How To Get To Nusa Penida

If you’ve seen these famous shots of Nusa Penida and you’re wondering “how can I get there”, this post is for you. Getting to Nusa Penida isn’t complicated – in fact, it’s quite easy. The important thing to remember here is the cost – it’s easy to get ripped off. If you’re on a budget, you might not want to spend too much to get to Nusa Penida and that’s totally understandable.

Here’s a quick guide on how to get to Nusa Penida from Bali – drama free, rip-off free!

Getting to Nusa Penida by Boat

First, you should know that there are two ways to get to Nusa Penida:

• By speedboat
• By ferry

In terms of cost, the ferry would be cheaper. Although, it’s not super convenient. To make your life easy, I’ll share with you details about the fast boat as well as the ferry.

Getting to Nusa Penida by Speedboat

The speedboat is obviously more expensive but is also a lot faster than the ferry. The journey between Bali and Nusa Penida takes between 30-45 minutes depending on the weather, the conditions and the piers chosen.

There are two main piers where you can take the boat from Bali:

• Padang Bai
• Sanur

You can find boats leaving pretty much every hour.

There are three main piers in Nusa Penida, so you might want to check the location of your accommodation before making a booking decision.

• Banjar Nyuh
• Sampalan
• Buyuk

Booking your speedboat from Bali to Nusa Penida:

There are three ways to book your speedboat from Bali to Nusa Penida. You could either use an agent, book it online or book it at the pier. Let’s take a look at the options and see which is the most budget-friendly. When I went to Nusa Penida I tried two different fast boat companies – my favorite was El Rey Junior Fast Boat.

Booking your boat online:

After speaking with friends and making my own research online and within Facebook Groups, I realized that it would be cheaper and also drama free by booking my tickets online. I used the website PenidaGo to find my tickets. Another option would be via 12GO. You need to keep in mind that booking online tickets require you to book in advance. Last minute tickets won’t be available.

You can expect to pay between IDR 150 000 to IDR 200 000 for a one-way ticket and about IDR 300 000 for a round-trip depending on piers chosen as well as fast boat companies.

This option is great if you’re planning on getting to the pier by yourself (by booking a taxi or by scooter).

Booking your boat via an agent:

There are many agents around Bali that can organize everything for you. You can expect to pay between IDR 350 000 – 600 000 for a round-trip depending on your current location and your negotiating skills. This option normally includes a pick-up from your location to the pier as well as a pick-up in Nusa Penida (the same applies for your way back too). This is a great option if you don’t want to figure out your own way to the pier.

Booking your boat at the pier:

If you are more of a last-minute kind of person, your best bet will be to book a boat at the pier which means you’ll have to negotiate a lot if you want to find a decent price. Most people will send you the ticket for IDR 300 000 for a one-way ticket – which will be around IDR 600 000 for a round-trip. If you’re patient and excellent at negotiating, you could be luckier.

Getting to Sanur or Padang Bai:

To get to the pier, you could organize a transfer in advance, you could order a Go-Jek or Grab car, or you could simply drive there by yourself.

If you drive there by yourself, you can find parking pretty much all around the pier.  We parked our scooters directly at the office from our fast boat company.

Boarding process:

After getting to the office, we got our tickets. They told us to check-in at the pier too where we can add tags to our luggage. A bit before the boarding, the staff members came to collect our luggage (which was locked, of course – you should always travel with a padlock). Then, we boarded and it was pretty smooth.

Arriving to Nusa Penida:

As soon as we reached the pier in Nusa Penida, it was quite hectic with drivers. We already organized a free pick-up with our accommodation, so again, it went pretty smoothly.

Getting to Nusa Penida by Public Ferry

There is a public ferry that departs from Padang Bai. It’s the most budget-friendly option but it will take about two hours to reach your destination. You can expect to pay around IDR 40,000 for a one-way ticket. Although, you should know that there isn’t any fixed schedule – when they have enough people, the ferry leaves.

Where to Stay in Nusa Penida

You can find different types of accommodation for different budgets in Nusa Penida, here are the ones I’d recommend.

Hostels: Nuansa Penida Hostel / Dragonfly / Acala Hostel

Mid-Range: Govardhan Bungalow / Swan Beach Inn / Double-G Guest House

Luxury: The Mesare Resort / Semabu Hills Hotel / Ocean Terrace Suite and Spa Luxury

What to Pack for Your Trip to Nusa Penida

Everything related to the strong sunshine: Sunscreen, aloe vera, swimsuit, sunglasses, quick-dry towel, flip-flops, and comfortable walking shoes.

• Enough cash: There are ATM around the island, but they aren’t reliable. They can be out of cash or perhaps; they won’t accept your card. Thankfully, most shops and restaurants accept cards, but you might have to pay extra service charges.  (Did you know you could save money with withdrawals with the N26 or Revolut card?)
• Indonesia SIM cards: The signal can be quite limited in the Nusa islands. In fact, if you’re driving around the island, your GPS will get lost often. It might not work everywhere, but it’s still useful… when it works, ha!
• Diving/snorkeling gear: If you’re visiting Nusa Penida to dive or snorkel with the manta rays – bring your stuff with you if you have it with you, of course. The most important thing would be your dive log book!
• Travel insurance: You can get a free quote on SafetyWings.