I’ve said this many times before, but Nusa Penida might just be my favorite travel destination in Bali. I’ve written about it before, but in case you haven’t heard of it, Nusa Penida is an island located just off the southern coast of Bali. Although it’s only a short 30-minute boat ride from Sanur and a 10-minute ride from neighboring Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida is still impressively untouristy. It still boggles my mind that this little slice of paradise has managed to (largely) elude the tourist radar, because there are a ton of amazing things to do on Nusa Penida. Seriously.

UPDATE (May 2019): I knew it wouldn’t take long but tourism is booming in Nusa Penida. To be candid, the “undiscovered part of Bali” described in this post is no longer true. I’m not saying don’t visit, but I just want to be upfront that the Nusa Penida I experienced has likely changed a lot!

Most travelers who do visit Nusa Penida do so on day trips to dive and snorkel the pristine coral reefs that fringe the island – but more often than not they never actually step foot on the island.

Those who do allot a few days to exploring the island will be rewarded in spades. There are quite a few breathtaking natural attractions scattered around Nusa Penida – think azure beaches, natural pools and hidden waterfalls.

Nusa Penida really is what I imagine Bali was like back in the ‘70s. If you’re up for a little adventure and down to stray from the Kuta-Seminyak-Ubud circuit of Bali, then I highly suggest a visit to Nusa Penida.

5 Amazing Things to do on Nusa Penida:

1. Spend a day at Atuh Beach

Thank god for Instagram because I would have had no clue this beach existed on Nusa Penida if I hadn’t seen it on Instagram. It might be a bumpy, and slightly treacherous, scooter ride to get there from the port town of Ped, but man is it worth all the effort.

The drive along the coast offers stunning views of the ocean, small villages and windy mountain roads. Because Atuh Beach is so isolated and difficult to reach, not many people go there. Even during the high season, there were only six other tourists on the beach and a handful of Indonesian children playing in the water.

It’s necessary to traverse down a steep, crude path to reach the beach. Looking down from above, I was amazed to see a sliver of a white sand being lapped by picture-perfect turquoise water. And the stunning rock formation located right offshore was just icing on the cake. It was as close as I’ve come to my ‘The Beach’ moment. This is one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen in a long time, and it’s a great place to spend an entire day.

Traveler’s Tips: The roads leading from Ped to Atuh Beach are surprisingly well marked. The road does, however, get very rough, sandy and basically non-existent towards the end so be extra cautious when driving there.  Once you get down to the beach, a man will ask for a Rp 5000 fee to enter. It’s possible to rent lounge chairs and buy coconuts, drinks and nasi goreng for just a few dollars from the few vendors on the beach. Tides are strange on Nusa Penida, so it’s best to know what the tides are going to be like when you visit Atuh Beach. At low tide the water pretty much disappears. So make sure you visit when the tide is on the higher side. Also, the beach bottom is rocky so tread lightly.

2. Explore Crystal Bay

Crystal Bay is a popular spot for tour boats shuttling tourists around on snorkeling and diving trips. Despite being a renowned spot for spotting sea life, there are still very few people here.

When I traveled here in the off-season (during March) I had the beach virtually all to myself. During my most recent trip, in the high season in August, there was a smattering of tourists lounging on the beach and snorkeling off shore. Not too bad. Crystal Bay is a pretty special beach and a great place to slap on a mask and fins and explore sea life.

Traveler’s Tips: The roads to Crystal Bay are very well marked and relatively smooth from Ped. While drinks do appear to be served at a beach shack, it might be best to bring your own food if you plan on staying here all day.

3. Gawk at Broken Beach

Broken Beach is a stunning natural formation on the coast of Nusa Penida. Despite its name it’s not actually a beach. It’s a natural bridge that makes for an unreal setting.  I set out to find Broken Beach during my first visit to Nusa Penida – and I failed miserably. Nusa Penida is big and the roads are confusing. Getting lost is inevitable. During my recent visit, it took me forever to find Broken Beach and for a while, I thought it was a lost cause, yet again.

Luckily I eventually found it. I might have crashed my bike and then driven into a ditch (I was unscathed!) on the way, but it was worth it.

Traveler’s Tips: The drive to Broken Beach from Ped will likely take two hours. There are two roads pointing to Broken Beach. One is very steep and shouldn’t be attempted if you’re not super comfortable riding a scooter. The other is incredibly bumpy but at least it’s not a full-on death trap. If you’re lost, and you will get lost, then just keep asking locals the way to either Billabong or Broken Beach, they’ll help you find your way. There is an entrance fee of Rp 5,000 (I think).

4. Enjoy the view at Billabong

Billabong is the stuff Instagram dreams are made of. It’s basically a little lagoon, set in the middle of the black and craggy volcanic rock. It’s located on a cliff right down the path from Broken Beach (see above). Nusa Penida’s massive waves crash into the cliff and splash water into the lagoon. It is possible to swim in the lagoon (something that’s super popular with the selfie crowd) but be warned that people have been swept out to sea by the powerful waves.

Traveler’s tips: Billabong is literally right down the pathway from Broken Beach, maybe a two-minute walk.

5. Cool off at Temeling’s natural pools

I visited Temeling during the dry season (in April) and the waterfall was pretty much non-existent, but the natural pools were beautiful, cold and refreshing.  And the setting could not have been more amazing.  Bless Nusa Penida for being so tourist-free because the best part was, I had the place all to myself.  Well there were monkeys there, so technically I did have company.

Temeling is surrounded by limestone cliffs and a lush jungle canopy.  There are a couple of crystal clear swimming holes overlooking this stunning cove and the sound of waves crashing against the craggy rocks.  It’s kind of like being in a lost world.

Traveler’s Tips: There are separate pools for men and women. And ladies, you’re not allowed to enter if you’re menstruating. The road getting here is steep and can get very slippery after it rains. Drive safely and slowly. Do not attempt to drive all the way down the road because it gets really steep toward the end.

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There are so many other things to do on Nusa Penida, including diving and snorkeling excursions, seeking out hidden waterfalls, hiking to temples and spotting manta rays right offshore. The things I listed in this post are just the things I personally did during my two trips to the island.

Practical Info:

Getting to Nusa Penida: We took a ferry from the main pier in Sanur.  There aren’t as many daily boats that go to Nusa Penida as go to Nusa Lembongan, so it’s best to arrange a ferry one day before you leave.  We took Maruti Express. It should cost 150,000 each way, although you will be charged 250,000 if you want a hotel pickup. For a more detailed guide on how to get to Nusa Penida from around Bali, check out this post.

Where to stay on Nusa Penida: We stayed at the Ring Sameton Inn and paid around $35 USD for a double room through Agoda.com.  Because there are very few hotels on Nusa Penida, lodging tends to be pricier than in other parts of Indonesia.  This place was a steal for $35.  The rooms were enormous and clean, the grounds were beautiful and tranquil, there was a huge pool, great restaurant and 5-star service.  I can honestly say that I highly recommend it. That being said, I’m sure some amazing hotels have popped up since my visit!

Renting a motorbike on Nusa Penida: We arranged one scooter through our hotel for 50,000 rupiah (a great deal for Nusa Penida).  If you’re renting a scooter through Ring Sameton Inn, make sure to arrange your motorbike rental ahead of time because they have a limited supply.  To get a second scooter we had to inquire at the pier.  It was easy but we were charged a bit more, 80,000 rupiah. If you don’t have too much luggage it’s better to rent a motorbike from the pier rather than overpaying for a hotel transfer or paying someone to drive you to your hotel. We were quoted a whopping 200,000 rupiah just to get a ride to our hotel.

Driving on Nusa Penida: Note that the island is big and you will need to either book a tour, hire a driver or rent a motorbike to get around. The roads can get really bad – think dirt, gravel, sand – so this is not a good place for inexperienced drivers. I crashed my bike twice during my recent trip,  my boyfriend crashed during our first trip, Chantae from Chantae Was Here crashed during her visit… basically, no one I know hasn’t had at least a minor accident on Nusa Penida. So be extra careful riding around the island. If you want some tips on how to motorbike safely, check out this post.

Getting to Nusa Lembongan from Nusa Penida: There are lots of public boats running from Nusa Penida to Nusa Lembongan all day long. Simply go to the public pier and ask for a “public boat” to Nusa Lembongan. If you’re the only person on the boat, you’re getting a private boat and it’s going to cost you. The price should be 50,000 rupiah for a spot on a small public boat.

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Have you ever been to Nusa Penida? What else would you add to this list?