Nusa Penida can be visited in a day from southern Bali, but you must choose between two ways to get there: buy a fast boat yourself and arrange a driver on the island, or book a tour with transfer, boat and circuit. This page compares the two, the west and the east of the island, and explains where snorkelling with manta rays (Manta Point) fits in. Prices and rules were noted in October 2026: they change quickly, especially local taxes, so confirm them when you book. For a detailed west or east comparison, see the west or east tour; for the island itself, see Nusa Penida.
Highlights
Crystal Bay, the swimming bay
A beach of pale sand lined with hills, with boats at anchor: the classic stop for swimming and, depending on the operator, snorkelling. It is often the last stop of the west circuit.
The manta rays of Manta Point
In the south-west of the island, snorkelling boats take visitors to swim with manta rays, whose wingspan can reach several metres. Their presence is not guaranteed on a given day: one operator says so in its listing, and swell can change or cancel the trip.
The fast boat from Sanur
Fast boats leave from Sanur beach and reach Toyapakeh or Banjar Nyuh on the north-west coast of the island in about 30 to 45 minutes depending on the sea. This is the main crossing, with frequent departures in the morning.
Practical info
Tips
- Option 1, fast boat only: a one-way Sanur to Nusa Penida ticket is advertised at about 150,000 to 250,000 IDR per person in 2026 (about 120,000 to 175,000 IDR when booked in advance, according to one guide), plus a driver or scooter on the island; the roads are narrow, steep and sometimes damaged, and a scooter is dangerous for a beginner. Option 2, tour with transfer: it usually includes the boat, a driver-guide, sometimes lunch and entry fees; on booking sites a west circuit day with snorkelling is around 90 USD and a full day with three snorkelling stops, lunch and equipment around 155 USD per adult, while snorkelling-only trips are 25 to 35 USD. West or east: the west combines Kelingking, Angel's Billabong, Broken Beach and Crystal Bay and is the busiest circuit; the east (Diamond Beach, Atuh, viewpoints) is quieter but the roads are longer; two circuits in one day is too tight. Taxes to expect: the Bali tourist levy of 150,000 IDR per person, paid only once during the stay (see before you go to Bali), the island entry fee foreigners pay on arrival, and, from August 2026, a fee of about 25,000 IDR per adult (15,000 per child) at the main sites such as Kelingking, Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong and Crystal Bay according to local press; dates and amounts vary by source, and one snorkelling listing also mentions a 100,000 IDR conservation fee not included. Ask what is included. The last boat back is around 5 pm: leave a margin, not a single delay.
How to get there
From Ubud, Canggu or Seminyak, get to Sanur harbour by road (allow about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on traffic), then take the fast boat; a tour with transfer picks you up at the hotel. See the private driver for the trip to Sanur.
Opening hours
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