Guide · Bali

Nusa Penida

A rugged island off Bali's southeast coast with iconic cliffs like Kelingking Beach, plus manta ray snorkeling and turquoise coves. It is the go-to day trip and overnight escape for postcard scenery.

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8.73°S 115.54°E

Best time

April to October

We suggest

2 nights

Fly into

DPS

Hotels from

$18/night

Nusa Penida is the largest of three islands off Bali's southeast coast, a rugged place of towering sea cliffs, turquoise coves, and rough interior roads. It is most famous for the cliff that looks like a T-Rex (Kelingking) and for some of the best manta-ray snorkeling in Indonesia. The landscape is genuinely dramatic, and it has exploded in popularity as a day trip and short stay from Bali.

Manage your expectations, though. The roads are still rough, potholed, and steep in many places, the famous viewpoints get crowded and the parking chaotic, and the climbs down to beaches like Kelingking are long and strenuous. It suits adventurous travelers who do not mind bumpy rides, big stairs, and basic infrastructure in exchange for scenery you will not forget. Two nights beats a rushed day trip.

In Nusa Penida

Things to do

View (and maybe hike) Kelingking Beach

The T-Rex-shaped headland is the island's signature sight, and the clifftop viewpoint alone is worth the trip. The descent to the sand is a steep, rough 20 to 30 minute scramble on stairs and ropes, with a tougher climb back up, so only attempt it if you are fit and the weather is dry. Arrive before 8am to beat the day-trip crowds; note a long-debated cliff lift project was suspended and ordered dismantled in late 2025, so do not count on it.

Snorkel with manta rays at Manta Point

Boat snorkeling tours visit Manta Bay and Manta Point off the southwest coast, where reef mantas cruise year-round. The water here can be choppy and cold, so it is not for nervous swimmers, but seeing mantas glide under you is the highlight of many trips. Book a boat tour that also hits Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay for a full half day.

Swim at Crystal Bay

One of the few easy-access, swim-friendly beaches on the island, with a calm cove, soft sand, and good snorkeling near the rocks. It gets busy and the parking fills, so come earlier in the day. There is a small entrance fee and basic warungs for food and drinks.

See Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach

These two sit side by side on the west coast: Broken Beach is a natural rock arch over a circular cove, and Angel's Billabong is a tidal rock pool beside the sea. Do not swim in the billabong when swell is up, as people have been swept out and killed here. Visit at low tide and keep well back from the edge when waves are crashing.

Getting there

First fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) on Bali, then make your way to Sanur, the main jumping-off port (about 30 to 45 minutes from the airport by car). From Sanur, fast boats cross to Nusa Penida's Toya Pakeh or Banjar Nyuh harbor in around 30 to 45 minutes, costing roughly IDR 150,000 to 250,000 each way; you buy tickets at the beach or online and board straight off the sand. Crossings run frequently through the day but can be cancelled in rough seas, so do not book a tight onward flight.

From Jakarta: Flight 1h 55m, $70 to $135

Best time to visit

April to October, the dry season, has the calmest crossings, clearest water for snorkeling, and safest cliff walks. Avoid January and February, when heavy rain makes the rough roads treacherous and seas rougher, and mantas are still around but visibility drops.

Where to stay

Base yourself near Toya Pakeh or Ped on the north coast for the shortest boat transfers and the most warungs and dive shops, or splurge on a cliffside bungalow in the east near Atuh for sunrise views and seclusion. Simple rooms run around USD 25 to 50, with ocean-view bungalows climbing to USD 100 plus.

Good to know

Nusa Penida FAQs

Can I see Nusa Penida as a day trip from Bali?+

You can, and many tours do it, but it means a rushed loop on rough roads with crowds at every stop. Staying one or two nights lets you reach the viewpoints early before the day-trippers and is far less stressful.

How do I get around the island?+

Most visitors join an organized car-and-driver tour, since the roads are rough and the sights are far apart. Renting a scooter is cheap and flexible but genuinely risky here given the potholes and steep grades, so only ride if you are very experienced.

Is the climb down to Kelingking Beach worth it?+

The viewpoint at the top is the real must-see and is easy to reach. The descent to the sand is a strenuous, steep scramble that takes 20 to 30 minutes down and longer back up, so skip it if you are not fit or if the path is wet.

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