Thank you all for your positive feedback on my first post from Bali! I felt like I got to relive our trip by recapping it, so I’m excited to dive into the next two areas. In case you missed it, you can view Part 1 here. This week, I’ll be reviewing Nusa Penida which is a small island situated off the mainland of Bali.  As if Bali isn’t enough of a paradise, Nusa Penida is even more secluded, with the most gorgeous views- perfect for a couple’s getaway. Although a trip to Bali is generally family-friendly, I wouldn’t recommend traveling to the outer islands with small children due to the complexity of the ferry ride, and overall rough terrain throughout the island (the roads are unpaved, and the island is less developed than Bali).

Getting to Nusa Penida

As I mentioned, the islands are just a ferry ride away. We booked our roundtrip tickets here. You can coordinate with your driver to bring you to ‘Sanur’ (this is basically the dock where all of the ferries are). There are many different ferry companies that you can book with. You can also bring your luggage on board if you are planning on doing an overnight stay as we did. Most people opt for a simple day trip, and after experiencing the island, I think that would have been enough time.

Where We Stayed

Can we say real life Treehouse? Total jungle vibes at Penida Bambu Green Villas. Although Kuinise and I absolutely loved our stay here, these villas won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Since the villas are made of bamboo, you are kind of exposed to the elements and all of the bathroom facilities are outside (I don’t mind- showering outside is truly something I didn’t know I needed in life). If you’re up for it, is such a unique experience and a refreshing change from other resorts. Even though you’re staying in the jungle, you will still enjoy luxury amenities such as room service, and a swim in their breathtaking infinity pool.

 

What We Did

In my opinion, the best part about Nusa Penida is Kelingking Beach. It’s the main reason tourists make the trip to the island. They say that the most difficult roads lead to the most beautiful destinations, and that quote was written with this beach in mind. In order to get to the beach, you will need to trek down a very steep and treacherous cliff edge. The trail is manmade and not necessarily well kept. Meaning, there are parts of the trail with no railings and very hazardous. Kuinise and I hike frequently, and the difficulty of this honestly shocked us- But boy was it worth it. If possible, coordinate early with your driver so that you can enjoy a few hours at the beach before the rush arrives. It will take (+/-) 40 minutes to hike down to the beach and a little over an hour to get back up. I’d recommend bringing a backpack with your swimsuit and towels. For the hike, bring comfortable shoes and lots of water.

There are definitely other beaches to check out on Nusa Penida- such as Crystal Bay, Angel’s Billabong, and Diamond Beach, but once we experienced Kelingking- we didn’t want to leave! Thank you for reading! Next week, I will be wrapping up the travel guide with some details on Canggu and Seminyak. Would you love to visit Bali? Let me know in the comments below. xo!

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