The Top 6 most convincing reasons to visit Nusa Penida
The Nusa Islands are located Southeast of Bali. The most popular among the three islands is Nusa Penida, sometimes known as the little sister of Bali. Nusa Penida is an absolute dream destination in Indonesia and a must-do while visiting Bali. While most tourists simply decide to book a day-tour, Nusa Penida can best be explored if you stay on the island for some days. These 5 reasons will convince you to visit Nusa Penida and will make you fall in love with the island immediately.
It´s a true local experience
While Bali is very much controlled by the many tourists, Nusa Penida is more local. Surely, the hotspots such as the Kelingking Beach are crowded, but the hotels and the restaurants invite you to experience the island from another perspective. Tourism is not as present on Nusa Penida as it is on Bali and this allows you to have a special experience. The local villages give you a better insight into what life of the locals is really like and some beaches are really quiet and remote. Until now, there are only very traditional hotels and home stays on Nusa Penida. The restaurants are run by locals and even though, you will meet many tourists, the island still has this special and unique character. If Bali is too busy for you, you will for sure love Nusa Penida right away!
It is easy to travel to
From Bali, it is one of the easiest journeys. The boat trip to Nusa Penida takes about 40 minutes. You can book a ticket from basically everywhere as most of the tourist centers sell them. The boats leave from the docks of Sanur, which is located on the eastern coast of Bali. You can also buy your ticket directly at the dock, which might save you some money. Most of the boats are known as speed boats and take you to Nusa Penida in the fastest way possible. Be aware of sea sickness though!
Arriving on Nusa Penida, you will most likely get picked up by your hotel or home stay. You can book a shuttle if a free service is not included. Taxis are not common on the island, so this is the best way to reach your accommodation. Compared to Lombok or the Gili Islands, Nusa Penida is easy to travel to and therefore a must-do for any traveller!
It has some sightseeing highlights
Nusa Penida is home to some of the most spectacular places Indonesia has to offer. The beach which made the island popular in the first place, is the Kelingking Beach. The T-Rex is one of the best places to visit on Nusa Penida. Even though, the Kelingking Beach turned into a tourist hotspot pretty fast, it is always worth a visit and the climb down to the beach will allow you to enjoy the spectacle with less tourists.
Another sightseeing highlight is the Diamond Beach, in the Southeastern part of the island. Since 2019 the beach is open for the public and attracts the travellers. And hands down, this is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in all of South East Asia.
The rough nature
Are you a lover of the untouched nature? Of hidden places and deep jungle adventures? If this is what you are looking for on a trip, then Nusa Penida is your place to be. The island is known for its rather rough and partly untouched nature. If you are willing to explore off the beaten path, Nusa Penida will have some unexpected surprises for you!
Waterfalls, jungle walks and hidden beaches – these places can best be explored on your own. Hire yourself a scooter and off you go! Be aware of the bad road conditions on the island though and only drive as far as you feel safe to. Another option is to hire a driver who will take you down the steep roads into the hidden places. It is absolutely worth it and something only Nusa Penida has to offer!
The cheap and delicious food
Welcome to foodies´ paradise! Same as Bali or other Indonesian destinations, Nusa Penida is known for its delicious cuisine. As more and more tourists came to visit the island, more restaurants began to open. Today, you get to choose between a great variety of different restaurants, cafés or warung (the traditional Indonesian restaurant). An absolute highlight is the price in most of the places. You can enjoy a delicious lunch directly at the beach at Crystal Bay for just a few euros. Other cafés offer an amazing breakfast in a traditional way and in some of the bars in the main area, you can enjoy some cheap cocktails.
Nusa Penida does not only convince with beautiful views and paradise beaches, but as well with good food and an interesting culinary side. Do you really need any more best reasons to visit Nusa Penida?
The beaches are paradise
One of the best reasons to visit Nusa Penida? For sure the beaches. There is truly no other way to describe the beaches of Nusa Penida. They invite you to paradise. White sand, relaxing under the palm trees and crystal-clear water. While you can spend your days on Nusa Penida exploring, make also sure to spend some hours at the beaches. Especially the sunsets are an absolute blast. These are the Top beaches on Nusa Pendia:
- Kelingking Beach
Make sure to hike down to the beach around midday and come up long before it is getting dark. Swimming is forbidden and it is advised to respect this rule for your own safety.
- Crystal Bay
The best place on Nusa Penida to enjoy the sunset and a Bintang. The beach is well-known for the beautiful plam tree forest and the clear water.
- Diamond Beach
A beautiful scenery and a long beach – the Diamond Beach is not made for swimming though and you can only relax in the sand and enjoy the view!
- Atuh Beach
The beach is located next to the Diamond Beach. You can rent a sun chair and enjoy some lunch after getting a cool-down in the ocean.
What are you waiting for?
If you are visiting Bali, make sure to plan to spend at least two nights on Nusa Penida. The island invites you to see another part of the country and proves how beautiful and diverse Indonesia is.
Are you convinced that a trip to Nusa Penida is totally worth it. On the itinerary The Nusa Islands in just 4 days you will get the best route over the three islands close to Bali.
