Nusa Penida is one of those places that just simply doesn’t feel real. Its stunning landscape is made up of jagged cliffs, pristine beaches, and deep-blue waters. There are so many gorgeous viewpoints and beaches to visit that you could easily spend a week or two enjoying this island, but we only had three days to soak up as much as possible. Here’s our itinerary for a weekend in Nusa Penida!
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Day One
1. Ferry to Nusa Penida
The only way to reach Nusa Penida from Bali is by taking the ferry. The ferry leaves from Sanur Port and arrives at Toya Pakeh harbor in Nusa Penida. We booked ours on baliferries.com and took the Maruti Express Fast Boat. Most drivers in Bali are familiar with the port, so they’ll know where to take you. I would recommend arriving about an hour early to get your tickets (many ticket stations are separate from the actual port) and check in.
2. Rent a Motorbike
Nusa Penida does not offer car rentals – so your only option for transportation is hiring a driver or renting a motorbike. A motorbike is hands down the best way to get around, as many roads are narrow and cannot fit two cars. However, the roads are pretty rough, so if you’re not experienced enough on a bike I would NOT recommend renting one here. Many accommodations can set you up with a driver, so ask your host or concierge about this!
3. Check Out a Beach BAR for Happy Hour
The coastal road along the northern edge of the island, Jalan Raya Toyah Pakeh, is lined with plenty of beach bars, restaurants, and warungs. Here’s three of my favorites:
COCO PENIDA | Coco Penida sits right on the beach and has the cutest ambience. We just came for a few drinks and they were delicious! The fresh fruit tray is incredible as well – we devoured it within minutes. They often have live music and there’s a happy hour from 3pm to 8pm!
SECRET PENIDA | It’s not much of a secret – this was one of the busiest spots we visited, but we still got a seat quickly! They have live music every Friday-Sunday and happy hour from 5pm-7pm!
PENIDA COLADA | Penida Colada offers daybeds, loungers, and regular tables – so you’ve got plenty of options depending on what you’re looking for! Penida Colada is eco-friendly and serves up a lot of organic and vegan options – the organic coffee is 10/10!
Day Two
1. Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong
Broken beach is named after its shape – the cliffs essentially form a ring with a small archway allowing water into the cove. You can’t actually get down to the water, but the views from above are incredible! There’s plenty of spots around the cove to settle in for some scenic photos and a picnic. Visit early in the morning (around 7am) and you’ll get the entire place to yourself!
About a 5 minute motorbike ride away is Angel’s Billabong, a natural infinity pool situated in the cliffs. You can only swim in the pool during low tide, so check the tides before you go! Even if you aren’t able to swim, it’s pretty cool to see the calm waters of the billabong contrasted by the crashing waves in the background!
2. Hike Kelingking Beach
Next, head south down to Kelingking Beach (nicknamed T-Rex Beach for the unique shape of the cliffs). This was my favorite experience in Nusa Penida so I HIGHLY recommend making the hike down if you’re physically able. The path is essentially carved into the side of the cliff and is quite steep. Some of the hike is secured with bamboo rails, but you will often find yourself on all fours climbing up and down the rocks. It took us about 40 minutes to get down and 30 minutes to get back up – and we had a BLAST. I think the hike made the beach that much more enjoyable – even though I was definitely panting by the time we reached the bottom.
Once you make it down, you’re rewarded with a beautiful golden beach and bright blue water. Throw down a blanket and relax for the afternoon or go explore some of the caves under the cliffs. The best part about this beach is it’s usually not very busy as most people don’t want to hike down. There’s a small warung selling water, Bintang, and snacks if you’re feeling keen.
We made the hike down in the early afternoon and it was HOT. Make sure you bring sunscreen and plenty of water!
If you’re not planning on making the hike down and just want to snap a few pics, I would recommend coming here first before Broken Beach! It’s a popular spot and is busiest during the late morning and early afternoons. We visited twice – once for the hike and sunset, and again early in the morning to enjoy the view without the crowds.
3. Watch the sunset at Kelingking
The reason I recommend making the hike down to Kelingking in the afternoon is so you can hike back up just in time to watch the sunset over the cliffs! There were still quite a few people lined up to watch the sunset, but most of the day-trippers had left to head back to mainland Bali. This moment was so surreal – Kelingking had been on our bucket list for years and here we were watching the sunset after having just hiked it!
Day Three:
1. Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is hands down the most insanely beautiful place I have ever seen in real life and sometimes I am convinced I just dreamed this place up. The jagged rocks and cliffs contrasted by the gorgeous blue water makes for a stunning landscape. The views are incredible just from the stairs above, but if you’re looking to truly enjoy the beach I highly recommend making the hike down.
Luckily, Diamond Beach is a bit less popular than other tourist destinations in Nusa Penida due to its location on the far side of the island, but it does still get busy in the late morning/early afternoon. We arrived around 7am and were the first ones on the beach, but by the time we hiked back up around 11am the steps were packed. Similarly to Kelingking, the majority of people seem to hang out on the steps to snap a photo and never really make it down to the beach. Although the path down is carved into the cliff, it’s not nearly as strenuous as the hike at Kelingking. The majority of the path has steps and a handrail (although there is one short section requiring a rope to scale the rocks). It only took us about 15-20 minutes to get down to the beach and it was so worth it!
I would recommend checking the tide charts before you go – the waves here are intense. We had planned on spending the entire day here but after about two hours, the waves were crashing against the back cliffs of the beach. All of our things got soaked – with the exception of our camera equipment thankfully. The current here is pretty dangerous too, so just be smart and check the tides!
2. Relax at The Chill
After a couple days of exploring and hiking, head to The Chill to do just that – chill. This is probably my favorite beach club on Nusa Penida. It’s actually a hotel, so you can stay here too!
The Chill has an infinity pool (complete with barstools), couches, and loungers. The ultra-relaxed vibe here is exactly what you need after all the adventure of this island! Their menu is pretty westernized, but the food is tasty and the drinks are fantastic! We spent an entire half-day here relaxing, as we were so exhausted. At this point we had been in Bali for over two weeks and hadn’t slowed down once, so this was a much needed break!
Day Four:
1. Visit Kelingking at Sunrise
I mentioned earlier that we visited Kelingking twice- this was the second visit! We stayed in a hotel walking distance from Kelingking, which made it easy to get up at the crack of dawn and get here before the crowds. It was nearly completely empty, which was quite different from the first time we visited! We watched the sunrise and snapped some photos. There’s a few more private areas if you head to the right, where you can set up a picnic!
2. Head Back to Bali (AND WISh you had stayed longer!)
We were so bummed to leave Nusa Penida. You could easily spend a week or two exploring this island and seeing all of the gorgeous cliffside beaches! As we got on our ferry back to mainland Bali, we were already planning our next trip back. If you’re an adventure lover – skip Canggu and spend more time on Nusa Penida!