Nusa Lembongan, Penida, Ceningan Island Guide

The stunning Nusa Islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan are a must see destination for any traveler visiting Bali, Indonesia. Just a hop and skip away from mainland Bali, the Nusa Islands offer a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of busy Bali locations like Kuta and Seminyak.

Take a step back in time to Bali 20 years ago, with less development and tourists. Add amazingly beautiful beaches, great surf, luxurious villas and good food and it’s easy to see why many more tourists are choosing Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan as their next destination. But hurry, you don’t want to wait too long and miss out on the raw beauty of these islands. This ultimate Nusa Islands travel guide takes you through all the best places to eat, stay and visit on the islands, as well as how to get there and how to get around.

How to Get to the Nusa Islands

Getting to Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida can be done on individual trips, or you can go out to one of the islands and then easily island hop between all three. There are basically two ways to get to the Nusa Islands. You can organize your own transport, negotiating prices along the way. Or you can book with one of the many Nusa island tour agencies that will organize it for you.

If you want to save money, the cheaper option is to organize your own transport to the islands. Most fast speed boats leave from the docks at Sanur, with a few public boats leaving from Padang Bai. Note that the public boats will be a lot cheaper, but take much longer and be a bit more of a rocky ride. We decided on the cheaper option, so we rode our scooter from Canggu to Sanur. The ride to Sanur takes about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic. The route keeps you on main highways, so you’ll be cruising along without too much stop and start.

 

Nusa Lembongan Penida Ceningan Island Guide

 

Once you arrive in Sanur, make your way down to the dock. Ask any local for the boats to Lembongan or Penida and they’ll know how to direct you. You can park your scooter in a parking lot near the dock for 10,000 (75c USD). It’s a secure lot and there’s somewhere there watching the bikes throughout the day. We felt perfectly comfortable leaving our bike there for 4 days while we went exploring.

If organizing is not your thing, and you don’t mind paying a little extra to have someone arrange it for you, there are a ton of tour agencies that will help you book a Nusa islands trip. You can book through a company that will provide transport from your Bali hotel to Sanur, the boat ride over to the island, a transfer to your hotel once you arrive, as well as the return trip. This is definitely the easiest option if you want everything pre-arranged for you.

Be aware that it’s possible the driver will be late to pick you up from your hotel, which could put you on a later boat to the island. For Nusa Lembongan this option costs around 500,000 to 650,000 rupiah, depending on the company you book with and where you’re coming from.

Nusa Lembongan

This sleepy little island is on the rise with tourists, as people flock to get a slice of authentic Bali lifestyle without the hordes of crowds, tattoo shops on every second corner and people trying to sell you knockoff Ray-Ban sunglasses. You can already see its growing popularity with the amount of new shops being constructed around the island. It’s unfortunate, but it won’t be long before this transitions into a new must-visit spot for tourists. So get in while you can!

Nusa Lembongan Video – What to Do and How to Get There

Nusa Lembongan from Bali

Located off the southeast coast of Bali, Nusa Lembongan island is just a short, 25 minute speedboat away from the town of Sanur. There are tons of boat companies lined up at the top of the beach, all ready for your business.

For the budget travelers, there are a handful of cheaper options with local boats that cost around 60,000 to 100,000 rupiah and take anywhere from 1 to 1 ½ hours. Personally, I get seasick, so taking a slow boat was not gonna happen. Instead, we haggled with the boat operators until we got one down to 300,000 per person return. The operator we ended up going with was called Sunrise and we caught the 11:30 AM boat, but they had multiple departures and returns daily.

 

Nusa Lembongan things to do

 

While at the dock we noticed many of the boats seemed to be leaving around the same time (11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, etc.). So one option is to arrive right before the boats leave and try to haggle down the price as a last minute add on. If they’re not sold out (which some of them are), they’ll most likely give you a reasonable price just to fill empty seats. We arrived right before a boat was taking off and found the negotiation process a lot more swift!

On the way back, they had 3 times available- 10:30, 12:30 and 4:30, but the 12:30 was sold out already. The ride itself is not too choppy, but this will depend completely on the weather. I get seasick and I didn’t really have a problem on the speedboat. One thing to note is that there is no physical dock that the boats leave from. Instead, you need to wade about shin-deep into the water. The water is pretty calm, so it’s not difficult, but something you should be aware of.

Once you arrive on Nusa Lembongan island you’ll be dropped off at the main center of town. We recommend renting a scooter to get around the island. Starting price for a scooter is usually 70,000 per day, but speak to your guesthouse about a discount. We rented from Chillhouse for 50,000/ day because we were staying for a few days. They come with a full tank of gas, which we didn’t even use after 2 full days of scooting around. The roads around Lembongan are mostly paved so it’s not too sketchy to drive around.

NOTE: It’s interesting to note that the different companies seem to advertise to different demographics. Sunrise was almost entirely filled with Chinese travelers, while Scoot was filled with younger backpackers. If you’re traveling solo and looking to meet someone to explore with, this information might help.

 

how to get to Nusa Lembongan from Bali

 

Things to Do in Nusa Lembongan

For a small destination, the island of Nusa Lembongan offers lots of great attractions to explore. Kick back and relax on the beach or hit the waves and catch yourself some world class waves. Leisurely cruise through the mangrove forest or marvel at the jagged cliff face and natural rock formations that have been carved out of the waves.

 

Devil’s Tear

An easy drive from the main area in Lembongan and an easy first spot to visit when arriving. It’s basically a jagged cliffline overlooking the water. When a big set of waves come in, the water will rush up and cause a huge ocean spray that pumps out of the rocks. Not only is it a pretty cool sight to see the power of the ocean, but the water is incredibly blue! Be careful walking around the coastline here. It’s not uncommon for people to slip or for a huge wave to come and sweep you off. We definitely wouldn’t recommend swimming here, although people mo cliff jump when the waves are calm. The current below the cliffs is strong and could easily bash you against the rock wall if its rough. This is a much better spot for grabbing an epic Instagram shot!

 

Nusa Lembongan island Devils Tear

 

Mangrove Forest

There is a fairly big Mangrove forest on Lembongan where rivers are formed by the large trees connecting overhead. Not only are the mangroves a tourist attraction bringing in money for the local people, but they also serve an important role for the environment by protecting the coastline from erosion and natural disasters. You can get a guided boat tour or take out a kayak or stand up paddle board on your own. Prices are generally negotiable, with a stand up paddle board being anywhere from 100-150K IDR.

 

Mushroom Beach

One of the best things about traveling to the Nusa islands is visiting their gorgeous beaches! The beaches on Bali leave something to be desired. Nusa Lembongan beaches, on the other hand, have the iconic white sand beaches of your tropical dreams. Mushroom Beach is a bit on the touristy side, but it’s definitely worth checking out on Nusa Lembongan. There are a lot of boats coming and going from here, so it’s not the best for swimming. There are also lots of restaurants and bars down by the water if you’d like to grab a beachfront meal.

 

Nusa Lembongan Surf

If you’re keen for a surf, Nusa Lembongan has plenty of amazing surf spots around the island. These include Playgrounds, Shipwrecks, Razors and Lacerations. The names of some of these spots give you an idea of the obstacles that may await you in the surf. If you’re a beginner, be careful of shallow reef breaks that can cut you up. Ask the locals what’s best for your surf level and what waves are working best.

 

Kelingking Beach Nusa Penida

 

Nusa Lembongan Accommodation

There’s no shortage of accommodation on Nusa Lembongan. For us, we enjoyed staying on Lembongan because it was easy to get to the other islands and it is developed enough that you have access to everything. As we mentioned earlier, there was a lot of construction going on throughout the island when we were there, so this place is probably going to blow up in the next couple of years. For now it’s still a relatively sleepy place, with a chilled out island vibe.

 

Chillhouse Lembongan

While visiting Nusa Lembongan we stayed at the Chillhouse Lembongan, just a short walk from where the boats drop you off. It’s a small guesthouse with a handful of rooms. The owner Gede and his family are incredibly hospitable. During our stay there we felt welcomed into their family. They taught us some Indonesian words, told us about the local culture and shared some local snacks with us. They are also a wealth of information for recommendations. We loved Chillhouse because we could walk to restaurants and shops.

 

The Jingga Villas

If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, these Nusa Lembongan villas are beautifully decorated and just 10 meters from Seaweed Beach. Yep, just a one minute walk to the sand! Doesn’t get much better than that! Each of the Jingaa Villas villa has a traditional Balinese thatched hut, but is still air conditioned and comes with a refrigerator and a kettle. The property is very clean with a lovely pool and plenty of places to sit and relax after a long day of exploring. It’s a family owned hotel with super friendly staff. There is a restaurant and bar on site serving up delicious Indonesian food. You can grab a double room here for about $45/ night.

 

Nusa Lebongan villas and hotels
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221 Homestay

Located in the Mushroom Bay area of Lembongang, 221 Homestay is another great choice if you’re on a budget. Each room is its own stand alone hut. They’re traditionally decorated and very clean. You’re greeted with a juice upon arrival, which is an extra little treat! The grounds are very quiet, but just a short motorbike ride away from all the action of Nusa Lembongang. The Deluxe double rooms have a balcony with a garden view and some rates include a beautiful free breakfast. Double rooms start at $18/night.

 

Nusa Lembongan accommodation
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Twin Island Villas

If you’re planning on doing some diving in Nusa Lembongang, Twin Island Villas is the spot for you. With rooms from $33/night, with balconies overlooking the famous Yellow Bridge and Nusa Ceningan. The staff can even bring breakfast straight to your balcony. The plunge pool bungalow even has its own private mini-pool! Nestled amongst the trees, the hotel is extremely peaceful. If you’re a diver, the hotel has its own dive shop, so you can arrange everything easily through them!

 

If you’re not looking to stay on the island you could easily do a Nusa Lembongan day trip and see all of the attractions in one day. However, we’d generally recommend staying on the island a little longer so you can really experience it.

 

Nusa Lembongan from Bali

 

Nusa Lembongan Restaurants

There are plenty of places to eat in Nusa Lembongan, from cheap warungs to upscale tourist restaurants. Here’s a couple of our top suggestions.

 

WBC Warung

A simple warung just 50 meters from Chillhouse. This is a good cheap option with all the standard Indonesian classics. Perfect spot for a feed just after you’ve gotten off the boat.

 

Pandok Baruna Warung

This place was so good we ended up eating there twice. A bit more expensive than a local warung, but the food is amazing and well worth it. We split a few fish dishes and loved every one of them. The crowd favorite was the Ikan Goreing, a fried fish fillet in a beautiful rich tomato sauce. Yum!

 

Mama Mia Bar & Grill / TAWE Warung

These two spots are right next to each other and both overlook the ocean. They both have great seating to watch a gorgeous sunset drop over the west side of the island. We didn’t eat at either of these spots, so we can’t comment on the food. But they’re both a great place for a drink!

 

Sunset Villa

A bit of a mission to find, but not far if you’re visiting Devil’s Tear. This restaurant is a great spot to grab a beer and watch an epic sunset. Even though it poured with rain while we were there, the sunset in the distance was amazing and we happily sat in the rain just to continue watcing it.

 

B’fresh Juice Bar

A crowd favorite, this is a good spot to fill up on a good breakfast before exploring for the day. Prices are reasonable and they have everything from smoothie bowls to delicious banana pancakes, and light lunches as well.

Nusa Penida

The island of Nusa Penida is an ‘off-the-beaten-track’ travelers delight! This is what adventuring is all about. Sketchy gravel roads twisting and turning throughout the island, pop you out at hidden beaches and marvelously jagged cliff lines.

 

Nusa Penida Kelingking Beach

 

How to Get to Nusa Peninda

There are two main ways that you can get to Nusa Penida Bali. The first it to go there directly from Sanur. As mentioned in the Nusa Lembongan section, there are multiple boat companies that leave from Sanur and head towards Nusa Penida. There are both public and private. There are also cheaper public boats that leave from Padang Bai to Nusa Penida. They cost as cheap as 20K IDR per person, but are quite slow and not advised if you get seasick. Like Nusa Lembongan, you can organize one-way or return trips on your own, or go through a tour agency and have them book everything for you.

The second way to get to Nusa Penida is to island hop from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida. From Nusa Lembongan you can take a small boat that leaves near the Yellow Bridge. While we were staying on Nusa Lembongan we drove our scooters to the far eastern side on the island near the Yellow Bridge. You can also take one of the transport vans that runs loops around the island, but we found it easier to drive a scooter and park there for the day.

From the Yellow Bridge you’ll need to negotiate a trip with one of the small speed boat drivers. We paid 100K each for a return trip to Nusa Penida, or 50K each way. We heard you can charter your own boat for around 200K, so if you’ve got 4 people or more that could be the most economical way to get to Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan. The trip takes 20mins and is an easy ride across the channel that separates Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida. Once you get to Nusa Penida you can work out with the driver when you want to go back. Our captain advised us that the last boat likes to leave around 5pm, so unless you plan to stay on the island you need to factor that into your Nusa Penida day trip.

 

Nusa islands travel guide

 

Things to Do on Nusa Penida

Once you arrive on Nusa Penida, like many places around Bali, you’ll be able to rent a scooter or driver to get around. You could also organize a Nusa Penida tour, but we always recommend taking your own time to explore a new area. Renting a scooter on Nusa Penida is the easiest way to get around the island, with the most freedom to explore.

Do be warned, if you’re pretty new to scootering, some of the roads are unpaved and a little sketchy. We didn’t have any troubles, but some beginners on the road found the loose gravel and hill combination a little hairy. When in doubt, just drive slow, there’s no rush.

 

Renting a Scooter on Nusa Penida

After catching the short boat across from Nusa Lembongan we landed in Toyapakeh and rented our scooter for 70,000 per day with a full tank of gas and two helmets. It’s possible you’ll get it for 10K cheaper if you’re prepared to haggle, or want it for more than a day trip. But if you’re only there for a day you don’t have much negotiating ability.

Make sure you get your driver to check the tire pressure, and give the scooter a drive to test the breaks. With its steep hills and loose gravel, Nusa Penida is not a place you want to be with a defunct bike. If you plan on carrying a day bag around the island, ask for a scooter with a big storage compartment under the seat. It’s super useful.

 

Crystal Bay

Our first stop in Nusa Penida was Crystal Bay. It’s not far from where you land on the boat. It’s a bay with a big wide beach overlooking the ocean. Not far off the shore is a tall rocky island with a temple on it. You can rent a boat here to take you around the bay or snorkel in the water. Unfortunately we’ve heard that the temple is closed to tourists.

 

Angles Billabong Nusa Penida

 

Angel Billabong

Angel Billabong is… you guessed it, a billabong! Don’t know what a billabong is? Neither did we! Apparently it’s a pool water that is created when another body of water overflows into it. In this case, large waves from the ocean fill an otherwise calm pool of water. You can actually take steps down and swim in the billabong. Don’t go too far toward the ocean though, a big wave can come and knock you down. They even have a ‘lifeguard’ (most likely a man that will take pictures of you with his phone) on duty to whistle if you get too close.

 

Broken Beach

Broken Beach is a viewpoint just a short walk from Angel Billabong. Erosion to the cliff face has created an arch that opens to an alcove of water. You can’t actually get down to the beach unless you’re willing to make a hell of a jump (KIDDING!) But it’s an epic view and a great spot for photos. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of manta rays swimming in the ocean below. Word of warning- be careful on the cliffs overlooking the beaches, there is erosion on the rocks, so be careful not to slip.

 

Nusa Penida Broken Beach

 

Kelingking Beach

If you’ve done any research at all on Nusa Penida, you know that this the spot you cannot miss. This viewpoint offers a stunning view with a peninsula jutting out into the water. Many people think the peninsula is in the shape of a T-rex, but personally we think looked more like a whale. You can get some beautiful photos overlooking the green of the rocks and the beautiful blue water below. There’s no fence here so please be careful!

This place gets pretty busy, so we recommend coming early in the morning before the hordes of tourists arrive. If you’re feeling adventurous you can take the hike down to the beach. There is a big warning sign at the top of the hike that says you’ll be going down at your own risk. Full disclosure, the hike is a bit sketchy, but if you’re game it’s totally manageable. There are steep steps carved out of rock and lined with bamboo. While there’s no official fence, someone has put up a bamboo and rope railing on either side.

These aren’t secure, so test any piece of bamboo before you lean on it. There are two parts to the hike. The first part is easier than the second. It’s still steep and you have to be careful, but it’s definitely doable. The first part of the hike ends at a landing that is a great view point to the beach below. If you’re really up for an adventure, the second half of the hike has parts that are nearly vertical. You’ll be relying on the bamboo rails to get you down.

 

Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan

 

It’s definitely a strain on the thighs and I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re deathly afraid of hikes. But, if you can handle a tough hike, it’s absolutely worth the trip down. The beach is gorgeous, with white sand and beautiful water. It would great if the water down below was calm, so you could float leisurely after the strenuous journey. Unfortunately, mother nature has other plans. The waves are pretty rough and I got knocked on my butt a couple of times and went skidding across the sand. If you’re not a strong swimmer, it’s best to stay on the shore.

After a long hike and a tiring swim, you have something else to look forward to, the hike back up! Just as tough as the hike down, but using a whole different set of muscle groups. You’ll feel like you’re rock climbing for some of it, but most of it is just steep rock stairs. Hell, we even saw a few ambitious people do it in flip flops. If you’re fairly fit we recommend doing the whole hike. Just be sure to pack water, because the height, sun and strain can make you feel dizzy. There is a woman with a little stand on the beach, selling various items and beer, so grab a water bottle if you’re out. Take your time, take breaks and let people pass, because it’s a pretty narrow path.

Warning: In this post I’ve repeatedly recommended that tourists to take caution. At the risk of sounding like a nagging mom, you really do have to be careful. A lot of these sights, as gorgeous as they are, include sheer cliff drops. The day we visited Kelingking a young Russian woman tragically fell off a nearby cliff and died. She lost control of her motorbike on a narrow gravel path and fell over 200 meters into the water. This incident is incredibly tragic and an important reminder that you have to be very cautious in areas like this. Please be careful! No Instagram picture or crazy adventure is worth your life.

 

Nusa Penida Accommodation

Being the bigger Nusa island it makes sense that Nusa Penida island has the most options for accommodation, but they’re also the most spread out. The island itself is a series of paved and unpaved roads, some being quite difficult to navigate via scooter. A lot of the great attractions are on the northern point of the island, so most of the accommodation is centred around the area of Tojapakeh. This also makes it easy to do Nusa Penida day trips from that area if you’re short of time and can’t get around the whole island.

 

Nusa Garden Bungalow

For under $10 a night, the Nusa Garden Bungalow is a budget travelers delight! They have room options for solo travelers, couples and larger groups or families. There is a catch at this amazing price though, most of the rooms don’t come with air conditioning. If you’re willing to sweat it out for the price there is a fan and a mosquito net, so you can open up some windows. Otherwise there are limited rooms with A/C, but it’ll cost you a little more at $20-$25 a night.

 

cheapest Nusa Lembongan villa
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Ananta Bungalow

This brilliantly located set of Nusa Penida bungalows is only a quick 2min drive to the iconic Crystal Bay. With a thatched roof, private entrance and terrace area, each bungalow is it’s own little self-contained slice of Balinese life on this amazing island. Wifi, A/C, blackout curtains and even a clothes dryer make the Ananta Bungalows a perfect spot to stay while exploring the north western side of Nusa Penida island. Price range from $25-$30 a room, so it’s in the low-mid range of prices, but well worth the extra couple of bucks purely based on location and how pretty the bungalows are.

 

best Nusa Penida bungalows
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Rumah Pohon Tree House

Located on the far side of Nusa Penida, this hidden gem is a little harder to get to, but check out those views! Wooden, thatched roof bungalows sit perched on top of the trees and offer stunning views of the ocean from your door. Live out your inner child with these beautifully designed trees houses. There’s no wifi or A/C, but you do get one of the best views in all of Nusa Penida! At just $30-$40 a night, Rumah Pohon Tree House is one place you can’t miss if you’ve got the time to explore.

 

best Nusa Penida accommodation
Stay amongst the trees in this gem. Click the photo to book!

 

Bukit Sunrise Nusa

Open the door to your balcony and walk out to a breathtaking view of Nusa Penida’s northeastern coastline. Or better still, draw the curtains and lay in bed and watch the deep blue waters roll in from on top of your cliffside view. As the name suggests at Bukit Sunrise Nusa, you’ll be facing the sunrise in the morning, so this is a great spot for early risers and those wanting to start the day right. Simple rooms with A/C and wifi, but well priced considering the amazing view. It’s a little out of the way if you want to visit Kelingking beach, but still only an hour long drive.

 

Nusa Penida Restaurants

A lot of the restaurants on Nusa Penida, like the accommodation, are focussed on the northern side of the island. There isn’t a lot to choice when you’re exploring the western side and checking out places like Kelingking Beach, but there are a lot of local warungs that you can grab a some delicious Indonesian food from. All along the roads we saw random warungs pop up, especially at the attractions. For example, at the carpark area on Kelingking Beach there were at least half a dozen to choose from that are cheap and probably all taste like your standard Indonesian food.

 

Penida Colada

Well priced local bar that also serves up smoothies and food. The vibe and atmosphere are one of the main reasons to visit, as well as the view and two for one happy hour that runs from 4pm-7pm. You can get two cocktails for 70K IDR, and the dragonfruit daiquiri comes highly recommended. The reviews speak for themselves, with many people saying they visited this place numerous times on a short visit to Nusa Penida

 

Warung Jungle

A great local warung that serves up delicious food and is well priced. The location is good because it’s on the way to a lot of the north western attractions. Like many of the warungs you’ll find standard Indonesian classics like Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng. There’s also grilled squid and a drink speciality called Jungle Tea that is delicious.

Nusa Ceningan

Just a stones throw away from Nusa Lembongan is the tiny island of Nusa Ceningan. You probably couldn’t literally throw a stone across the bridge, but you could get close in two. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Nusa Ceningan.

 

Traveling to Nusa Ceningan

Getting to Nusa Ceningan is pretty easy. It’s only a small island, so chances are you’ll be arriving from either Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan. From Nusa Lembongan there is a conveniently located Nusa Ceningan bridge on the far eastern side that connects the two islands together. Wide enough to scooter over, or walk, you can get across to the island within a minute. It’s quite a small island, so if you’re staying on Nusa Lembongan you can easily get across for a Nusa Ceningan day trip.

From Nusa Penida our best recommendation would be to take a boat to Nusa Lembongan. Boats arrive at a small dock in front of the the Yellow Bridge. From there you can walk across or organize a scooter rental. Simple!

 

Nusa Penida Bali

 

Things to Do in Nusa Ceningan

It might only be a small island, but there’s still some really fun things to do on Nusa Ceningan. If you’re staying on Nusa Lembongan you can come across for a day trip, or take your time really exploring slowly while staying on the island.

 

Blue Lagoon

This cove has some of the brightest water you’ll see in Indonesia. It is vibrantly blue! Unless you’re brave enough to cliff jump into the water, there’s not much to do here except take photos. If you do want to jump (at your own risk!), you’ll have to walk over to the point where the water is deeper. Be careful as the swell here can get pretty big and could possibly push you up against the rocks or pull you out to sea.

 

Secret Beach

While nothing is really that secret anymore, especially on the tiny island of Nusa Ceningan, Secret Beach is a nice tucked away spot for those looking to cool off in the ocean.

 

Surfing at Secret Point

While the Nusa Lembongan surf might be where it’s at, Nusa Ceningan has a very nice little left-hand point break at Secret Point if you’re staying on the island and chasing a wave. An easy paddle out from the beach, Secret Point can vary in size, but doesn’t seem to get as crowded as some of the surf spots on Nusa Lembongan.

 

Nusa Ceningan Blue Lagoon

 

Nusa Ceningan Accommodation

For a small island, you have a surprising amount of Nusa Ceningan hotels, villas and guesthouses to choose from. Ranging in price from $10USD a night, right up to $150USD, there is something to appease everyone’s budget, without breaking the bank.

 

Yellow Bridge Homestay

Named after the iconic Yellow Bridge that connects Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Ceningan, you won’t find a nicer hotel on Nusa Ceningan for the price. For only $15USD a night you get a stunningly decorated Balinese homestay, with spacious A/C rooms, wifi, social areas, a pool, daily housekeeping and room service. The only problem, it’s constantly booked out! Everyone wants to stay at the Yellow Bridge Homestay, and it’s not hard to see why. Be sure to book ahead of time through Agoda to get the best deals.

 

Nusa Ceningan accommodation
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The Ocean Sunset Villa Ceningan

This Nusa Ceningan villa couldn’t be located in a better position! And at just $30-$60 a night (depending on the room and deals at Agoda), the views are well worth the extra cost for a couple of nights if you’re ‘splashing out’. As the name states, this villa gets a perfect view of the sunset and is also located right next to the iconic Blue Lagoon. A stone’s throw away from the beach if you want to take a dip in the ocean, or lounge around in the infinity pool that overlooks the beach. A/C, wifi, free breakfast, kids under 12 stay for free and all the usual features, plus a shuttle service to help you get around the island if you’re not game to ride a scooter. Book the Ocean Sunset Villa Ceningan ahead of time on Agoda to find the best deals.

 

Nusa Ceningan villas and hotels
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Secret Point Huts Bungalow

This gem of a spot is absolutely perfect for the surfers out there. Located at Secret Point surf spot, which isn’t as secret as the name alludes to, you can literally check the waves from your bungalow and be in the water within a minute. Secret Point Huts Bungalow rooms range in price from $40 to $100 a night, but if you look last minute you can get some incredible deals for only $20 a night! There’s a really beautiful infinity pool that overlooks the water and ice cold Bintangs for those hot afternoons. We didn’t stay here, but we did knock back a few beers in the pool one afternoon while watching the surfers get those left-hand point breaks.

 

accommodation on Nusa Ceningan
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The Dafish Accommodation Bar and Cafe

It mightn’t be right on the beach, but don’t let that dissuade you from checking out this spot. If you’re looking for a little more space, then this might be the place for you. Book a deluxe cottage or two bedroom bungalow and really spread out and make the place feel like home. And when we say it’s not close to the beach, I mean it’ll take you about a few minutes to walk to, making that ocean dip even more enjoyable. The pool and the decor are the especially beautiful highlights of this place, and once again you can get up to 75% off the asking price if you book last minute and there is availability. Check out the reviews at The Dafish Accomodation Bar and Cafe and you’ll know why its a favorite!

 

best Nusa Ceningan hotels
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Nusa Ceningan Restaurants

There mightn’t be as many places to eat on Nusa Ceningan, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some great selections to choose from. Here are a couple of our best picks.

 

Sea Breeze Ceningan Bar and Restaurant

With over 160 reviews (for a 4.6 star rating) this is one of the favorite spots for tourists visiting Nusa Ceningan. Good food, lovely staff, well priced and with great views overlooking the water. The veggie curry and smoothie bowls are the top picks here!

 

Blue Lagoon Resto

A simple warung style restaurant that is close to the Blue Lagoon if you’re feeling peckish. One review says it’s the best Nasi Goreng he’s had in 20 years of coming to Indonesia. Now that’s worth a shot!

 

Le Pirate Beach Club

Part of a chain of beach clubs, the Le Pirate on Nusa Ceningan offers the same well known hospitality and class. There’s a cocktail bar and woodsy restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat or cold drink to take in the atmosphere.

Nusa Islands things to do

Nusa Islands Extra Advice

Carry small change with you (2,000’s and 5,000’s). Periodically you’ll be stopped just before different tourist spots and asked to fork over a bill for entrance and parking. It sounds sketchy, but it’s just a way for the local government to cash in on these otherwise free attractions.

Bring a handkerchief or buff if you’re driving a scooter. It can get pretty dusty on the roads, so this will be useful to cover your mouth and nose.

Carry a sarong or towel and leave it on the scooter seat while you’re exploring around. The black seats get INCREDIBLY hot, baking in the sun and can literally burn your butt!

Have fun, be safe and get to the Nusa Islands before these relatively quiet tourist spot really blows up!

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Nusa Lembongan travel guide

12 thoughts on “Nusa Lembongan, Penida, Ceningan Island Guide”

  1. This is such a great, detailed post. I love the Nusas. And Nusa Penida is definitely one of my favorite places ever. Like you guys, I always warn people about how dangerous it can be to motorbike around Nusa Penida. Everyone I know who has traveled there (including myself) has crashed their scooter. The roads are definitely sketchy in places. I was so sad to hear about the woman who died, so good on you guys for emphasizing how important it is to stay safe and to go slow. It’s cool if you sound like a nagging mom. So do I 😉

    Reply
    • Thanks so much Justine! The Nusas are incredible and we want everyone to enjoy them, but safely. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed Nusa Penida as much as we did, it sure is special. We can’t wait to make a return trip soon to explore even more of the island! Maybe we’ll catch you there 🙂

      Reply
  2. Thanks for the post guys, my brother is heading over to Nusa Lembongan in a couple of weeks and this will be a great resource!

    Reply
  3. Love this post. We are now on Lembongan for 8 days, and are just back from Penida (5 days), so I will definitely save this article. And yes, we did the Kelingking hike on flip flops, it was horrible but I would definitely do it again!

    Reply
    • Hey Lisette great to hear the article was useful during your time on the Nusa Islands! The hike down to Kelingking Beach was tough, but we agree, we’d definitely doit again! So glad you had a good time!

      Reply
  4. Hey Christine and Jules! Talk about timely ? I just booked 5 days in Lembongan for Mac and I in July!!! Thanks for all the tips x

    Reply
  5. Hi,
    Love to found your article. The picture is beautiful and one particular picture was a place I’d visit and I love that place. 🙂
    Thanks for visit Bali and sharing all your tips and experience while you Bali especially Nusa Lembongan. Really appreciated.
    You got nice stories and really had good times!

    Reply

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