Nusa Penida Island is located just a 25 minute boat ride from nearby Bali, and is well worth the trip! From the second we laid eyes on the towering green cliffs and unexplored white sand beaches, we knew how special it was compared to the surrounding Indonesian islands. We’ll tell you how to get to Nusa Penida, what you can expect, and even the best hotels to stay at. So whether you’re just taking a day trip to Nusa Penida or you plan to spend a whole week, you’ll be prepared for the adventure!

How to Get to Nusa Penida

Fast Ferry from Bali: This is the most common way to travel between the islands, and most likely the only option to be given by competing agencies. The prices can range between 150,000 IDR to 300,000 IDR ($10-20 USD) depending on the company and time of your boat.

This is the most common way to travel between the islands, and most likely the only option to be given by competing agencies. The prices can range between 150,000 IDR to 300,000 IDR ($10-20 USD) depending on the company and time of your boat. Local Ferry from Bali: If you’re looking for a cheaper boat to Nusa Penida you can take a slow ferry as well. However, you’ll have to hunt down the ticket and ask around to find it! It’s probably better to just pay the extra few bucks for the fast ferry, but you do have options.

If you’re looking for a cheaper boat to Nusa Penida you can take a slow ferry as well. However, you’ll have to hunt down the ticket and ask around to find it! It’s probably better to just pay the extra few bucks for the fast ferry, but you do have options. From Gili Islands or Lombok: There are ferries that take about 3 hours in total from this area, but they all make stops in Bali to pick up and drop off passengers.

Arriving on the Island

When you first get off the boat to Nusa Penida there will be swarms of people offering transfers and motorbike rentals. After a little back and forth we ended up paying 100,000 Indonesian Rupiah ($7 USD) for four of us to be taken 30 minutes to our homestay. Unfortunately, we found out later that most of these places will offer to pick you up free of charge. Yet don’t be surprised when they show up with a scooter instead of a car! Not to worry though, in typical Indonesian fashion they still are able all your luggage there somehow!

Nusa Penida Hotels

The only “main town” or really developed area on Nusa Penida is by the ferry port. You should try to stay on the stretch of coast just outside of town so everything is easily accessible. We stayed to the left of the harbor on the Nusa Penida beach that faces Bali, and thought it was the perfect location. You should also note that tourism is still very new to Nusa Penida, so you’re not going to find any 5 star luxury resorts. Most of the options are quiet home stays or guesthouses, sometimes with just a couple rooms extended as additions to homes. We appreciated this aspect of Nusa Penida, as it felt good to support the local community with this style of accommodation.

*Check out our Nusa Penida hotel recommendations at the bottom of the post!

Growing Tourism

Tourists have only been coming to Nusa Penida for a couple years now, and the fast ferry boat also only started running very recently. Now with tourism from the bigger islands of Bali and Lombok heading for Nusa Penida, things are changing rapidly! People seem to go to Bali for an escape, but once they realize it’s actually very busy it’s only natural that they look elsewhere. The pure nature and glorious scenery is responsible for drawing this new wave of travelers in. Everywhere you look there’s guesthouses, restaurants, and businesses popping up. Some of these looked eerily empty to us, but it’s only a matter of time before they’re full. It seems as if they’re taking the “If you build it they will come” mentality… And with the recent boom, it’s sure to pay off!

Getting Around Nusa Penida

Another thing you should know is that island is MASSIVE! We pushed to see it in two days, and even with over 20 total hours of exploring we still felt rushed. With all the amazing hikes and beaches it will be tough to do them with limited time. That’s honestly why it’s hard to recommend a day trip to Nusa Penida! Realistically, you need to give yourself more days or cut down on the amount of places you want to see. With that said, there’s several ways you can transport yourself around the island that we’ve listed below:

Car: You can rent a car, but I’m not sure this is the way to do it. The roads are very narrow and not suitable for any non-local to drive. You really need to know where you’re going here to rent a car!

You can rent a car, but I’m not sure this is the way to do it. The roads are very narrow and not suitable for any non-local to drive. You really need to know where you’re going here to rent a car! Motorbike: We rented a motorbike and it was a super fun way to the explore the island! Nonetheless, we wouldn’t exactly recommend this either. A majority of the paths were actually built with pointed rocks, making for a bumpy and semi-dangerous ride. Unless you have legit experience riding motorbikes you should definitely consider a private tour.

We rented a motorbike and it was a super fun way to the explore the island! Nonetheless, we wouldn’t exactly recommend this either. A majority of the paths were actually built with pointed rocks, making for a bumpy and semi-dangerous ride. Unless you have legit experience riding motorbikes you should definitely consider a private tour. Private Tour: This might be the best option for most people trying to see Nusa Penida. While it’s likely the most expensive way to do it you’re at least going to see all the good spots with a local guide. Until the road conditions change, this might be the way to go!

Our Motorbike Experience

Let us reiterate this. The roads in Nusa Penida are terribly unpaved, rocky, and more suitable for an ATV or dirt bike than the simple moped we rented. Despite our struggles we actually had a blast and wouldn’t a change a thing! In some destinations the roads wouldn’t matter so much, but the beaches and viewpoints are spread out on this rustic island. For this reason, you really have no choice but to gear up and go! With the recent tourism boom we’re sure the road conditions will quickly change. In fact, our host said all the island roads should be paved within the next 2 years. Another thing to note if you decide to rent a motorbike (or car) is don’t always trust your GPS! When trying to visit the famous Atuh Beach we found ourselves driving down the bumpiest cliffside road on the island. It took over an hour of pushing, running up hills after Jake, and the bike nearly running out of gas to make it back to the main road. Make sure to double check your GPS with an island map, or with someone from your guesthouse. Oh… And prepare for a fun, but bumpy ride!

Hiking to Beaches

Another element you should know about beautiful Nusa Penida is that you’ll have to work to get to the ocean. A majority of the Nusa Penida beaches require a sometimes sketchy or narrow hike down. Don’t let this discourage you though! Not only do places like Kelingking Beach make for epic viewpoints, but the hikes are 1000% worth it. The fact that these hikes are a bit intimidating deters people from going down, so you’ll have these immaculate beaches mostly to yourself. Honestly, these are some of the most jaw dropping beaches we’ve ever seen. Unless you have fear of heights, don’t think twice about tackling these hikes!

*A small portion of beaches/hikes are closed down after the 2018 earthquake until the paths and staircases can be rebuilt. If you plan to do one that your curious about ask the host where you’re staying.

Island Landscape

Aside from the gorgeous beaches of Nusa Penida, the mind blowing scenery is impressive in itself. If you’ve been to Bali you already know how amazing the landscape of the Indonesians island are. While Nusa Penida may not have a volcano, it does have all the other blessings of nature an island should. It also felt more pure and untainted because it’s still fresh on the tourist scene. Enjoy the island palm trees, green mountainside, and towering cliffs above the ocean. It surely won’t be like this forever!

Have any questions on what to expect on this wild island? How about your own tips for how to get to Nusa Penida? Comment below and let us know!

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake

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Explore More of Indonesia with Us

Nusa Islands:

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Exploring Tembeling Beach and Forest in Nusa Penida

Nusa Lembongan: Dream Beach to Mushroom Bay

Nusa Ceningan: What’s Over the Yellow Bridge?

Bali:

8 Experiences Not to Miss in Canggu Bali

20 Facts about Bali Every Traveler Should Know

Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu Temple

The Veggie Warung: Eating Healthy and Cheap in Bali

Uluwatu Beach Guide: Where to Swim and Surf

Gili Islands:

Get Familiar with Indonesia’s Gili Islands

Bali to Gili Islands Ferry Guide

Gili Trawangan: The Party Island

Gili Meno: An Underwater Paradise

Ferry Between the Gili Islands: Schedule & Route

Gili Air: The Best of the Gili Islands

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Where To Stay In X

Ultra Luxury (High End) – Semabu Hills Hotel Nusa Penida – High up in the hills of Nusa Penida and complete with infinity pool, this as luxury as it gets on the island! Incredible views along with all the modern amenities you’ll need, and an elegant breakfast.

Fun Vacation (Mid Range) – Daphila Cottage – Great hotel with a unique luxury bungalow design. Includes a pool, private balconies, and beautiful views of the mountainside.

Travel Couple (Longterm Travel) – Kuri Garden Cottage – This was our homestay for a couple days when we visited Nusa Penida! There’s 3 bungalows with a very family style atmosphere. Breakfast is included and they have a brand new pool for you to enjoy.

Hostel Life (Budget) – Nuansa Penida Hostel – Four, six, and eight bed hostel dorms as well as private rooms available. Brand new cottage style wooden rooms with a pool and on site restaurant as well.

For more places to stay in Nusa Penida you can explore the latest prices here!

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