April 2024
With the group portion of our trip behind us, Terry and I decided to spend a few extra days exploring Nusa Penida on our own. The building where we connected the ferry was so incredible.
Located just southeast of Bali, Nusa Penida has become famous for dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear water, manta rays, and some of Indonesia’s most recognizable viewpoints.
Getting there, however, requires a ferry ride.
Our ferry was packed with people, uncomfortably hot, and developed a few mechanical issues along the way. Nothing serious, but enough to keep things interesting. Fortunately, the ferry eventually remembered its purpose and delivered us to the island.
Our guides on the Bali mainland had arranged both our accommodations and a driver for the island, which turned out to be one of the better decisions of the trip.
From the moment we arrived, it was obvious why so many people make the trip.
Nusa Penida is stunning.
Our first stop on our tour was at Crystal Bay. The water seemed impossibly blue. We didn’t have our swimsuits with us but we couldn’t help but at least take a little dip in the water.
The roads on Nusa Penida are every bit as bad as their reputation suggests. In some places they felt less like roads and more like the aftermath of a geological event that someone had simply decided to drive across.
After lunch we continued our tour of the island exploring some of the island’s most famous viewpoints.
The most impressive was Kelingking Beach.
Photos do not adequately prepare you for the scale of the cliffs. Standing at the viewpoint, the coastline stretches far below while waves crash against the beach at the base of the headland.
Like many visitors, I spent a fair amount of time staring down at the trail leading to the beach. Unlike many visitors, I had absolutely no intention of hiking it. I mostly spent my time thinking about a friend who had previously completed the hike down and back up again and questioning their decision-making process. The view from the top was more than sufficient for me.
We also visited Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong, both of which showcased the island’s dramatic geology. Massive cliffs, natural arches, and powerful ocean currents have shaped the coastline into landscapes that feel almost unreal. The icing on the cake was seeing a pod of dolphins playing in the water!
Our home for the next two nights was a small beachside cottage overlooking the water. Each morning breakfast would appear on our patio, and we’d sit outside eating while looking out at the ocean. It was a pretty good way to start the day.
One of the highlights of the trip was a snorkeling excursion to swim with manta rays. It was about a two hour boat ride from shore to where they liked to hang out. Getting Terry into the water took a little convincing…but she did great and said she was glad she did it. Swimming alongside manta rays is one of those experiences that photographs don’t fully capture. Their size is impressive. Truly the size of a VW Beetle!
We also visited several snorkeling sites with some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen. It was hands down the best snorkeling I’ve ever done. Schools of brightly colored fish moved through coral formations in every direction. At times it felt less like snorkeling and more like swimming through an aquarium.
Our lunch stop was a beach-side bar overlooking bright blue waters. Patrons would get up from their table and plunge into the inviting water. We were done with water activities for the day so we didn’t swim but Terry did try out the over-water swing.
Each evening Terry and I felt a little snack-ish so we walked up the road to this adorable little coffee shop that served a delicious warm brownie.
The next morning we took some last views from our adorable bungalow and headed back to the ship dock to catch our boat back to the mainland. In the distance we could see Mount Agung volcano which is nearly 10,000 feet high!
Looking back, Nusa Penida was easily one of my favorite parts of the entire Bali trip. The island combined spectacular scenery, incredible snorkeling, memorable wildlife encounters, and just enough logistical uncertainty to keep things interesting.
