How to get from Bali to Nusa Penida – A Simple Guide

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A day trip to Nusa Penida is an absolute must on any trip to Bali. The small island just to the east of mainland Bali is home to some of the most beautiful beaches, unusually located temples and stunning natural landscapes in the region.

However, figuring out how to get from Bali to Nusa Penida can be a little bit of a challenge if you don’t know what you’re doing.

So to help you out (based on my own experience), here’s everything you need to know about getting to Nusa Penida from Bali…

How to get from Bali to Nusa Penida:

To travel from Bali to Nusa Penida, you’re going to need to take a boat from Sanur beach port in the southeast of Bali.

From Sanur, there are a few different companies which run fast boats over to Nusa Penida multiple times per day, 7 days a week.

Let’s break it down further…

Getting to Sanur:

First, you’re going to need to get from your accommodation to Sanur.

There are three main ways to do this…

• If you’re on an organised tour of Nusa Penida, this will more than likely include hotel pick-up and drop-off in the price already.
• If you pre-book your ferry tickets online or through your hotel, you can also pay for this to include a hotel pick-up and drop-off.
• Alternatively, if you are just buying the ferry tickets, you can pre-book a taxi to take you over to Sanur – make sure to pre-book the taxi through your hotel reception to guarantee you make it to the port on time.

The journey to Sanur beach takes…

• Canggu to Sanur – 1 hour
• Seminyak to Sanur – 45 mins
• Ubud to Sanur – 1 hour

Ferry from Sanur to Nusa Penida:

At Sanur beach, there are several different companies running ferries over to Nusa Penida. Each company will run a couple of boats each morning and afternoon to shuttle people back and forth to the island.

The boats are spaced out throughout the day, with one leaving roughly every hour and the earliest leaving around 7am.

Once you arrive at Sanur beach port, your driver will take you to your relevant ticket office (if you’ve pre-booked) where a representative from the ferry company will get you checked-in and give you a tag in the form of a sticker or lanyard.

You might have to wait at the port for a little while (better to be early than late!), then when your boat is ready to go you’ll be taken over and boarded.

The ferry journey takes roughly 30-45 minutes, depending on water conditions.

How to book a ferry from Sanur to Nusa Penida:

You can book a ferry directly at the terminal in Sanur and this way you’ll be able to haggle on price. However, there will probably be quite a few other people also trying to get a spot on the boat so your journey isn’t guaranteed at all.

It’s more practical (and often just as cheap) to book in advance and know you have a seat on the boat at the time you wish to travel.

These are the three easiest ways to book…

• Through your hotel – simply ask at reception and they’ll be more than happy to help you organise.
• Through vendors – find travel representatives and shops on main shopping streets/tourist areas.
• Online – book through websites such as 12go Asia.

How much is a ferry from Bali to Nusa Penida:

When booking in advance, a ferry should cost you no more than £10 each way.

Things to know when getting the ferry from Bali to Nusa Penida:

• The water at Sanur is shallow and the ferries have to dock a little bit away from the beach, meaning you’ll have to paddle through the water to get on the boat (no higher than the knee). Therefore it’s easier to wear flip-flops and shorts/baggy trousers to catch the ferry.
• The boats themselves can get a little stuffy on board, so don’t wear too many layers and try to sit near the back to get more air.
• If weather conditions are particularly bad, the ferries can get cancelled last minute so keep this in mind and check your email/with reception the morning of the trip if the weather looks bad.
• Try to get to the port around 20-30 minutes before your boats departure time to be safe.

The water isn’t always this choppy but this is how you get onto the boats.

What to do when you arrive at Nusa Penida:

• If you’re on an organised tour you’ll be picked up at the port and off you go!
• For more flexibility, you can pre-book a private driver who will be able to drive you wherever you want for the day.
• The cheapest option is to hire a bike on arrival – there will be lots of people at the port when you arrive trying to rent you bikes, just be sure to negotiate a good price (INR 800,000/£4 for the day).

Nusa Penida Tours from Bali:

• Nusa Penida Day Tour from Bali – options for exploring the West, East or South of the Island.

Things to do in Nusa Penida:

• Kelingking Beach – also known as T-Rex bay due to the unique shape of the cliff.
• Diamond Beach – one of the most beautiful white-sand beaches on Nusa Penida.
• Crystal Bay – a popular and accessible beach for sunbathing and swimming.
• Peguyangan Waterfall – beautiful waterfall and sacred water temple at the bottom of a steep cliff face, reached by iconic blue staircase.
• Goa Giri Putri Temple – a temple built inside of a cave.
• Angels Billabong – crystal clear tidal pool overlooking the ocean.

For a more detailed list of things to do in Nusa Penida, plus plenty of things to do in Bali, check out my Ultimate 5 Day Bali Itinerary.

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Emily is a born and raised London girl, starting life in the north of the capital then moving down to Fulham in the southwest. She has a master’s degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology from University College London and now works full-time running this blog and as a freelance travel writer, splitting her life between London and travelling the world as a digital nomad.

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