What are the best places to visit in Bali? It may depend on what kind of traveler you are. For people who prefer an eco-friendly holiday, there are several Bali destinations to visit. The most interesting is the island of Nusa Penida. This island is famous for its white-sand beaches, beautiful nature, and an underwater cave. Some people would also visit the island to enjoy the traditional island vibe and the relaxing lifestyle.
Where is Nusa Penida Island?
The island of Nusa Penida is located south of Lombok Island and just southeast of Bali. Repeat visitors would often like to visit Nusa Penida because of its beautiful white sandy beaches. The beautiful white sand beaches around the island are surrounded by coconut trees, beautiful green mountains, and emerald green waters.
The people of Nusa Penida are originally descendants of political prisoners exiled from Bali centuries ago. Through years of isolation, the people have developed their own unique cultural identity and are now renowned for their strong traditional culture and practice of black magic. Nusa Penida has a population of 46700 living across 46 coastal and inland cultural villages. The main source of income on the island today is seaweed farming, fishing, subsistence farming and ecotourism.
How to get to Nusa Penida from Bali?
The simplest way to travel to Nusa Penida from Ngurah Rai Airport (Bali Airport) is to take a taxi or a Grab (Bali’s version of Uber) from the airport to the harbor in Sanur, which is shown on Google Maps as ‘Sanur Beach Harbor’. It will take around 30-40 minutes to go from Bali Airport to Sanur Beach Harbor. Then, walk down to the dock and inquire at any of the ticket offices for a ticket to Nusa Penida, which should cost no more than purchasing online for $30.
How to get to Nusa Penida from Jakarta?
If you are from Jakarta or outside of Indonesia and you would like to visit the Nusa Penida island. One way is to fly from the main airport in Jakarta (CGK – Soekarno-Hatta) to Bali and then follow the above instructions on how to get from Bali to Nusa Penida. Another way is to fly from Jakarta to Lombok Airport (LOP). Once on Lombok Island, take a bus to Bangsal and then, from Bangsal, take the ferry to Nusa Penida.
Getting around Nusa Penida
If you would like to enjoy the amazing scenic view of the Nusa Penida island, you can travel around in a car or a motorbike to enjoy and view nature around the island. If you are looking for an eco-friendly beach, there are plenty to choose from along with many hotels for different budgets. We strongly advise that you stay at least for 2 to three days and choose an eco-friendly hotel to enjoy your time around the island of Nusa Penida.
What To Do in Nusa Penida?
There is so much to see and do in Nusa Penida and the list below is just the tip of the iceberg.
1) Visit Bali Bird Sanctuary
The island is home to the Bali Bird Sanctuary & Bali starling conservation. Support the conservation effort and spot some critically endangered birds endemic to Bali and surrounding area.
2) See Rare Sea Turtle
Nusa Penida is marine protected area and is quite rich in corals and home to protected Manta ray and Sunfish colonies. It’s not simple to see them, but the journey itself is an experience! The island is also the only place where the rare and endemic Nusa Penida Sea Turtle can be found.
3) Visit remote village textile centers
For a unique cultural perspective on traditional woven textiles and cloth making process, visit village textile centers. While at it, purchase unique souvenirs from local artists.
4) Visit Atuh Beach.
It is located on the east side of Nusa Penida and a little distant from everything else in the island. The panoramic views from the cliffs are among the greatest on Penida. The beach is beautiful, however it is quite rough. At high tide, it is ideal for snorkelling, but at low tide, the beach is inaccessible for swimming or snorkelling. This beach has numerous picture-perfect rock formations. This is a great site to see the dawn, but because there isn’t much lodging in the vicinity, it’s not the ideal place to stay for budget tourists.
5) Visit Crystal Bay.
It is without a doubt one of the top must-visit places on Nusa Penida Island. The beach faces west, and the sunsets are frequently breathtaking. Crystal Bay combines the advantages of a sandy beach with easy road access and a beautiful rock planted in the centre of the bay. Crystal Bay is also a popular scuba diving location. Even if you are not a scuba diver, you may rent a mask, snorkel, and fins on the spot. However, be cautious not to exceed the limit of the boats anchored in the bay, as the currents can be strong.
6) Be amazed at Seganing Waterfall (near Batu Madeg village, Sebuluh)
The waterfall is one of the stunning scenery to be seen on the southwest coast of Nusa Penida Island. This one is for the adventurous willing to walk down the cliff edge on a more or less well-traced trail. Be cautious. The trek from the starting point to the waterfall is not for the faint of heart. It’s quite risky, and there’s no assurance that the bamboo fence will hold up. Because of the constant exposure to the environment, the knots might become loose.
7) Visit Tukad Oyah (Broken) Bay
Broken Beach was formed when a section of the cliff collapsed. The deflated portion is round in form. And the waves carved an arch in the circle’s narrowest point. As a result, the overall appearance is that of a circular harbour with an arch that overhangs the sea. Pretty cool! There is no access to the beach. However, manta rays may be visible from the cliff and the site is quite breathtaking!
8) See Manta Rays at Manta Point
Manta Point is a famous diving spot in Nesu Penida. If you’d like to see manta rays, they can seen on the island all year round. During the peak season, which lasts from June to October, there might be hundreds of them in the water at the same time. There are two methods to get to Manta Point in the water. You can join a snorkelling excursion or scuba dive.
9) Visit Kelingking Beach.
The beach is stunning and picture perfect. There is a rock outcropping that resembles the backbone of a dinosaur (T-Rex) that has come to drink in the ocean. Because of this, another popular name for it is T-Rex Bay. The view here is spectacular and definitely worth the trip. Get some excellent shoes, and while at the beach, keep an eye out for waves and currents. Kelingking Beach is well worth the trip!
10) Visit the temple at Goa Giri Putri
The Goa Giri Putri is a cave temple, or rather a series of cave temples. Balinese Hindus gather to participate in a cleansing course that lasts a few hours and involves visits to each temple erected in the cave. It is definitely a unique experience to try for those looking to understand the Balinese roots of Hinduism.
There you have it. If you like to explore more of Bali, check out our Bali Travel Guide for more information.