Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida is the largest of three islands off the south eastern coast of Bali, the others being Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. It is an island of outstanding natural rugged beauty.

Understand
With an area of 247 km², Nusa Penida is much larger than the better known Nusa Lembongan. However, tourist infrastructure is not as advanced as Lembongan. The north shore is the most densely populated part of the island and is where most tourism is based. This is also where the beaches are and where the seaweed farms are. Seaweed farming started on the island in the 1980s as a way for locals to get an income. Sadly prices are declining and so is production. Most locals still derive their income from subsistence farming.

The west and south side of the island is carpeted with limestone cliffs and magnificent views but not many beaches that can be accessed by land.

Due to a lack of natural fresh water, little is grown or produced on Nusa Penida outside of the rain season, and even a lot of produce comes in by boat.

Nusa Penida has become an unofficial bird sanctuary for endangered Balinese and Indonesian bird species, including the critically endangered Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi). In 2004 the Friends of the National Park Foundation (FNPF) started an introduction program onto Nusa Penida of the near-extinct Bali Starling.

The waters around Nusa Penida are part of a marine park authority (MPA) and are home to diverse corals and fishes. Nusa Penida is part of the coral triangle which is a massive area renowned to be "the amazon of the sea" as it provides habit for the many fishes to breed in. Nusa Penida is renowned as one of the best diving sites in the world and is also home to the giant manta ray and mola mola (oceanic sunfish).

Get in
The only way to get to Nusa Penida is by boat.

Speedboats
Nusa Penida is about 30 min away from the east coast of Bali by speedboat. Operators and timings change constantly, but local booking engines Skypenida and 12go offer reasonably up-to-date schedules and online booking options. Most leave from Sanur port (Sanur Beach Pelabuhan Rakyat) and head to one of the many ports on the north coast &mdash; check carefully to see where you'll end up. The boats are cramped, occasionally unsafe, and depending on the tides you can expect to get wet boarding and disembarking, so dress accordingly!

Speedboat Safety

In rough seas, wear the lifejackets. They are usually on a rack above you. Just because others are not, does not mean you should throw caution to the wind. There have been several recent instances of tourist fast boats capsizing. Do not let the size of the fast boats and distance of only 25 km between Sanur on Bali and Sampalan Beach on Nusa Penida fool you; this is the open ocean in between the two islands. Even if the weather seems fine at port, these can be very rough waters with strong currents, and waves sometimes reaching between 6-10 meters. Sit towards the back of the boat for less turbulence and on the aisle for easier evacuation access in case of emergencies.



Ferries
You can catch the daily public roll-on, roll-off ferry (large boat that includes vehicles) from Padang Bai. The ro-ro departs twice a day from either direction. It is slower but much cheaper than the fast boats. In November 2017 only one departure a day at 10:00. Tickets can be bought from 09:00 in a Building called "Loket" for Rp 31,000 per adult. The boat departs between 10:30 and 13:00, depending on the quantity of passengers (Oct 2018).

Day cruises
The vast majority of visitors to Nusa Penida do so on day trip cruises, returning to Bali for the night. All the speedboat operators listed earlier also offer tours, but there are a few dedicated cruise operators as well.



From Nusa Lembongan

 * Public boats depart daily at 06:00 close to the suspension bridge between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan and run to Toyapakeh or Buyuk Harbour in northern Nusa Penida. There are also services from the Jungut Batu area of Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida.
 * Charter boats are available, departing from and arriving at the same area as the public boats. If you are staying on Nusa Lembongan, ask at your hotel. If not, go to the shoreline close to Yellow Bridge or to the beach at Jungut Batu and ask around amongst the boatmen. Rates certainly vary but expect to pay around Rp 300,000.

Get around
Renting a motorcycle is the most practical option, and this will cost you about Rp 70,000. Look for vendors in Toyopakeh and Sampalan (or more likely, they will find you!) Car rentals are available but very expensive (about Rp 650,000 per day).

Some visitors from Nusa Lembongan arrive with rented pushbikes - make sure you get permission to take the bike off Nusa Lembongan first. Roads in Nusa Penida are rough, hilly away from the north coast, and in remote areas no more than stone-strewn tracks.

Local public transport is in small old bemos or on the back of a truck. These vehicles ply the north coast road with some regularity, but elsewhere on the island do not bank on anything.

See
There are many quiet and secluded white sand beaches along the north and northwest coasts of Nusa Penida. Other geographical highlights include limestone caves, spectacular high coastal cliffs with karst formations and offshore pinnacles in the south and east, and rugged hill tops in the high centre.

Beaches

 * Heat Emergencies: There is little shade on the coasts of Nusa Penida, especially on this side of the island. The weather can get extremely hot in the warm season (up to 40 ° C) during peak hours of sunlight, not to mention the humidity. Do not overestimate your athletic abilities as comparable to the body’s ability to handle the heat and direct sun on a 400 meter vertical hike with no shade. Medical infrastructure on the island is limited and heat stroke is a serious medical emergency. It is not advisable to conduct this hike in the warm season between 10:00-14:00 when the sun is at its strongest.
 * Heat Emergencies: There is little shade on the coasts of Nusa Penida, especially on this side of the island. The weather can get extremely hot in the warm season (up to 40 ° C) during peak hours of sunlight, not to mention the humidity. Do not overestimate your athletic abilities as comparable to the body’s ability to handle the heat and direct sun on a 400 meter vertical hike with no shade. Medical infrastructure on the island is limited and heat stroke is a serious medical emergency. It is not advisable to conduct this hike in the warm season between 10:00-14:00 when the sun is at its strongest.
 * Heat Emergencies: There is little shade on the coasts of Nusa Penida, especially on this side of the island. The weather can get extremely hot in the warm season (up to 40 ° C) during peak hours of sunlight, not to mention the humidity. Do not overestimate your athletic abilities as comparable to the body’s ability to handle the heat and direct sun on a 400 meter vertical hike with no shade. Medical infrastructure on the island is limited and heat stroke is a serious medical emergency. It is not advisable to conduct this hike in the warm season between 10:00-14:00 when the sun is at its strongest.
 * Heat Emergencies: There is little shade on the coasts of Nusa Penida, especially on this side of the island. The weather can get extremely hot in the warm season (up to 40 ° C) during peak hours of sunlight, not to mention the humidity. Do not overestimate your athletic abilities as comparable to the body’s ability to handle the heat and direct sun on a 400 meter vertical hike with no shade. Medical infrastructure on the island is limited and heat stroke is a serious medical emergency. It is not advisable to conduct this hike in the warm season between 10:00-14:00 when the sun is at its strongest.

Do


This is a wild, rugged and largely untamed island which offers plenty to those with an adventurous spirit.

Trekking and mountain-biking are rewarding with amazing coastline views. The terrain away from the coast is hilly rising to nearly 521m and the vista back to Bali is stunning. Camping is a wise option for those who really want to explore this wild island away from the populated northern coast.

Absorb the culture. The native people are Hindu as in Bali. Locals speak Nusa Penidan, an ancient dialect of Balinese no longer heard elsewhere, younger locals speak Bahasa Indonesia also. The architecture and dance is also distinct to the island. There is also a Muslim village situated in Toyapakeh on the north west shore which faces Nusa Lembongan.

Birdwatchers who find themselves with the opportunity to visit Nusa Penida should know that a thriving population of the superb white-tailed tropicbirds breeds on the south and southeastern cliffs of the island. Keep your eyes peeled. Nusa Penida has been designated an island-wide bird sanctuary by Friends of the National Parks Foundation (FNPF). Various endangered Indonesian bird species have been released onto the island, including the Bali Starling, Java Sparrow, Mitchell's Lorrikeet, Lesser Sulphur Crested Cockatoo.

Island & snorkelling tours
Tour the 200-km² island or snorkel with giant mantas and dive with mola mola.

There are various tour operators on the island that will take you on private guided tours by car or scooter as you prefer. Packages can be tailor made to suit your budget and time schedule.

Diving
Nusa Penida is best known as a world class diving destination. There are more than 20 identified dive sites around the island, the most notable including Crystal Bay, Manta Point, Toyapakeh, Suana Bay and Malibu Point. The rich waters around the three islands support no less than 247 species of coral and 562 species of fish.

Many dive operators based in Bali and neighbouring Nusa Lembongan offer specific dive trips to Nusa Penida. Special attractions include fabulous Mola Mola (Oceanic Sunfish) in season and large Manta Rays year round. Mola Mola are migratory fish and most likely from July to October although sightings are reported all year round. There is diving available here for beginners but most of the dives require a decent level of experience as currents are strong and unpredictable.

Freediving the rich waters around the island is one of the most satisfying ways of exploring the underwater world. Several locations provide great opportunities to see the abundant corral and marine life. Going with a knowledgeable operator is important as the currents around the island are quite strong and in places unpredictable. Fancy to see sharks in Malibu point or dive with Mantas away from the snorkeling hotspots? Take a course with one of the freediving schools and learn more about your hidden abilities to dive deep without a tank.

Dive operators

 * Nusa Penida Watersport +62 822 3681 4935 Locally owned and operated with a really good reputation. They have PADI certified instructors and also do snorkelling trips.
 * Octopus Dive, Ped

Freediving

Buy
There are two ATMs in Sampalan, one for Visa and one for MasterCard, there is one ATM is in Toyapakeh. However, it's best to bring enough rupiah with you just in case the ATMs are out of order.

Eat
There are simple local warungs on Nusa Penida and since 2016, there are a few great western style places for a meal, music and sunset drink.

Sleep
Most holiday accommodation is to be found between Toyapakeh and Sampalan although accommodation is opening up in other areas too.

Visitors wishing to explore the remote, rugged areas of the island in the high centre and south may be able to find informal accommodation with a local family by asking a head of village (Kepala Desa). The only other alternative away from the north coast is camping.


 * Penginapan Jose Homestay, Toyapakeh. 6 rooms located right on beach road in Toyapakeh. Great views and affordable.
 * Ari La Casa, Toyapakeh.
 * Namaste Bungalows, thatched bungalows, Sakti Village, on the way to Crystal Bay.
 * Bintang Bungalows, thatched bungalows, Sakti Village. Locally owned.
 * Coco Resort, thatched bungalows, Sakti Village.
 * Full Moon Bungalows, Ped
 * Mae Mae Beach House, Kutampi.
 * Caspla Bali Beach Club, Buyuk
 * Nusa Penida Beach Club, Buyuk
 * Mae Mae Beach House, Kutampi.
 * Caspla Bali Beach Club, Buyuk
 * Nusa Penida Beach Club, Buyuk
 * Caspla Bali Beach Club, Buyuk
 * Nusa Penida Beach Club, Buyuk

Connect

 * International phone operators: 101
 * International Direct Dialing prefix: 001, 007, or 008.

Directory inquiries
 * 108 from a landline or 0361-108 from a mobile phone.

Wi-fi - there are more and more places offering free Wi-fi but connection speed and reliability is still not fast as people would like.

Go next
The best advice is to get out from one of the northern points in the same way as you came in. A boat to Nusa Lembongan and then onward to Bali or Lombok is recommended. To get to Lombok or other points east you will have to travel to Padang Bai and connect with boats there.