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In recent years Nusa Penida finally got some attention from mainstream tourism after being ignored for a surprisingly long time. For recent decades, the people of the island continued their traditional lifestyle despite being located right next to the every-busy and very touristy Bali. Ironically, this was exactly the reason, for the growth of Nusa Penida’s popularity. Many foreigners get anxious after some time from over-tourism in Bali and started to look for more authentic places like Lombok or a much smaller island, just across the Badung Strait – Nusa Penida.
Though you can find tons of information and books online claiming that in Nusa Penida you can still see how people lived in Bali before foreigners came – it is no longer exactly the truth. Nusa Penida is nowhere close to being shy of tourism. Most of the touristic landmarks are crowded with the usual souvenir or food shops, and toilet or shower services are offered widely as well, but the most annoying is the Instagram tourism installations, like watchtowers, heart-shaped benches, and sometimes swings.
Maybe it is just me, but the popularity of these things totally destroys the purpose of why we come to Nusa Penida in the first place. This is especially evident during the West Nusa Penida tour, which is surprising to me because the island has what most of Bali has already lost – authenticity. Unfortunately, it seems to be totally ignored in the shadow of the main highlights in Nusa Penida. I’m not saying that they are not worth visiting, but be sure to embrace the other parts of this majestic island on the road, not just a few picture-perfect spots on the island. One way or another, today, many tourists pour to the island for either Manta Ray snorkeling or West Nusa Penida tour.
Despite all the antics of this tour, the beauty of its highlights speaks out loudly for itself. If you single out just the beauty reflected in so many pictures and ignore the experience, the West Nusa Penida tour will be exactly what you expect it to be – the paradise island.
It is definitely the most iconic landmark of the whole Nusa Penida island. Much so, that T-Rex cape often found itself on the covers of trip promotions to the magical Bali. I imagine many travelers found themselves a bit tricked after learning that these majestic cliffs are on a different island and that they’ll have to drag their luggage through a sandy beach, just to get wet in the warm Indian Ocean, before embarking on a speedboat from Sanur to Nusa Penida… …but things people do these days to get legendary Instagram photos of their own is no longer surprising. Besides the breathtaking vistas of T-Rex Cape and the surrounding cliffs, you’ll find a queue to the best spot for the best shots. If you want simply to embrace the beautiful scenery, you can do so from a different angle as much as you want, but if you need a copy/paste shot that everyone else has, prepare to wait half an hour or more.
Descending to Kelingking Beach might also get crowded and difficult as most people don’t know how to behave in this kind of place. If you decide to take the climb, which is definitely not for everyone, I would suggest coming early for fewer people and when the tide is low. Otherwise, there might be not that much of a beach to descend to. If you decide to take a swim after a difficult descent, it is no problem as there are plenty of locals offering shower and WC services up the cliff. You just need to climb it.
Another popular spot for taking photos, not much different from anywhere else in this spectacular area but for the installments to get more beautiful shots for more likes on Instagram. A must-visit if you came here to boost your social profile but I would rather suggest walking peacefully along the cliffs and ignoring this exact spot.
One of the places to get wet on the Nusa Penida West Tour in case you are not going to Crystal Beach. The natural pools of Angel Billabong are an experience that you won’t be able to get back in Bali. It is supplied with water by waves of the Indian Ocean. It is very popular for taking beautiful solo pictures, therefore expect some queues here too. If the waves are high, you won’t even be going to be able to clearly see the pools. In that case, don’t try getting too close to Angel Billabong because any of the waves might take you to the bottom of the ocean with it and I doubt there’ll be people stupid enough to try saving you.
The sibling landmark of Angel Billabong is situated just minutes away on foot from each other. The Broken Beach is a beautiful rock formation consisting of a huge arc, connecting the ocean with a large washed-out “cataract”. Enjoy this unique landmark because it definitely has its days counted. The arc might not collapse any time soon but seeing the gigantic waves that can form on the coast of Nusa Penida, sadly, it is inevitable.
Overall, the area of Broken Beach is relatively stressless compared to most of the landmarks on the West Nusa Penida tour. It is like getting to a park after crossing several difficult streets. To my joy, there is a possibility to walk all the way around the beach, taking pictures at any angle possible. Broken Beach is not the only landmark you’ll get to enjoy. A beautiful vista of the cliffs, next to Manta Bay will be right in front of you. Many people take their moment to enjoy the dreamlike turquoise waters of the ocean, or the huge waves, depending on the weather. One way or another, I bet you’ll enjoy this area despite your expectations or the reason you came here for.
The most important unanswered question regarding Crystal Beach if it was named after the crystal clear turquoise waters in the bay or the crystal-shaped island in front of the beach. What is clear is that you are going to enjoy your time here and that Crystal Beach, in fact, is great for snorkeling. Much so, that you’ll notice countless ships anchored between the cliffs and the island for the people to see some colorful fishes on their Manta Ray Snorkeling Tour.
Due to the chaotic sea during my visit to Crystal Beach, I only had a chance to peek underwater two days later during my snorkeling tour but from what I’ve read and seen, it is possible to do snorkeling from the beach. Especially, if you brought your fins to Nusa Penida instead of a dress for each landmark on the island. The corals were not the best that I’ve seen in Bali or Nusa Penida but the diversity of life was the greatest that I’ve ever seen in my life.
Pro tip: it is possible to get your lunch or early dinner on Crystal Bay with the prices and quality being relatively good. This way you’ll also get a nicer place to relax by the picturesque Crystal Beach.
As you might tell I didn’t enjoy everything the West Nusa Penida tour has to offer. Of course, I could settle with the idea that Nusa Penida is what it seemed to be during the tour but the east tour experience was so much better, thus I can’t help myself but compare the two, and I have a separate article to help other people decide which one is better, east or west Nusa Penida? I’m afraid its days are counted as well, but for now, the east is not ruined by social media zombies as much as the west.
Given everything I said, the tour has its strengths as much as its weaknesses. If you are a snorkeling fan, you can pretend this tour to be a world-class underwater experience paired with some lovely spots for some sexy shots. Or if you care about getting perfect photos on a remote island, this is what you’ll get. For a price, but I guess you are used to queues at this time. The key is, with the correct expectations, you won’t be disappointed. Despite all annoyances, the West Nusa Penida tour is a must-visit for anyone who wishes for an adventure in Bali.
Yes, you can but it won’t be fun. Outside the major settlements, Nusa Penida’s infrastructure is decades behind compared to Bali. The roads are so narrow that it is almost impossible for two cars to pass each other, and you are lucky to find paved roads as most of the roads leading to the most popular landmarks on the island are off-road-type roads. They are rather uncomfortable in a jeep so challenging them with a scooter is a real pain. I’ve seen many couples arguing on the sides of such roads, on what was supposed to be a romantic getaway to a remote island.
In the past, it might have been difficult to visit Nusa Penida but today there are countless options to choose from. I know from experience that being a first-timer, it is hard to guess the right approach for you. The most popular approach remains day-tripping from Bali island but I would suggest booking accommodation for a night or two on Nusa Penida and traveling from there. This way you’ll support the locals and learn to appreciate the island more. As a bonus, you’ll be able to book West and East Nusa Penida tours with your hosts for a better price.
All options are curated by the time-proved tour platform – GetYourGuide. This company not only guarantees quality services but also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour date and a full refund if you are not satisfied with what you get!
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