs and an opening in the rock. Bats and crabs live inside the cave. Renting a sarong is required for entry and they ask for a small donation. 

 

Pura Puncak Mundi

The Pura Puncak Mundi Hindu temple sits at Nusa Penida’s highest point, 1700 feet above sea level. The temple is a spiritual place and quite peaceful – although monkeys are around and known to cause some trouble!

 

Tembeling Forest

The difficult trek to reach Tembeling Forest is one of the unique places to visit on Penida. The jungle boasts treks to two natural pools – and getting to this oasis (either by motorcycle or on foot) is one of the most adventurous activities in Nusa Penida!

 

Nusa Penida Diving

The magnificent manta rays, colorful reef and other marine life make Nusa Penida one of the best places in Bali to go diving. There are Nusa Penida diving day trips that can be booked from mainland Bali. To dive Nusa Penida, you need to be certified and many companies offer PADI certification as part of their tour programs.

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Nusa Penida Map with Attractions

Use this link to Google for an interactive version of our Map of Nusa Penida Things To Do. 

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Planning a One Day Trip to Nusa Penida

Now that you know what to do in Nusa Penida, Bali, we have a few tips for planning your trip. In our opinion, the best way to tour Nusa Penida is on an organized excursion – from either mainland Bali or from the nearby island of Nusa Lembongan. 

For us, a day trip to Nusa Penida was a must-do on our Bali trip. We had swooned over amazing pictures of Penida– and were intent on seeing the scenic landscapes with our own eyes. There was just no way we could visit Bali and not go to Nusa Island!

 

DIY Nusa Penida Day Trip

It is possible to create your own self-guided Penida tour – and we considered traveling to the island on our own. However, in the end, we didn’t think it was worth the hassle. 

Getting there is not that difficult. Those who want to make the trip on their own can take the public boat from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida (departing from the Yellow Bridge) – or by taking a Fast Ferry from mainland Bali.

Once there, DIY travelers can rent scooters to get around. However, it is only recommended that those who have experience driving motorbikes on terrible roads rent a scooter on Penida.

 

Organized Tour: Nusa Penida Day Trip

When you visit Nusa Penida on an organized tour – like the tour we took – you don’t have to worry about how to get there or how to get around – you simply show up and enjoy the scenery!

 

Bali or Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida Trip

During our trip to Bali, we stayed on the mainland (Canggu and Uluwatu) as well as the Nusa Islands (Lembongan and Ceningan). Because we were already going to be on the Nusa Islands, we booked our Penida one-day tour from Lembongan. However, the same Nusa Penida tour package is available from the Bali mainland.

 

Getting There: Boat to Nusa Penida

We left the details of how to get to Nusa Penida to our tour company. Since we were already on the islands, they arranged for a private boat from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida, which departed from Mangrove Point at 9:00am and took us to Toyapakeh Port.

If you book a Bali one day tour from the mainland, getting to Nusa Penida will be nearly as simple, with just a slightly longer boat ride. The company will arrange for transport from your hotel to Sanur and organize details for your boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida. The fast boat to Nusa Penida Toyapakeh Port takes about 30 minutes and is included in the price of the Bali-to-Nusa Penida trip.

Top Tip: Riding the ferry to Nusa Penida will most likely involve getting wet. Passengers board and disembark from the beach and must walk at least knee-deep into the water. We recommend wearing quick-drying shorts and shoes that are easy to take on and off. The journey by speed boat to Nusa Penida can also be rough depending on the swell; if you are prone to seasickness, we suggest using Sea Bands.

 

Getting Around: Nusa Penida Transport

One of the best reasons to explore Penida Island highlights with a tour is that it relieves visitors of having to drive on Penida. As we alluded to above, the hilly terrain lends itself to steep, curving roads with blind corners…and the narrow, unpaved tracks make operating a vehicle all the more difficult. Booking a tour with a driver took all the stress out of getting around Penida!

 

Tour Nusa Penida: Full-Day Itinerary

The best organized Bali day tours to Penida Island focus on the natural sights found along the gorgeous western coastline. Penida tours include a full day of island exploration – and start early in the morning (really early if coming from Bali). Although private excursions can be tailored to specific sights, the most popular Nusa Penida day tour covers four spots: Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach and Crystal Bay.

 

Nusa Penida Travel Guide

On the private tour that we booked, our Nusa Penida guide doubled as our driver. We traveled in a mid-sized, air-conditioned van (which looked like every other vehicle waiting to pick up tourists at the Penida Pier).

He reviewed our Nusa Penida To-Do list and quickly created a tour itinerary for the day. Best of all, our guide knew all the prime places to take us for amazing photos and outstanding viewpoints!

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More Nusa Penida Day Trip Options

Although the private tour we took – to Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach, Kelingking and Crystal Bay – is the most popular way to tour Nusa Penida, there are other day trips to the Nusa Islands.

 

Snorkel Day Trip to Penida and Lembongan

Bali tourists who want to spend a day snorkeling can join a Nusa Lembongan, Bali Day Trip. The tour includes transport to/from your Bali mainland hotel, a roundtrip fast boat to/from Nusa Lembongan, 3 snorkel spots and lunch on the beach. Book it now!

 

Nusa Penida Small Group Tour

See the best sights of Nusa Penida on a small group tour of the island. A great option for travelers on a budget, this less expensive option still visits all the top attractions. Get price details!

 

2-Day Tour: Lembongan and Penida (including Snorkeling!)

Deciding between Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan? Visit both on this two-day trip! The excursion includes snorkeling at three reefs, visiting the mangroves with a Nusa Lembongan guide, use of a scooter for further exploration and a full-day tour of Nusa Penida. Transportation from your mainland Bali hotel and accommodations on Lembongan are also included. Find out more!

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What You Will Need to Tour Nusa Penida, Bali

Ready to travel to Bali? Of course you are, but before setting off, make sure you are prepared with these Nusa Penida trip essentials! 

 

Bali Sun Protection

The sun over Bali is strong year-round and the heat can be intense. You will need high SPF sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and a refillable water bottle. Also, don’t forget to bring snorkel gear and a swimsuit, too!

 

Travel Camera

A good camera is practically required for this day trip! We highly recommend using an actual camera (not just your phone) to capture the beauty of Nusa Penida. We use a Canon Rebel with a 18-135mm lens. Not only does it take high quality photos, but it is priced well and comes with heaps of accessories, making it a great budget camera.

For epic underwater pics and videos, make sure to pack a GoPro (or similar – less-expensive – waterproof action camera).

 

Bali Trip Insurance

No matter how well you prepare, things can go wrong when you’re traveling. Luggage goes lost, flights cancel, people get ill or injured. If you haven’t already obtained coverage for your vacation to Bali, consider traveling protected with World Nomads.

 

Start planning your trip to Indonesia! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing!  Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!

 

More Bali Travel Guides

• How To Spend 2 Weeks in Bali
• See The Best of Nusa Islands
• What To Do in Canggu
• Things To See in Uluwatu
• Top Uluwatu Beaches

 

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