Visiting Nusa Penida and not sure what there is to do and see on the island? Look no further, this list summarises the TOP 5 things to see and do while visiting this rural Balinese island.
If you’re visiting Nusa Penida, don’t forget to check out my 4 day Nusa Penida itinerary! Yes, you’ll need 4 days on this beautiful island, and you probably won’t want to leave.
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1. Kelingking Beach
Kelingking Beach, also referred to as the ‘Dino Beach’ or ‘T-Rex Island’ and even ‘the pinky finger’ because of its shape, is the most advertised image in Nusa Penida by far. And this is for good reason; it really is an incredible work of natural architecture.
The best way to appreciate the enormity of the T-Rex island is to descend it.
The descent to Kelingking Beach takes about 20 minutes along a steep and rugged path. The path is lined with wooden rails that get more flimsy as you get closer to the bottom.
When I visited, the last portion was just a wooden ladder. Wear shorts or pants because there will be some scrambling!
The water at Kelingking Beach is clear but very deep. Be careful not to swim out too far, and try to time your return to the sand with the waves (I saw plenty of amateurs get smashed onto the sand!)
The climb back up takes about 30 minutes.
TIP: Take your selfies BEFORE descending to the beach, you will look a little rough when you get back to the top.
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2. Snorkelling at Manta Bay
I went snorkelling at Nusa Penida with Karma Diving and Yoga. They offer a 2.5 hour snorkelling trip to the three best spots in Nusa Penida: Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay. The tour costs IDR 300K.
To book our spot, we just messaged them on Whatsapp the day before.
We met at the Karma Diving and Yoga shop at 8am, where they gave us some snorkels and flippers.
We walked down to a small jetty on the beach where we met other people (I think two tours combined, maybe there wasn’t many customers that day) and set off to Manta Bay.
The boat departs from Toya Pakeh Harbour and heads to Manta Bay.
The bay is filled with tour boats and privately charter boats, and the drivers position the boats so that the manta rays get cornered in the bay. The tour driver will stop over the manta rays and tell you when to jump overboard for the best chance of seeing them.
I felt a little icky about this practice. I felt bad for the manta rays and how scared they must have been, but I can understand that, for the tour guides, if we don’t see a manta ray, they risk a bad review.
I enjoyed snorkelling at Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay much more. The experience felt a little more slow-going and natural, where I could observe the creatures peacefully from a comfortable distance.
2. Angel’s Billabong
The Angel’s Billabong is an impressive rock formation that creates a natural and crystal clear pool.
The difference in colour and clarity between the pool and the ocean is incredible.
In the photo above, it may seem like the pool and the ocean are well separated, when in fact, there is only a thin strip of rock between them. This means that at high tide, water rushes in and floods the pool.
I would not recommend swimming in the pool as it will only take one rogue wave to crush you or sweep you out to sea. Not to mention, the rock surface would be difficult to climb out of. Multiple tourists have died swimming in the Angel’s Billabong, and locals warn against it.
3. Guyangan Waterfall
Visiting the Guyangan Waterfall is not for the faint of heart.
You have to climb down the steep and slippery staircase that is literally hanging off the cliffside.
Someone will greet you at the top of the staircase and give you a sarong if you don’t have one. This is because there is a temple at the bottom of the stairs.
Begin your descent. It is a dizzying feeling to walking down the side of a cliff. It was quite adrenaline pumping to be so exposed to the elements and at the whim of nature.
At the bottom there is a small temple (someone has to climb these stairs every single day to bring offerings to the temple!) and a trickling and slightly disappointing waterfall. (In the picture above, the waterfall is to the left of the blue box … yeah.)
There is also a small infinity pool built into the cliff. If the weather is nice and the tide is low, you can safely swim in it.
Try to visit Guyangan Waterfall on a nice, clear day. We visited when it was raining which made both climbing down and up VERY scary.
4. Goa Giri Putri Temple
7HRP+CC9, Suana, Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia
No posted opening hours, I visited at 9am.
Required ‘donation’ of 20K to 50K
At the Goa Giri Putri Temple, you crawl through a small hole in the rock and emerge in an immense cave lined with temple alters and stone benches.
Visitors of Goa Giri Putri Temple must wear a sarong and a shawl. You can rent one for about IDR 10K at the shop across the road.
After putting on your sarong, cross the road and ascend the stairs to the entrance. There will people milled about at the top the stairs. You will be blessed with holy water and then guided over to the ‘donation’ table.
I’m saying ‘donation’ because you don’t have a choice. IDR 20K to 50K per person should do it, so make sure you have some change with you.
Squeezing through the gap in the rocks can be a little claustrophobic, but it isn’t long before it opens up into a spacious cave. Although it is lit with candles, the cave is still quite shadowy and dark. Somehow, this makes it feel all the more spiritual.
If there is one occurring, you’re welcome to sit quietly at the back and participate in a service.
This is an active temple, so remember to be quiet and polite.
We visited in November, which is the beginning of the wet season in Bali. It was very humid inside the cave, so I left after just 30 minutes or so.
You exit at the back of the cave, where the road leads back to the base of the stairs.
5. Diamond Beach
Entry IDR 35K each. Parking 5K.
Diamond Beach is another of Nusa Penida’s super-hyped sights. The road there is a little tricky. We did manage on a scooter, but if you’re not that confident scooting, you might need to hire a driver.
The stairs down to the beach are carved into the cliff.
On the other side of the little peninsula is Atuh Beach. This beach is much the same as Diamond Beach, except maybe a little easier to access.
I’ll be completely honest and say that I think Diamond Beach is overrated. The view is gorgeous and the water is incredibly blue, but it doesn’t offer anything different or better than Kelingking Beach.
We stopped at the Fisherman’s Hut on top of Atuh Cliff for a pick-me-up, where you can enjoy the view from comfy bean-bags.
Where to Stay in Nusa Penida
$ Hostel $
Nuansa Penida Hostel
This is where I stayed when i visited Nusa Penida. The hostel manager was so lovely, the rooms were tidy, the beds had curtains, the lockers were huge, the pool was sweeeet. What more could you ask for!? Check availability or see other options.
$$ Hotel $$
Aryaginata Cliff Cottages
There’s so many lovely bungalows in Nusa Penida that it’s hard to choose, but I like this one because every room has an uninterrupted view through the forest to the ocean. Check availability or see other options.
Visiting Nusa Penida? Read my 4 day itinerary for more details about how to get there, how to get around, where to eat and what to see!
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