Of all the times that I ever had to wake up early for travel purposes, this has to be the most rewarding experience that will forever be engraved in my heart.
Nusa Penida is an island off mainland Bali and showcases some of the most amazing turquoise beaches and clifftop views. This impromptu excursion was literally booked the day before the trip as we were told by locals that this was the best spot for snorkelling and swimming with the manta rays. I reached out online to a company that’s based on the island, and from the word go, Wayan from Discover Nusa Penida was like a high-speed bullet train, and we had no choice but to get on or get left at the station.
I wish you, the reader could relive this entire experience with me, but I will try my best to give you a detailed review from start to finish.


The main way to get to Nusa Penida from mainland Bali is by boat or ferry via the ports of Sanur, Serangan, Kusamba or Padangbai. Tickets to the island can be booked at the ports but if you booking a package for a day tour or stay over then your tour guide should organise the ferry ride into the package.
It’s always best to go with a reputable tour company rather than an off-the-street vendor that will make big promises and disappointments, but at the same time, you don’t want a commercial experience. We used Discover Nusa Penida, and Wayan Sudiarta is the best in the business.
He has 20 years of experience in the tour industry and takes no more than six people on the boat at a time. He will ensure you have personal experience throughout the tour and he’s energy will keep you on a thrilling edge.The company does both the snorkel tour and island tour which can be done in a day trip
Discover Nusa Penida
I Wayan Sudiarta +62 857-3734-3308
admin@discovernusapenida.com

Our day started at 6am and were collected at our hotel and chauffeured to the port of Sanur where there was a ferry waiting to cross us over to the island.
The ferry ride is approximately 45 minutes and really rough, so catching a snooze is not an option but I do advise carrying nausea pills for the ride. Once you get closer to the island the glimpse of the crystal blue waters lights up your eyes and you think you are ready to go until you meet Wayan who is like an energiser bunny at the jetty waiting to collect you.
It’s then a short walk to the next jetty to hop onto the snorkel boat you are then briefed and handed your snorkelling equipment.
Once you are on the boat there’s no turning back and excuse the pun but you either have to swim or sink. The nerves kick in especially if it’s your first snorkelling experience but no snorkelling experience is the same so the nerves are there anyway.
The hype was all around finding the manta rays at Manta Bay, which is a well-known dive spot to swim with these magical creatures. You really don’t know what to expect when you first see them, I mean I’v seen them at the aquariums and on videos but nothing can prepare you for the up-close and personal encounter. I literally felt my eyes widen and took in a big gulp of water, pushed myself to the surface and coughed my lungs out. It was mesmerising.
Once I gained my breath I couldn’t get enough of watching them glide through the water. Beware though there is a lot of trash in the water from nearby islands that hinders the experience but still awesome nonetheless. They do encourage you to do your earthly duty and remove some of the trash while at sea.
Thereafter there were a few other snorkelling spots that we stopped at like Wall and Crystal Bay to see the array of tropical fish and the beauty of the colourful coral. The last dive spot there was the search for turtles, although we were not so lucky to see them that day.
The snorkelling part of the tour is approximately 3-4 hours, however, Wayan is nuts and will keep you on the boat longer if the sea creatures are out for a show.

Once we were back on land it was time for the second part of the tour which consisted of lunch and the land tour. At this point, we were starving, lunch was served at a rural-style roadside restaurant and we were served traditional Mie Goreng (Indonesian noodles) in a sticky, savoury sweet sauce, the noodles were tossed with chicken and vegetables and signature egg ribbons.
The land tour consisted of four beautiful landmarks. We arrived at a packed parking lot filled with tourists and tour guides and followed a walking tour on a rocky pathway that took us to three of the view viewpoints. I suggest wearing closed and comfortable shoes and as lots of walking and climbing is a must. The weather was unforgiving and the humidity is savage so make sure you have a cool towel and lots of water.
Kelingking Beach
A visit to this breathtaking beach with its towering limestone cliffs and crystal-clear turquoise waters is probably the most popular thing to do in Nusa Penida. The view from the top is great but it’s packed with tourists on any given day everyone trying to get the perfect backdrop picture. There is a partway to the bottom of the beach that can take some time but we gave it a skip as we were exhausted after all the swimming, eating, walking and climbing if you just doing a land tour or staying a while at the island then a visit down to the beach is a must.
Paluang Cliff
Both Paluang and Kelingking cliffs show you the same thing but with different angles and scenery. The cliff has some amazing views and is definitely underrated, make sure to walk around to see all the different angles but beware to steer clear of the edges as it’s a far way down and you know what curiosity can do.
Broken Beach
Broken Beach is an incredible little cove. The name obviously comes from the rock formation that creates an archway that allows water to flow in and out of the cove from the ocean. There is no way down to the cove but just taking it all in from the top is good enough. Snap pictures in your mind while you are there and when you get back to reality and need a brain vacay close your eyes and dream of these serene and breathtaking views and you will quickly feel relaxed and find that inner peace.
Angel Billabong
Angel Billabong is an enchanting natural wonder with unique rock formations creating a natural infinity pool that overlooks the vast Indian Ocean. The best time to visit Angel’s Billabong is during low tide when the rock pools are accessible for swimming. Ideally, aim for the early morning and by all means avoid swimming during high tide or the Indian Ocean will gulp you up without a blink.
It was time to head back to the harbour to catch a boat back to mainland. The trip back was a blurry memory because as rough as the ride was I snoozed all the way back. Overall this was a trip of a lifetime and even if we get to go back one day, the first will always hold special memories for me.
You can check out the full review video below