Nusa Penida (Penida Island)

The basics

Both slow boats and fast boats run from Bali to Nusa Penida. Some travelers opt to visit independently, rent motorbikes or hire a driver, and spend a few days touring. A guided tour allows for a more seamless experience, especially for those looking to spend just one day on Nusa Penida.

Many Nusa Penida tours focus on the island’s underwater attractions: snorkeling or diving with giant manta rays at Manta Point or Manta Bay, diving in search of the mola-mola (ocean sunfish) at Crystal Bay, and admiring the coral and marine life at a wealth of sites. Watersports are also an option, and a handful of tours highlight Penida’s serene charm, visiting its natural wonders, traditional villages, and temples.

Things to know before you go

• A must-do for lovers of the underwater world, Nusa Penida boasts some of the best diving and snorkeling on Bali.

• The traffic on Penida is light in comparison to mainland Bali, but some of the roads are close to disintegration. This is no place to learn to ride a motorbike.

• Some dive sites around Penida and Lembongan islands are advanced, with intense currents. Exercise caution, particularly around the full and new moon, when tides are stronger.

• Nusa Penida is a traditional island. When visiting temples, cover shoulders and wear a sarong. Some temples insist that women cover arms to the wrist.

How to get there

Nusa Penida sits in the Lombok Strait, about 10 miles (15 kilometers) off the southeastern coast of Bali. Ferries and speed boats leave daily from Padang Bai, following a changing schedule, while speed boats run from Sanur Beach and Lembongan Island. Snorkeling and diving tours typically depart from Sanur, but often offer the convenience of transport direct from your door.

When to get there

Scuba divers in search of the elusive mola mola (ocean sunfish) should visit between late June and October; mantas can be seen year-round. High waves are not uncommon in late July and August, which can island access difficult and snorkeling a challenge. Penida is drier than mainland Bali, so it’s a good choice for the rainy season (October to March), although in the rainy season, the ocean floods with plastic trash.

Giants of the deep

Also known as the oceanic sunfish, ocean sunfish, or giant sunfish, the mola mola is one of the largest known bony fish in the world: Adults can weigh a whopping 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms). Between late June and October, mola mola are often seen off Penida, particularly around Crystal Bay, as cold water upwells from the depths where these giants spend their time.

Ways to explore

Both slow boats and fast boats link Bali and Nusa Penida, but a guided tour creates a more seamless experience, especially for day-trippers. Some Nusa Penida tours focus on the island’s underwater attractions: snorkeling or diving with giant manta rays at Manta Point or Manta Bay, and admiring the coral and marine life at a wealth of sites. Others explore either the east or west side of the island; the west side is home to Kelingking Beach, Crystal Bay, Angel’s Billabong, and Broken Beach (Pasih Uug Beach), while the east offers Diamond Beach (Pantai Diamond), Atuh Beach, and the tree houses.

Accessibility

Taking a fast boat to Nusa Penida involves wading through water and climbing onto or off the back of the boat. While the slow boats are more accessible, the island is not an easy destination for travelers in wheelchairs.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Consider a waterproof case for your phone if you’re snorkeling with mantas.

What to wear

If you’re visiting temples, wear (or carry) something to cover your shoulders; sarongs, which are also required, are usually available for rent or included in the entrance price.

Not allowed

Don’t even think about swimming off Kelingking Beach; travelers have died here.

Address 

Nusa Penida is in the Lombok Strait, less than 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Bali’s east coast.

Driving

Nusa Penida rental motorbikes are often in poor condition and most insurance will only cover you for injury if you have a motorbike license from your home country and the International Driving Permit. The narrow, cliff-edge roads see a lot of traffic and this is no place to learn to ride a motorbike.

Public transportation

Speed boats leave daily from Padangbai (Padang Bai), Kusamba, and Sanur Beach on mainland Bali, Lombok’s Gili Islands and mainland Bangsal port, and Nusa Lembongan, with slow boats running from the port at Padangbai. Once on the island, there’s effectively no public transit, but residents do offer private car transportation for set prices. For extra convenience, book a tour for the whole outing.

Best times to visit

Consider staying one or more nights on the island to enjoy the big-ticket sights in the early morning or the evening.

Best days to visit

Nusa Penida is slightly more crowded on the weekends than midweek.

Best months to visit

Scuba divers in search of the elusive mola mola (ocean sunfish) should visit between July and October; mantas can be seen year-round. Nusa Penida is drier than mainland Bali, so it’s a good choice for the rainy season (roughly mid-October to mid-April), though at the peak of the rainy season (December through February) the ocean can flood with plastic trash.

Special events

Visit during the festivals of Galungan or Kuningan, which fall every 210 days on the Balinese calendar, to see the island come alive with bamboo decorations.