How To Get From Bali To Nusa Penida – A Complete Guide

Looking for how to get from Bali to Nusa Penida?!

Nusa Penida Island boasts epic beaches, lagoons, waterfalls, epic cliff-jumping spots, and more importantly, endless locations to capture the ultimate Instagram photos.

Getting from Bali to Nusa Penida is another story altogether. It can be quite overwhelming figuring out how to get to Nusa Penida from Bali so I’ve put together this complete guide on everything you need to know about how to get to Nusa Penida.

In short, the most common route to Nusa Penida is a 30-minute fast boat ride from Bali.

Though I have also included some information on other routes such as Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida, Gili to Nusa Penida, Lombok to Nusa Penida, and Java to Nusa Penida.

Get your ticket → Fast Boat from Bali to Nusa Penida

OVERVIEW – HOW TO GET TO NUSA PENIDA

Here is a quick overview of how to get to Nusa Penida that you will find in this post:

• Bali to Nusa Penida by fast boat
• Nusa Penida day trip from Bali
• Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida
• Gili Island to Nusa Penida
• Lombok to Nusa Penida
• Java to Nusa Penida

BALI TO NUSA PENIDA

How to get to Nusa Penida from Bali I hear you ask?

First, Bali is a big place so I’ve got you covered on all the different locations within Bali where you can get to Nusa Penida.

SANUR TO NUSA PENIDA

Simply, you’re going to have to get the boat from Bali to Nusa Penida. As I mentioned, Bali is a big place, and the boats only really go from one spot, Sanur Beach Port, which is located in Southeast Bali.

Boats operate 7 days a week and you will find that there is a boat leaving every couple of hours throughout the day.

First of all, you’re going to need to get to Sanur Port from your accommodation in Bali.

Conveniently, when you book your ticket online in advance for the boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida this also includes a hotel pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Bali to Sanur Beach Port.

Here is a list of journey times from the popular tourist hubs in Bali to get to Sanur:

• Canggu to Sanur: 1 hour
• Seminyak to Sanur: 45 minutes
• Kuta to Sanur: 30 minutes
• Uluwatu to Sanur: 1 hour
• Ubud to Sanur: 1 hour

ARRIVING AT SANUR BEACH PORT

When you arrive at Sanur Beach Port you will have to check in at the tour desk with the boat company that you are traveling with.

There are a lot of tour desks and boat companies that operate from Sanur to Nusa Penida and it can be quite chaotic down at the port.

Simply ask a local to point you in the right direction if you can’t find the right tour desk.

Once you are all checked in, you’ll be given a tag for your bag and a laminated card or sticker that you will have to show to the boat operators when stepping onto the boat bound for Nusa Penida.

Depending on the time of day, you may have to wait for 30 minutes to 1 hour at the port before getting on the boat.

There are plenty of shops and small eateries at Sanur Port if you wish to kill some time, but don’t wander too far as you wouldn’t want to miss your boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida.

It’s first in best-dressed when it comes to getting a decent seat on the fast boat to Nusa Penida.

My advice would be to sit near the back of the boat where there is more airflow as it can get very claustrophobic up the front.

On some boats, you can even sit on the roof, which is a fun experience! 

If you have a suitcase or larger bags, these will generally get stowed on the inside of the boat or on the roof, which they will then cover with a big tarp to keep them dry when traveling across the channel to Nusa Penida Island.

The journey from Sanur to Nusa Penida takes around 45 minutes and when you arrive at the other end at the Nusa Penida Pier, you’ll have to wait for your bag on the shoreline, and then you can take a taxi to your hotel.

Get your ticket → Bali to Nusa Penida via Sanur Port

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

You can just turn up at Sanur port and pay for your ticket there but the port can be pretty hectic.

My advice would be to book the boat from Bali to Nusa Penida online in advance.

This will both avoid you having to do it at the port and also they pick you up from your hotel. For around $10-$30, this is a really affordable way of getting the fast boat to Nusa Penida.

Booking online also gives you a fixed price. There will be a lot of people wanting to get the boat to Nusa Penida from Bali so the last thing you’re going to want to do is to battle the crowds and have to haggle your way onto the boat.

Book online guarantees you a spot on the boat to Nusa Penida but also avoids the need to haggle at a very busy port.

To book a ticket online, use a company called Viator I personally use them for booking all my tickets as they’re reasonably priced and very reliable throughout all of Asia.

There are a couple of boats to Nusa Penida from Bali. One is more of a ferry, a larger, slower vessel and the other is a speed boat.

Both can vary in price but also vary in time. Depending on how fast you want to get there, it can depend on what boat to Nusa Penida you take.

You may be aware the Nusa Islands are made up of three main islands.Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan.

These islands can be accessed from Nusa Penida, via a much smaller boat that doesn’t need to be booked in advance, unlike when traveling from Sanur to Nusa Penida.

You can use other ports such as Kusamba which has frequent service but is off the tourist trail and Padang Bai which is if you want to take your own vehicle over to Nusa Penida.

Padang Bai services aren’t very reliable so I would recommend you stick with the Sanur to Nusa Penida service.

Get your ticket → Bali to Nusa Penida via Sanur Port

NUSA PENIDA DAY TRIP

Another alternative for visiting Nusa Penida Island is to book a day trip. There is one tour that I can highly recommend which covers all the highlights on a full-day trip to Nusa Penida.

The Nusa Penida Tour is the most top-rated tour with great reviews and thousands of bookings.

This tour covers the top attractions in Nusa Penida such as Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach, and more!

With hassle-free pick-up and drop-off from your hotel, return boat transfers from Nusa Penida, a hearty lunch, and an English-speaking guide.

Book Now → Nusa Penida Day Tour

NUSA LEMBONGAN TO NUSA PENIDA

You can also take a boat from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida if you happen to be exploring this island first.

A boat from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida takes no more than 15 minutes and costs around 50,000 IDR.

You can organize the boat via your accommodation on Nusa Lembongan or simply make your way over to the Yellow Bridge on Lembongan Island and ask one of the small tour desks down on the beachfront.

There are no set boat schedules from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida, though the boats run quite frequently.

Usually, every 30 minutes to 1 hour, you can get a boat from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida.

You’ll be dropped off at Toya Pakeh Harbor, located on the west coast of Nusa Penida Island, and from here you can take a taxi to your hotel.

GILI TO NUSA PENIDA

Okay, so these are the tips you’ll need to get to Nusa Penida from Bali and from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida.

Now let’s look at how to get to Nusa Penida from Gili Trawangan.

Here are a few tips on how to get to Nusa Penida from Gili Trawangan.

One thing to note: there aren’t a lot of fast boat companies from Gili Trawangan to Nusa Penida.

It’s going to take a bit of research but the main thing to look for when getting from Gili Trawangan to Nusa Penida is the fastest boat company but also the safest.

This is where Blue Water Express comes in. Their route is directly from Gili Trawangan to Nusa Lembongan then a smaller boat over to Nusa Penida.

Each time I’ve used them, I’ve had a great experience.

Depending on the fast boat company you use can vary the price quite dramatically. Although Blue Water Express is one of the more expensive companies, they do offer discounts here and there.

A one-way ticket from Gili Trawangan to Nusa Lembongan is going to cost you around $65.

You can find the ticket offices for Blue Water Express and other boat companies at the main port on Gili Trawangan Island.

Please note that you will have to book at least one day in advance, preferably two days just to be sure you will get a seat on the boat.

The boat journey from Gili Trawangan to Nusa Lembongan takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. The journey time is very dependent on weather conditions. The cost of your ticket will also include pick up from your hotel.

Getting on the boat at Gili Trawangan, you’ll most likely have to walk in ankle-deep water to board the boat.

When you arrive on Lembongan Island, you’ll have to change to a smaller boat that will take you from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida.

The boat journeys are an experience within themselves, especially the journey from Gili Trawangan to Nusa Penida, where you can sit on the roof with the wind in your hair!

If you are traveling in the other direction from Nusa Penida to Gili Trawangan, there are no direct fast boats so you’ll have to take the short 10-minute boat ride from Nusa Penida to Nusa Lembongan, then from there, take the boat to Gili Trawangan.

Get your ticket → Gili Trawangan to Nusa Penida

LOMBOK TO NUSA PENIDA

Now you know how to get from Gili to Nusa Penida, let’s talk about getting from Lombok to Nusa Penida.

You have a few options when it comes to getting from Lombok to Nusa Penida.

Again, there is no direct route so it would mean going through Nusa Lembongan but nevertheless, it’s still doable.

To get from Lombok to Nusa Penida, your one option is to get the ferry. I mentioned Blue Water Express before, they’ll be making another appearance as I talk you through getting from Lombok to Nusa Penida.

Let’s discuss:

Getting from Lombok to Nusa Penida is actually on the same route as Gili Trawangan. There are multiple stops on this route with both Gili Trawangan and Lombok being some of them.

Getting directly to Nusa Penida is not yet possible, so you’ll stop at Nusa Lembongan first. Nusa Lembongan is the 2nd or 3rd stop, depending on the day.

You’ll board the boat in Lombok at the Teluk Kode Harbor (Bangsal Harbor) and make your way to Jungut Batu Harbor in Nusa Lembongan, stopping at a few islands along the way.

The fee for this service remains at $69. With the ability to book online beforehand, I would choose this option to avoid missing the boat or having to haggle at the port.

The complete journey is around 2 – 2.5 hours.

You’re on the boat for a while, so take into consideration the sea conditions. According to the boat companies, April, May, June, October, November, and mid-December are the best months for sea travel between Lombok and Nusa Penida.

It really is a simple journey from Lombok to Nusa Penida and one that gives you the chance to stop off and see other islands on the way.

Get your ticket → Lombok to Nusa Penida

JAVA TO NUSA PENIDA

Our final to and from destination on this guide of how to get to Nusa Penida is Java.

Getting from Java to Nusa Penida is a slightly bigger journey, involving a little more transport. Fear not I’ve got you covered.

Let’s get into it and discuss how you get from Java to Nusa Penida:

The quickest and easiest way to get from Java to Nusa Penida is going to involve a boat, taxi, and plane.

The simple breakdown would be to fly from Java to Bali, landing at Denpasar Airport.

With the airport in Bali being close to Sanur port you can grab a taxi at a pretty reasonable price from the airport and make it to the port.

Then take the ferry from Sanur to Nusa Penida using the advice in the first point of this post on How To Get To Nusa Penida From Bali.

Doing it this way will involve a few more costs as you’ll be paying for airfare, taxi fare, and ferry fare.

But this is the quickest and most simple route from Java to Nusa Penida. The entire route will set you back around $200.

The route from Java to Nusa Penida will be about 6 hours in total.

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s probably best to book everything in advance. The flights, the taxi, and the ferry. Not only will it save you money but most importantly, it’s going to save you time.

As I said, this is probably the biggest lot of travel to and from Nusa Penida but with the right information, it can be super easy and straightforward.

Search All → Flights from Java to Bali

BEST TOURS IN BALI

THINGS TO DO IN NUSA PENIDA

Now that you’ve got all the information on how to get to Nusa Penida, you may want to read my Ultimate Nusa Penida Travel Guide which includes 15 Awesome Things To Do In Nusa Penida.

GETTING AROUND NUSA PENIDA ISLAND

The best means of transport on the island is on a scooter.

Nusa Penida is quite a large island, and it can take up to one hour to get from one side of the island to the other during your visit.

The roads on Nusa Penida Island are not very well maintained, so please be aware of this and take it slow on the loose gravel roads.

Be sure to have travel insurance and wear a helcmet as an extra precaution.

There are a number of scooter rental shops dotted along the beachfront at Toya Pakeh harbor that will be able to sort you out with some wheels when you arrive on the island.

Alternatively, most accommodations will help you to organize a scooter rental for the time you plan to spend on Nusa Penida Island.

You can expect to pay around 70,000 IDR per day for a Nusa Penida scooter rental with a full tank of gas.

NUSA PENIDA MAP

WHAT TO PACK FOR BALI

When visiting Bali, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

FINAL THOUGHTS – NUSA PENIDA FROM BALI

I hope you found this guide useful and if you have any questions, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can!

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TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

THANKS FOR READING

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