It wasn’t a year of planning for this trip. But it felt like it, reconciling each member’s differing schedule. Finally, we agreed on a 5-day trip instead of 10 days crossing borders and sleeping in night buses. We booked a trip with AMAZING BALI TOURS. Mr. Nyoman, our designated driver for the trip was as amazing as the tours!
To seal the plan, we bought a roundtrip ticket: Manila-Bali, which costs us roughly about Php9,000 via AirAsia. With this airfare, about Php2000 was dedicated to the in-flight meals and checked-in baggage. I didn’t regret purchasing in-flight meals for one, I was too hungry during the flights, and also they are yummy and affordable.
Prebooked combo meal is at Php180 with coffee or water. The Santan Combo Hot Meals we tried are the following.
□ Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak
□ Green Curry Chicken
□ Uncle Chin’s Chicken Rice
□ Kung Pao Chicken with Rice
□ Chicken Lasagne
The plane ride was approximately 4 hours from Manila to Denpasar. You may find more details about our Bali trip in my other posts. But this article is all about the highlights of a day trip to Nusa Penida.
What are the places we visited in Nusa Penida?
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| Passengers in Sanur Port wading to the boat |
For some of you who don’t know Nusa Penida, it is among a group of exotic islands southwest of Bali. These islands are Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Penida, the largest of the three. “Nusa” means island in Balinese.
Nusa Penida is home to over 100 Bali Starlings, the second rarest bird in the world, also known as Rothschild’s Mynah, Bali Mynah and Jalak Bali – an emblem bird of Bali that is currently listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
In this big island, we visited four spots: Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach, Kelingking Secret Point, and Crystal Bay.
The trip to Nusa Penida could be exhausting for those who are not used to travelling for hours. The pick up from our hotel in Seminyak was at 7AM. We arrived at Sanur Port around 8 and waited a few minutes for the ferry to Nusa Penida. The ferry ride to the island was about an hour.
Some photos I snapped on the way to Sanur Port:
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| Bali locals on the road |
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| road signs in Denpasar |
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| On the way to Ngurah Rai road sign |
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| Sunrise in Denpasar road |
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| One ferry ticketing stall at Sanur Port |
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| took this photo while on the ferry leaving Sanur Port |
About the ferry and the ferry ride
□ The ferry arrives and leaves on time. Make sure you pay attention to the announcement made by the harbor/ port staff regarding the color coding and which ferry you should take. The driver would hand you the ID like what we wore on the photo below.
□ Chances are you’d get wet to your waist if you’re short like me as you wade to the boat. The boatman will assist you to get on the ferry.
□ There is no network signal on the way to the island so I failed to do a Facebook or IG live.
□ I got soaked because I chose to sit at the backside of the ferry (near the propeller) I could enjoy the view better than from the inside cabin but yeah I got soaked and I needed to cover my nose from time to time because of the smell of the gas(?).
□ If you don’t have a pre-booked tour to Nusa Penida, you can purchase ferry tickets online. A roundtrip ticket costs around 41 to 43 USD depending on the operator.
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| Us girls with mr. Nyoman Sunarta of Amazing Bali Tours |
1. Angel’s Billabong
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| Look just how clear the water at Angel’s
Billabong is! |
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Angel’s Billabong? A stagnant backwater.
Surprisingly, there is more to see here such as towering cliffs, impressive rock formations, incredible ocean bed, and even tree snags.
I highly recommend you try a refreshing dip in the lagoon in case you wouldn’t get a chance to swim in Kelingking or be too tired by the time you get to Crystal Bay.
The water in Angel’s Billabong is cool and crystal clear. The place is very instagrammable but you gotta be careful about slipping or getting some cuts from the rocks or getting swept away by tidal waves. The key is not to swim too near the edge of the sanctuary. Listen to your guide, they know best about your safety. I also need to mention that you should be very careful about taking photos by the cliffs.
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| Angel’s Billabong |
If you get thirsty or hungry, you can buy from some makeshift stalls nearby. Portable restrooms are also accessible for a fee of 5,000 IDR (around PHP 20). Looking back, I figured I may have spent a lot on using these toilets!
So, why is the place called Angel’s Billabong? Well, partly because it is a billabong or kind similar to a lagoon. Also, some locals believe that this is the place where the angels bathe when they come down to earth. Kind of hard to believe I know… but I’m guessing it’s also because of the shape of the lagoon when you look at it on an aerial view, like an angel or angel’s wings if you let your imagination run wild. Interesting huh?
More photos from the Angel’s Billabong:
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| Posing with the dried trees at Angel’s Billabong |
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| walking through the dried tree canopy at Angel’s Billabong |
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| In the frame: lady, me, quincy and some tourists busy taking photos |
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| tourists at angel’s billabong rock formation |
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| cliff at angel’s billabong |
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| if you take photos like this at angel’s billabong, please make sure you’re precautious |
2. Broken Beach
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| Just me at the Broken Beach |
Nusa Penida’s ‘broken beach’ is approximately 5-10 minute walk from Angel’s Billabong.
It’s a short and easy trek through the rugged limestone terrain on the west coast of the island. If you think you can swim in this place, you’d be disappointed. But that is not to say you can’t. It’s just that if you are coming from Angel’s Billabong, there is no way to go down its shores. I heard you can try renting a speedboat but I haven’t researched on where or how.
Broken Beach is said to be once a large cave that collapsed revealing the crashing blue waves from the ocean.
Here, you can marvel at familiar yet unique rock formations, watch the beauty of nature through the waves rolling in and out of the shore, feel the wind breeze rush against your skin, and practically capture everything through your lenses.
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| Us at the Broken Beach, Tour provided by AMAZING BALI TOURS |
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| the trail to the broken beach |
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| made it to Nusa Penida’s Broken Beach |
Lunch at Sebuluh Resto & Bar
After our visit to Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach, we stopped by at this charming restaurant called Sebuluh Resto & Bar for lunch. This restaurant is famous for tourists on package tours. I suspect they have arrangements with the agencies. But it wasn’t bad at all.
The place itself is clean and has an easy-going vibe. It has an air-conditioned indoor dining space. I and my friends opted to dine outdoors.
The service is quick. The price of food is reasonable.
I ordered Mie Goreng and iced tea which cost about Php150.00 (about 3USD) – this is included in our tour though.
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| We ate at Sebuluh Resto & Bar in Nusa Penida |
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| Stop by Sebuluh Bar & Restaurant for lunch |
Other food choices for you if you decide to dine here: Indonesian food with chicken like Ayam Kremes (fried chicken); grilled seafood; traditional Bali food favorites like nasi goreng, nasi campur; dimsums; desserts like sweet puding or banana split.
3. Kelingking Secret Point
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| Dinosaur shaped cliff of Kelingking Secret Point |
I feel like there is always a “secret point” on any island adventure. Don’t you agree? In Palawan or in Phuket, even in Siargao, you’d see there is a beach or a place that is so named, probably because they used to be or still are hidden.
If you wonder what that dinosaur-shaped cliff you’ve seen on Fb or IG is, that’s probably Karang Dawa or Manta Bay or more popularly known as the Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida.
People come here to take a selfie with the remarkably shaped cliff and also, go down the stair steps to the beach to enjoy the sand and the waters. Heads up though, if you really wanna swim here, you gotta be patient with the crowd and gotta look after the strong current.
Don’t miss the other views. At the top of the Kelingking Beach, you’re faced with the gorgeous coastline of Nusa Penida. Either side of the T-REX shaped rock formation is equally breathtaking, scenic cliffs.
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| this is a candid shot lol |
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| group photo at the kelingking landmark |
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| My bff who I actually think look like Mulan |
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| Another sea cliff in Kelingking Secret Point |
If it is in the season (for Manta Rays to visit), you can spot Manta Rays in Kelingking Beach. There are tours that offer snorkelling activities with these sea giants.
If by this time of the trip you feel hungry, thirsty, or feel the need to clean up, there are local shops, some coconut drinks to quench your thirst, seats/ benches you can use, as well as restrooms for a fee.
4. Crystal Bay
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| Coconut Trees in Crystal Bay Nusa Penida |
The last stop for Nusa Penida day trip is the Crystal Bay. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Kelingking Secret Point.
The entrance to Crystal Bay Area reminds me of Siargao because of a stand of Coconut Trees.
The roads here are better than the ones leading to Angel’s Billabong.
Crystal Bay is a known spot for travellers and locals who want to go diving. The water at Crystal Bay is crystal clear, hence the name. A few meters off its shore are reefs so you can definitely enjoy snorkelling with colorful fish here.
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| My yoga pose at Crystal Beach Nusa Penida |
Crystal Bay is also popular because of its remarkable rock formation. In fact, during our visit, there were a couple of locals and foreign people taking professional photos with it as background. I strongly believe the place is a go-to site for prenup photoshoot.
Of course, you need not be “engaged” to enjoy photographing with the place. Just like what I and my friends did, you just need to pose and snap a picture!
You can rent Beach Umbrellas with lounge chairs for IDR 50,000 (PHP 200.00).
Use of urinal or shower is IDR 20, 000 (PHP80).
Although I didn’t attempt to buy food or drinks here, you can actually buy from the makeshift stalls scattered nearby.
My impression for this beach is somehow like Puerto Galera. The sand is not powdery white. It’s actually greyish. But it’s clean. It’s great to take photos by the sand in the late afternoon.
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| Enjoying the sand and the sun in Crystal Beach Nusa Penida |
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| Dra. Rull! Haha My bff Lois has the perfect hourglass shaped body! |
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Transportation in Nusa Penida
Some travellers think the roads in Nusa Penida are awful because 80 percent is unpaved, bumpy road. If you’ve been to Boso-Boso, Antipolo, or some rural areas in the Philippines, you’d find it tolerable. But I must say, it could possibly wear you out. A pro tip is to keep yourself hydrated and stress-free.
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| road condition in Nusa Penida |
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| roads in Nusa penida |
Day Trip to Nusa Penida
Tour Provided by AMAZING BALI TOURS (I made a review for them on TRIP ADVISOR)
NUSA PENIDA DAY TOUR PRICE:
USD 70/ Person (Adult) minimum of 2 persons, you can get a discount if you travel in a group;
USD 60/ Person (5-10 years old)
Here’s what’s included in the package:
• Return hotel transfers to the port
• Return fast boat tickets (Sanur – Nusa Penida)
• Private car for tour in Nusa Penida
• English speaking driver
• All Entrance Tickets
• Set menu Indonesian food Lunch
• 21% Government Tax and Service
Points of attraction:
📍Angel Billabong
📍Broken Beach
📍Kelingking Secret Point
📍Crystal Bay
Check out more photos from our trip to NUSA PENIDA here.
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| Arriving at the port in Nusa Penida |
Parting Words
While you can plan a DIY trip to Nusa Penida, I strongly recommend you book a tour to avoid unnecessary stress. It is very convenient to be picked up and dropped off at every spot instead of finding the way on your own. Plus, there is not much difference in terms of the cost you’d spend unless you’re planning on getting around on a motorbike. That said, I highly recommend booking a full package tour from a reputable and reliable travel company like AMAZING BALI TOURS. Finally, don’t be put off by some comments from travellers who find the transportation around Nusa Penida awful and who don’t recommend a day tour to this island. As mentioned earlier, most of the roads around this island are unpaved, rocky or bumpy. Nevertheless, the anticipated fatigue or muscle pain due to hours of travel are all worth it!
Article originally posted in June 2018
