How to get to Nusa Penida from Bali

This article explains how to get to Nusa Penida island from Bali, which port to choose in Bali and in Nusa Penida, how to choose the best fast boat to go to Nusa Penida. You will also find all the time tables and the fair prices. It is part of a series of articles giving practical information about Nusa Penida island.

It takes about 30 minutes to go to Nusa Penida from Sanur and only 15 minutes from Kusamba, near Padang Bai. Some companies serve the port of Toyapakeh in Nusa Penida, others the port of Sampalan. Safety is well maintained on board and I’ve never heard of a major incident. Life jackets are indeed available on board all boats.

There used to be before the covid-19 coronavirus crisis up to 23 fastboat companies connecting Bali and Nusa Penida daily. And a choice between 40 fast boats to get to Nusa Penida every day. Now 8 fast boat companies are still operating from Sanur to Nusa Penida for a total of 12 boats every day. Rapid test is no longer required but you will need to wear a mask. The boats are not full, unless an important ceremony is held that day in Nusa Penida. There is a new fast boat terminal at Sanur. The construction of a jetty was decided, but not yet implemented. So you still have to board with short pants from the beach !

All the schedules from Bali to Nusa Penida

Schedule sorted out by departure time from Sanur

7.30 am with Maruti Express

7.30 am with Idola Express (to Sampalan)

8 am with Dwi Manunggal

8 am with Sanjaya

8.15 am with Ray Fish

8.30 am with Angel Billabong

8.30 am with The Angkal

2 pm with Angel Billabong Fast Cruise

3 pm with Maruti Express

4.30 pm with Angel Billabong Fast Cruise

Schedule sorted out by departure time from Nusa Penida

7 am with Maruti Express

7 am with Dwi Manunggal

7.30 am with Angel Billabong

7.30 am with Idola Express (from Sampalan)

1 pm with Angel Billabong

3.30 pm with Angel Billabong

4 pm with Sanjaya

4 pm with Ray Fish

4.30 pm with The Angkal

4.30 pm with Maruti Express

How to get to Nusa Penida : which port ?

The fast boat companies have different ports of departure in Bali and ports of arrival at Nusa Penida. This gives you a lot more flexibility. But it also complicates the choice of departure and arrival ports.

The 2 departure ports from Bali

• Sanur Beach (Jalan Hang Tuah) for most companies. There is no pontoon so you have to board from the beach. You drop your shoes in a bin on the beach and you have to board with water up to your knees. It is therefore better to be in short pants. Staff members bring your suitcases on board. You may be surprised to see them handling 3 to 4 suitcases on their head, but I have never seen or heard of a suitcase that has fallen into the water.
• Kusamba, near Padang Bai for some companies that serve Toyapakeh Harbour and Sampalan. Boarding is from a floating pontoon. The duration of the crossing is much shorter (15 minutes).

The 3 arrival ports at Nusa Penida

• Toyapakeh (Banjar Nyuh) for most companies.
• Sampalan and next door, Buyuk, for some companies.

How to choose the right port ?

You have to choose your company and your speed boat to go to Nusa Penida island according to where you come from in Bali and where you are going to in Nusa Penida. To make it short if you come from Amed, Sidemen the best is to pick up Kusamba as your departure port. But from Sanur, Seminyak, Cangu, choose Sanur Beach. From Ubud to Nusa Penida, both choices are possible.

If you are heading to Sampalan, Buyuk, Ped or Atuh Beach, choose Sampalan as your arrival port. For Ped, Toyapakeh, Crystal Bay, choose Toyapakeh Harbour.

Boarding is much easier in Kusamba because there are floating pontoons. From Sanur you will need to wear short pants because you board from the beach, in shallow water, sometimes in the middle of the waves.

What is the price for a Bali to Nusa Penida ticket?

The 8 fast boat companies that leave from Sanur Beach are located at the same location, at the end of Jalan Hangtuah, which can facilitate the price negotiation. The public price is for most of them IDR 150,000 but you should only pay IDR 100,000 if you have a Kitas for one way from Sanur. The public price used to be IDR 100,000 from Kusamba (unless the transfer to or from the port is included in the price).

Get to Nusa Penida : do you need to book ?

Be careful, it may be better to book your trip one day in advance, especially in when there is an important ceremony, because the boats may be full. Or there may be no boat for some special events like Nyepi Laut, Galungan or Kuningan. And of course Nypepi. It is better to arrive with a little advance because the boats leave usually on time. Or even a few minutes before the time …

 

What to do, where to go in Nusa Penida ?

There is a lot of things to do once you are on the island. It is a paradise for scuba divers, the landscapes are great and there is room for many adventures and tours ! Read also my guide about 15 favorite places to visit in Nusa Penida or go directly to my top 6 places :

• the iconic T-Rex Kelingking Beach
• the amazing Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong
• Crystal Bay, perfect spot for diving, snorkeling and awesome sunsets.
• Atuh Beach, a wonderful and still off the beaten track beach.
• Warnakali PADI 5 star dive resort, to stay in a brand new boutique resort and/or dive with a PADI 5 star IDC.
• Amok sunset bar and restaurant, a cool place to see the sunset with a cocktail during happy hour.

The boat schedules allow you to have a one day tour in Nusa Penida, but I don’t recommend it. You’ll spend most of the day on the road, along with many people, running from one viewpoint to the other. Stay at least one night in one of the many hotels on the island, enjoy a sunset on site. And go snorkeling or diving with the manta rays at Manta Point or swimming at Crystal Bay the next morning !

 

How to get from Nusa Penida to Gili Islands?

Several fast boat companies also offer connections to or from Gili Islands. In particular the company Eka Jaya. Before the coronavirus crisis there were 3 departures per day. Tickets booking is at the small port of Toyapakeh, along the beach. A small boat will take you to a platform located between the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. From there a fast boat will take you to Gili Trawangan. Directly if you’re lucky in about two hours. Or with a stop at Padang Bai if you are less.

The Golden Queen and BlueWater Express companies also provide the connection but I have never tried them.

Blue Water also liaises with Lombok.

Other ways to get to Nusa Penida

It is also possible to reach Nusa Penida by ferry from Padang Bai, especially if you want to travel with your scooter (but it is normally easy to rent a scooter in Nusa Penida for a price slightly higher than in Bali).

In the 1950s the designer Bob de Moor created a cartoon series dedicated to the adventurer Barelli. The arrival on the island was then sailing. The ferry should go a little faster … or not, because it leaves often with a lot of delay …

There are also public and private boat connections from Nusa Lembongan. The price is usually 60 000 IDR per person for a one way ticket.