Bali · city guide
Nusa Penida: the rugged island off Bali's coast
The T-Rex cliff over Kelingking, bumpy roads, and the day trip from Ubud I'd never skip.
Nusa Penida is the big day out from Ubud, and it's the one I'd never tell you to skip. It's a rugged little island off Bali's southeast coast, reached by a fast boat from Sanur, and it's where you stand above Kelingking beach looking at that T-Rex-shaped cliff dropping into impossibly blue water. The roads across the island are rough, so I had a guide drive me for the day, and it made the whole thing easy. You can do it as a long day trip from Ubud the way I did, or stay a night to slow it down. Here's exactly how I'd spend it.
- The rugged island day trip from Bali, fast boat from Sanur
- Kelingking, Angel's Billabong, Broken Beach & Crystal Bay
- Roads are rough, so hire a driver or guide for the day
Best things to do
Stand above Kelingking beach
The T-Rex cliff everyone comes for, with the beach far below and the bluest water I saw all trip. The climb down is steep and informal, so go slow in proper shoes and don't push it in the midday heat; the viewpoint alone is worth the trip.
Angel's Billabong & Broken Beach
A natural infinity pool carved into the rocks and a round cliff-cove right beside it, an easy walk apart on the same stop. Only swim in the billabong when the sea is calm; the currents are no joke.
Snorkel at Crystal Bay
The calmest, clearest water on the island and the easiest swim, with a real chance of seeing the big mola mola if you're lucky with the season. Go in the morning before the boats arrive.
Drive the island with a guide
The roads are rough and the sights are spread out, so a driver for the day links Kelingking, Broken Beach and Crystal Bay without you wrestling a map in the heat. Honestly the move that makes the whole day work.
Where to stay
Getting there & around
From Ubud it's about an hour by car down to Sanur harbour, so prebook a driver or grab a Grab, then it's a 30 to 45 minute fast boat across to Nusa Penida; boats run through the morning and it's worth booking the early one. As a foot passenger the public fast boat is the cheap way over; with a driver they'll drop you at Sanur and you arrange your island guide on the other side. On the island the roads are rough and the sights are spread out, so the easiest thing by far is to hire a driver or guide for the day. Scooters are cheap but the steep, broken roads catch a lot of people out, so only ride if you're genuinely confident.
Eat & drink
- A warung near Toya Pakeh — The cheap, honest plates by the harbour, nasi campur and a fresh juice for next to nothing while you wait on the boat. Ask your driver for their favourite.
- A clifftop cafe above Kelingking — A coconut or a coffee with that T-Rex cliff right in front of you; the view does most of the work, so pause here before the climb.
Day trips
On the map
Book this trip
A few of these earn me a small cut at no extra cost to you — only ever things I'd actually book.
Frequently asked
Can I do Nusa Penida as a day trip from Ubud?
Yes, that's exactly how I did it. It's about an hour to Sanur harbour, then a 30 to 45 minute fast boat across, and a guide drives you to Kelingking, Broken Beach and Crystal Bay. It's a long day, so start early; stay a night if you'd rather slow it right down.
Do I need a guide or driver on Nusa Penida?
I'd really recommend one. The roads are rough and the sights are spread out across the island, so having a driver for the day made it so much easier than wrestling a scooter in the heat, and it's genuinely cheap split across a car.