Before you start your trip to Nusa Penida, there are a few important things to consider when it comes to getting around and what is happening on the island. Prevention of frustration and stress makes the vacation much more beautiful! In this article you will find out how to get to this beautiful island, what options there are for getting around and other know-how that made my stay considerably more relaxed.

There are many providers that offer day tours to Nusa Penida. The most famous and popular spots are included there. I recommend you to spend at least 2-3 days on the island! So you have less stress, can spend some time on the beaches and viewpoints and definitely enjoy your stay more.

From Bali you can reach Nusa Penida from different places. Most trips are offered on the harbor of Sanur. Several speed boats leave there every day. You can book your trip a few days in advance, but you can also just spontaneously book the next boat to the port. Most providers start from  7am until around 6pm. The providers are really similar in the price range.

We paid 150,000 IDR (= 9.70 euros) for our crossing to Nusa Penida. However, this was only a one-way ticket. If you book a return trip directly, you often get a discount. The ticket office is located directly at the port of Sanur. Otherwise, you can simply ask the locals at the port – they will either guide you to the ticket shop or directly to a provider. With the speedboat the crossing takes about 30-40 minutes.

If you have enough time and want to spend a little less money, you can also use a slower boat from Perama Tours. This leaves at 10.30am, takes around 90 minutes and costs only IDR 100,000.

To get on the most boats, you have to walk the first few meters through the water. But don’t worry: your luggage will get a Nusa Penida tag and will be carried safely and dry to the boat for you. You simply leave your shoes in a large shoe box at the beach. As soon as you arrive at Nusa Penida, you can pick them up again.

TIP: Don’t sit in the front of the boat. When the waves are strong, it can happen that the water splashes in through the open cabin door and you get a salt shower.

ATTENTION: When there are very high waves, the boat traffic between the islands is often stopped or the crossings take a little bit longer. So it’s best not to go back from Nusa Penida to Bali a day before your departure – plan a day of buffer.

First of all: There are no public transport options here and you can’t find GOJEK or GRAB.
Nusa Penida is a fairly small and manageable island. Most of the excursion destinations don’t take longer than 1 – 1/2 hours — you can theoretically cover these distances with a scooter. However, the roads here are sometimes really adventurous. The main road is wonderfully paved, but as soon as you drive off the main road (which you definitely have to, as most of the destinations are a bit away from the main road), you will find a lot of potholes and scree at the ground. The locals are working diligently on the expansion of the roads, but they have not yet reached the secret spots.

A safer option and more comfortable for you and your butt is to explore the island by car. Book your local driver for your stay, who you will find directly at the port when you arrive. The locals know the streets well and, in addition to a safe journey, they can tell you a few stories about the island and show you delicious restaurants. For 6 hours a day you pay between 500,000 – 600,000 IDR. (= 30-40 euros).

Of course, you can also rent your own car without a driver. This will be a little bit cheaper between 300,000 – 400,000 IDR. (= 20-25 euros). I haven’t driven a car myself, but have observed some tight maneuvers. Some streets are so narrow that often two cars are not able to drive past each other. Be sure to watch out for a smaller car and prepare your nerves well for the trips.

I would definitely hire a private driver for safety reasons and a lower stress level.

If you are a really good and experienced scooter/motorcycle rider, then go for the cheaper option. We paid 80,000 IDR (= 5 euros) per day for our scooter. Some backpackers from our hostel got their scooters for 60,000 IDR — but they were not in really good shape. If you have the opportunity, choose the scooter by yourself! Fortunately we had a really strong machine with a lot of power and good tires (very important for the rocky roads). You will find various scooter providers at the port when you arrive. Ask directly for a helmet — this may not be offered directly to you.

ENTRANCE AND PARKING FEES
At many excursion destinations you often have to pay a contribution to be able to park your scooter and be allowed to enter the place. It’s best to always have the smallest notes with you. It’s rather impossible to pay 2,000 IDR parking fees with 100,000 IDR.

MOBILE INTERNET AND WIFI
The WiFi in many accommodations or restaurants as well as your  mobile internet connection are often really weak. So it may happen that you are at the most beautiful viewpoint but have no idea how to get back, since your two small lines 3G are now completely gone.

SOLUTION: Download an offline map of Nusa Penida on Google Maps and mark the places you want to visit in advance. In an emergency, you can always ask the locals for help.

ATMS AND CARD PAYMENT
Say goodbye to the idea of paying with you credit card in restaurants or accommodations. Card payment is possible in some places, but in most cases you can only pay in cash.

I checked in advance and read that the ATMs on the island are often empty or not working. But when we tried the different ATMs, they always worked perfectly on different days. Maybe this was really just luck, so it’s always best to withdraw enough cash for your stay beforehand.

CRAZY ROADS
The traffic here is zero compared to the busy street life in Bali. However, many paths here are really spectacular: full of sand, building rubble and adventurous chickens. It’s really not easy to get around on a scooter here. You should definitely have experience and feel safe.

DAY TOUR OR SEVERAL NIGHTS?

On Bali and various online platforms you will find various providers that organize a day tour to Nusa Penida. These include arrival, transportation to the most famous highlights (there are of course variants) and return journey. Apart from the fact that in the end you can save a lot of money if you organize your journey by boat and your transport yourself, I recommend you to spend at least 2-3 nights on Nusa Penida! The island is really one of the most beautiful places I’ve been so far and if you spend more time here you don’t have to rush from one destination to the next. And above all, you can spend relaxing hours on the beach!

Now you are ready — off to Nusa Penida! Here you will find all the highlights and secret spots you definitely have to visit.

Lots of Love ♥