Which Nusa Island to Travel to?
The Nusa Islands, consisting of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan, are an increasingly popular destination for travelers seeking an escape from Bali’s more crowded tourist spots. Each island offers a unique experience and varying levels of accessibility, making them suitable for different types of travelers.
The islands lay between larger brothers Bali and Lombok in Indonesia. The Nusa Trio lays just off the southeast coast of Bali.
Nusa Ceningan is the smallest of the three, Nusa Lembongan is the middle-sized and the most developed one, while Nusa Penida is the largest, but also the most underdeveloped and wild.
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Nusa Ceningan
Nusa Lembongan
Situated between Bali and Nusa Ceningan, strikes a balance between the rugged wilderness of Nusa Penida and the tranquility of Nusa Ceningan. It is more developed than Nusa Ceningan, offering a wider range of accommodations, dining options, and activities. Visitors to Nusa Lembongan can enjoy surfing, diving, and exploring the island’s vibrant marine life. The island’s relaxed vibe and beautiful scenery make it a favorite among travelers looking for a peaceful getaway.
Nusa Penida
The largest and most rugged of the three islands. It is renowned for its dramatic cliffs, hidden beaches, and iconic landmarks such as Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Saren Cliff VIewpoint and Broken Beach. Nusa Penida offers a more adventurous and off-the-beaten-path experience, with challenging terrain and fewer tourist amenities compared to the other two islands.
Overall, Nusa Ceningan provides a serene and intimate experience, Nusa Penida offers rugged adventure and natural wonders, and Nusa Lembongan combines the best of both worlds with its development and natural beauty. Each island has its own distinct appeal, making the Nusa Islands a diverse and exciting destination for travelers.
Getting to Nusa Islands
Nusa Penida
Accessibility to Nusa Penida has improved in recent years, with multiple daily speedboats departing from Sanur, a popular port in Bali. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes. Once on the island, travelers can rent scooters or hire a driver, as public transportation is virtually non-existent. The island’s roads are improving but still can be challenging, especially for inexperienced scooter riders. Despite these challenges, the breathtaking sites like Kelingking Beach, Diamond Beach and Angel’s Billabong make the effort worthwhile.
We wrote an Ultimate Guide to Nusa Penida with detailed information about accessing the island, navigating around, where to stay and what to do.
The easiest and most common (therefore less room for error) way to get to Nusa islands is taking a speedboat from Bali to one of the islands.
It’s best to reserve your boat/ferry ticket ahead of time, reasons being:
1) chaos in Sanur Harbor,
2) multiple vendors selling different options for various prices, and
3) availability during peak season.
Cool thing about 12Go is also you can book multi-island tickets (for example we went Sanur – Lombok – Nusa Penida – Nusa Lembongan – Sanur).
HOW DOES 12GO WORK?
You find the desired transfers, all prices visible, and put them in the basket. Upon payout you pay one receipt only. You receive the final receipt on your email. You receive separate tickets on your email for each transfer, with all instructions and separate prices. Super easy to understand and their website is easy to navigate.
Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan is the most developed and tourist-friendly of the Nusa Islands. Regular speedboat services from Sanur connect Bali to Nusa Lembongan in about 30 minutes. The island’s infrastructure is more advanced compared to Nusa Penida, with well-maintained roads and a variety of accommodation and dining options. Visitors can easily explore the island by renting scooters, bicycles, or using local taxi services. Nusa Lembongan’s accessibility and amenities make it an ideal destination for families and travelers seeking a mix of adventure and comfort.
More details in an Ultimate Guide to Nusa Lembongan with detailed information about accessing the island, navigating around, where to stay and what to do.
Nusa Ceningan
Nusa Ceningan, the smallest of the three islands, is connected to Nusa Lembongan by the iconic Yellow Bridge. Accessibility to Nusa Ceningan is typically via Nusa Lembongan, as there are no direct boats from Bali. After reaching Nusa Lembongan, visitors can cross the Yellow Bridge on foot, by scooter, or by bicycle (the bridge cannot be crossed by car or van due to its size). The island is compact and easy to navigate, with a quieter and more laid-back atmosphere. Its small size and close proximity to Nusa Lembongan make it a perfect day trip destination or a peaceful retreat for those looking to escape the busier tourist areas.
Read the Ultimate Guide to Nusa Ceningan with detailed information about accessing the island, navigating around, where to stay and what to do.
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More Nusa Island Blog Posts
There are loads of adventurous things to do on Nusa Islands and we also wrote detailed guides for all of the epic things you can do there. You can explore more of our guides by clicking one of the links below.
