Tourists flock to Nusa Penida, an island off the coast of Bali, in search of vistas they’ve seen on social media featuring dramatic rock formations and turquoise blue waters. But what’s it really like? Is it just like the photos on Instagram and videos on TikTok?
“Nusa” means island in Balinese. There are three islands off the coast of Bali — Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan — with Nusa Pendia being the most popular of the three.
Many people visit Nusa Penida for a day trip, but you can also spend the night to explore the entire island.
When I was planning my trip to Bali, I kept asking myself, “Is a day trip to Nusa Penisa worth it?” and “Do I need to plan an overnight stay there?” This guide aims to help you answer these questions for yourself. There’s not a clear yes or no answer because it all depends on what you’re looking to get out of your trip.
Let’s get into it.
Day trips to Nusa Penida
You can take a day trip to Nusa Penida from Sanur Port. It’s about a 45-minute high-speed boat ride to the island. Sanur is east of Bali’s international airport, making it accessible from all the major villages like Ubud, Seminyak, Canggu, and Uluwatu.
We booked a day trip and made it back to Ubud in time for a 7 p.m. dinner reservation.
Should you stay overnight?
You can’t see the entire island of Nusa Penida on a one-day trip, but once you’ve seen a few vistas, it feels like you’ve seen them all. I would only recommend staying overnight if you are looking to do a snorkeling or scuba tour off Nusa Penida.
Booking a Nusa Pendia tour
The best way to see Nusa Penida is on a private guided tour. We booked our tour through Bali Friend Tour. It was about 90 USD (or 1,500,000 rupiah) for two people. This tour included transportation to and from Sanur Port, the boat ride to Nusa Penida, a private driver on the island, and lunch. For $45 per person, it’s well worth the price.
You can book Bali Friend Tour via WhatsApp by texting +62 881-3639-848.
ThatPlannerFriend Tip: Don’t forget to bring additional Indonesian rupiah in cash to tip each driver and pay for things like beach chairs and beers at Crystal Bay.
When booking your Nusa Penida tours, you’ll likely see two options for east and west. The west side of the island features more iconic destinations like Kelingking and Broken Beach. I recommend booking the west tour and asking your driver to prioritize time to swim in Crystal Bay.
The West of Nusa Penida Itinerary
Let’s review the spots you’ll visit on your tour of the west side of the island with Bali Friend Tour. The order of your itinerary may vary depending on the weather for the day.
Angel’s Billabong
This famous tide pool has waves crashing against its black rocks. The picture-perfect shot of Angel’s Billabong will depend on the lighting and the tide. At low tide on a sunny day, Angel’s Billabong is at its most photogenic.
Broken Beach
Broken Beach is a rock formation that looks like a bridge. It’s in the same area as Angel’s Billabong. It’s a nice vista and photo op.
Lunch
Your driver will take you to a local roadside warung for lunch.
Kelingking Beach
This is the most famous vista in Nusa Penida. You can hike down hundreds of stairs on the rock formation to Kelingking Beach, but the best view is from above. Remember, if you go down, you have to go back up, and those stairs are steep.
Monkeys roam alongside the tourists at Kelingking Beach, so be mindful of your belongings. In 2024, construction was underway to make the area more tourist-friendly.
Crystal Bay
My favorite part of Nusa Penida was swimming in Crystal Bay. We asked our driver to set aside extra time here to swim and relax. This beach has crystal blue water (hence the name) and black sand. You can rent beach chairs and umbrellas for a couple of hours, so make sure you bring cash.
Instagram versus reality
Nusa Penida is a classic example of Instagram overhyping a destination. Is Nusa Penisa beautiful? Yes. But, it lacks the infrustructure to accomdate the over tourism affecting the island. Behind the beautiful views on Instagram is a dilapidated infrastructure littered with trash and too many tourists.
The best parts of Nusa Penida are away from the crowded vistas. When visiting the island, ask your driver to stop at lesser-known spots so you can get some views to yourself.
So, is Nusa Penida worth it?
It depends on how much time you have in Bali. If you’re short on time, not really. You can find similar vistas to Nusa Penisa in Uluwatu. If you are choosing between an extra day in Uluwatu or a day trip to Nusa Penida, spend your time in Uluwatu.
But, financially, a day trip to Nusa Penida is worth the money because it’s relatively affordable with transportation costs and lunch included.
I enjoyed my time in Nusa Penida, especially swimming in Crystal Bay. So, if you have extra time on Bali and you’re looking for a way to fill your days, book a day trip to Nusa Penida, but if you’re pressed for time, you can skip it without regrets.
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