Nusa Penida Day Trip: FAQs
Is a day trip to Nusa Penida enough?
A day trip is enough to see the most iconic sights like Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach, and Angel’s Billabong. Plus, get a feel for the island and how it differs from Bali and Nusa Lembongan.
If you’re happy with a quick view of the island and don’t mind a full day of sightseeing, it’s perfect. Although if you want to explore less-visited spots, relax on the beaches, or avoid the midday crowds, staying a night or three would be even better.
Is Nusa Penida suitable for kids?
It can be, but with caution. I took my toddler and we had a great day. But I was very mindful of the heat, we had lots of breaks in the shade and drinking water was always available!
Many of the viewpoints and beaches have sheer cliffs and minimal safety barriers. If you’re visiting with young or active kids, you’ll want to keep them within arm’s reach at all times. A private tour makes it a lot easier to set your own pace with children.
Will I regret not visiting Nusa Penida?
If you love epic landscapes, dramatic coastlines, and jaw-dropping photo spots, you’ll probably regret missing it!
I know with a lot of places we see on social media regularly, it can feel a bit “old” or “overdone”. I kind of felt like this with Kelingking Beach, but my god, I’m so glad I’ve finally seen it for myself.
Kelingking Beach is not overrated at all… It’s absolutely stunning. Even though I’d seen so many photos, I was blown away when I saw it with my own eyes. AMAZING.
And, if you think it’s busy now, believe it or not, they’re building an elevator from the top of the cliff down to the sand. (What a way to ruin a good thing.) I’m sure once this is complete, tourist numbers will increase. This thankfully doesn’t obstruct the view of the beach (t.rex’s head), but soon enough, the beach below will be covered in people.
How long is the boat ride from Bali to Nusa Penida?
The fast boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida takes around 45 minutes, and boats run frequently throughout the day.
Will I have to walk through water to board the boat?
No! There’s now a new harbour and pier at both Sanur and Nusa Penida, so you can board directly without getting your feet wet (unlike the old days).
Do I have to do a day tour to visit Nusa Penida?
No, a private day trip to Nusa Penida is just one option and one I found very convenient and stress-free.
If you’d prefer to explore the island independently, you would need to rent a scooter. Nusa Penida is rather big, and many of the sights are spread out. Renting a scooter can easily be done once you arrive on the island.
Even if you’re experienced riding a scooter in Southeast Asia, be warned that the roads on Nusa Penida aren’t very good! There are lots of sharp bends in the road and plenty of bumps. So, I would highly recommend purchasing travel insurance as a precaution.
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Also, there are many beautiful hotels to choose from on Nusa Penida.
Here are a couple I saw during my day trip that are in awesome locations.
Kelingking Green Village – This is the closest accommodation to Kelingking Beach. It’s a new property and has an outdoor pool. Plus, I read that the staff can organise your scooter rental. As this property is so close to Kelingking Beach, it would give you a great opportunity to visit the beach during sunrise and sunset.
Mambo Beach Resort – A highly rated dive resort located on the north of the island. The resort is beachfront and has an onsite restaurant. Plus, from here you could walk to the main street, and find restaurants, bars, yoga studios and very close to other beaches on Penida.
