Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan Travel Tips
Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan and also Ceningan form a group of three islands located off the southeast coast of Bali. Nusa Lembongan is the only inhabited island of the three and is a great destination to spend a few days relaxing (if you want to party, head south instead!).
NUSA PENIDA, LEMBONGAN, CENINGAN: WHICH ISLAND TO CHOOSE?
1. Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is the largest of the three islands. It offers great diving opportunities, some of the best diving in Bali. The island is very picturesque with its limestone cliffs that plunge into the water. The dives are really special, but most of them are drift dives and not suitable for inexperienced divers. Consult our “diving” section for more information. Nusa Penida is known for the Manta Point dive site and for the Mola mola often seen at Crystal Bay. This is one of the best sites in the world to observe these gentle giants!
Here are the places to visit with a guide in a single day:
– Angel Billabong
A magnificent lagoon that you can observe from above. It is indeed now not recommended to bathe because the current is very strong there. The contrasts are incredible and the water translucent.
Angel Billabong in Nusa Penida. Sasuke Shinozawa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
– Broken Beach
The view of Broken Beach is right next to Angel Billabong. You cannot go down to the beach but you will reach the top of which you will see the famous pierced rock. It is possible to go around the creek in a few minutes to admire every angle of view, and in particular to get away from the tourists who arrive in droves.
Natural bridge and archway – Broken Beach on Nusa Penida Island. Aaron Rentfrew, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
– Kelingking Beach
It is one of the most beautiful places in Bali in my opinion. You can stay above to admire the view or go down to the beach but the stairs are very steep and it takes about 45 minutes to go down. Remember to take suitable shoes if you go down because the path is dangerous and very tiring, strewn with rocks and above all very steep.
Kelingking beach, Nusa Penida. Sasuke Shinozawa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
– Crystal Bay
A beach filled with palm trees where you can enjoy coconut water with your feet in the sand. This was our last stop of the day.
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Crystal Bay in Nusa Penida – Bali. Magul, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
We took a driver because one of the disadvantages of the island is the quality of the roads. Some people took a scooter to go to Angel Billabong and Broken beach. The GPS told them about 30 minutes of travel but it took me more than 2 hours to get there. Last year we took a guide and even in the car we were very confused and the driver told us that there were many accidents on the road. Even if you don’t want to take a car, we recommend it because it’s much safer and the scooter ride is really tiring, especially if you have little time there.
2. Nusa Lembongan
We often hear that Nusa Lembongan looks like Bali twenty to thirty years ago! The atmosphere here is very relaxed and far removed from the madness of Kuta. Nusa Lembongan is also known for its seaweed cultivation on the beach, which is very interesting to observe. The island also has good surfing spots along its coasts, for those who like to catch the waves. Nusa Lembongan only offers a few underwater sites, but they are excellent! Most dive sites are actually located around Nusa Penida.
3. Nusa Ceningan
Nusa Ceningan does not offer accommodation or diving.
It is also in Ceningan that you will find plenty of small deserted beaches, in particular the first beach coming out of the bridge is magnificent, with swings and hammocks all over the sea in the middle of the water. When the tide is high enough, the water is level and reveals superb sandbanks in the middle of the water, so that you can walk with 10 cm of water on your feet for more than 50 meters.
In this page you will find all the practical information to prepare a diving trip to Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan:
Where to sleep? Where to stay?
We generally use this website to book my hotels in Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan. Indeed it is very practical because you can cancel reservations and they are generally the cheapest.
There are many accommodation options in Nusa Lembongan, with cheap basic guesthouses. You can usually find a cheap room without a reservation, but being on an island, it is better to book in advance during the high season (July, August and December, January). There are also several comfortable hotels and dive resorts to choose from.
Read also: When to go to Bali? | Bali Weather Month by Month
Health and security
If you plan to go on a trip to Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan, I advise you to invest in a good travel insurance which also covers scuba diving. You never know what can happen and good insurance can get you out of tough situations. I recommend this travel insurance because they offer worldwide coverage and cover many risky sports like scuba diving.
Where is Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan located in the world?
Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan are located off the southeast coast of Bali, a few kilometers from Sanur.
How to get to Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan?
You can reach Nusa Lembongan from Sanur by public ferry or private speedboat.
To get to Nusa Ceningan you just have to cross the small bridge that connects it to Nusa Lembongan. It is in particular on this island that one of the most beautiful points of view is to be found: the Blue Lagoon, its water is an unreal blue.
To reach the blue lagoon you just have to go towards Secret Beach at the tip of the island and walk to your left towards the top of the cliff. Personally we went through a small path in the middle of trees and did not expect to come across the famous blue lagoon at all the first time! We loved stopping along the beaches in different bar restaurants because the setting is generally super cozy and really offers a breathtaking view.
Tips: to get on the fastboat, you have to walk a few meters in the water. Take flip flops and short pants, it’s more practical!
How to reach Nusa Penida
More than 8 fast boat companies cross from Sanur to Nusa Penida for a total of 18 connections per day. And 3 companies from Kusamba to Sampalan which provide 20 connections per day.
Fast Boat Nusa Penida – Prices at Traveloka (click here)
Angel Billabong fast cruise
Sanur Nusa Penida: departures at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 2:15 p.m. and 5:20 p.m.
return to Bali: departures at 7:20 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
+62 82 144 048 323
Maruti-Express
Sanur Nusa Penida: departures at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
return to Bali: departures at 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
+62 81 246 892 524
+62 81 338 754 848
Semabu Hills Fast Boat
Sanur Nusa Penida: departures at 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
return to Bali: departures at 8 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Ax Stone
Sanur Nusa Penida: departure at 7:30 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
return to Bali: departures at 9:15 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.
The Tanis
Sanur Nusa Penida: departure at 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.
return to Bali: departures 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Funtastic Fast Boat
Sanur Nusa Penida: departure at 9:45 am
return to Bali: departures at 8:30 am
Rayfish
Sanur Nusa Penida: departure at 8:15 a.m.
return to Bali: departures at 4:30 p.m.
+62 82 339 616 768
rayfishfatscruises@gmail.com
Angel Billabong, Maruti Express and Semabu Hills are very reliable.
Idola Express
Sanur Sampalan: departure at 8:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Sampalan Bali: departures at 1:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
WhatsApp: +62 81 808 072 488
email: info@idolaexpress.com
From Kusamba to Sampalan
Gangga Express
from Kusamba to Sampalan (or Buyuk): 6:30 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. (Buyuk), 12:15 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Buyuk)
from Sampalan (or Buyuk) to Kusamba: 6:30 a.m., 7 a.m. (Buyuk), 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Buyuk)
The Angkal
Kusamba to Sampalan: 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Sampalan to Kusamba: 6:30 a.m., 7 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Sekarjaya
from Kusamba to Sampalan: 7:15 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
from Sampalan to Kusamba: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Schedules by departure time from Sanur
- 7:30 am with Angel Billabong, Maruti Express, Ax Stone or Semabu Hills
- 8h with Semabu Hills
- 8:15 a.m. with Ax Stone or Ray Fish or with Idola Express to Sampalan
- 8:30 a.m. with Angel Billabong
- 9am with Maruti Express
- 9:45 a.m. with Funtastic Fast Boat
- 11 a.m. with Ax StoneMidi with The Tanis
- 1pm with Semabu Hills
- 2:15 p.m. with Angel Billabong
- 3 p.m. with Maruti Express
- 3:30 p.m. with Ax Stone or with Idola Express (towards Sampalan)
- 5:20 p.m. with Angel Billabong
Schedules by departure time from Nusa Penida
- 7:20 a.m. with Angel Billabong
- 7:30 a.m. with Maruti
- 8h with Semabu Hills
- 8:30 a.m. with Funtastic Fast Boat
- 9:15 a.m. with Ax Stone
- 10 a.m. with The Tanis
- 12:30 p.m. with Maruti Express
- 1pm with Angel Billabong
- 1:15 p.m. with Idola Express (from Sampalan)
- 1:30 p.m. with Semabu Hills
- 2:30 p.m. with Ax Stone
- 4:00 p.m. with Angel Billabong
- 4:30 p.m. with Angel Billabong, Maruti Express, Semabu Hill, The Tanis, Ax Stone or Ray Fish
- 4:30 p.m. with Idola Express (from Sampalan)
- 4:45 p.m. with Ax Stone
Please note that in the event of bad weather the schedule may change.
Sources: PinterPandai, Villa Carissa Bali, The World Travel Guy
Main photo credit: Sasuke Shinozawa (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons
