Nusa Penida 3-Spot Snorkelling with GoPro & West Coast Land Tour

Nusa Penida Island

Nusa Penida is the largest of the three Nusa islands that lie off the southeast coast of Bali across the Badung Strait. It is a rugged limestone island of high cliffs, hidden beaches and village temples, far less developed than Bali itself, and its waters form a marine protected area rich in coral, reef fish, turtles and manta rays.

Most travellers ask how to get to Nusa Penida: fast boats leave Sanur on Bali several times a day and take about 45 minutes, and this tour starts on the island, so it suits guests staying a night or more on Nusa Penida. Roads are narrow, steep and bumpy, which is why a driver who knows them makes such a difference. Our shared transfer collects you between 8:00 and 8:30, with the exact time confirmed the evening before.

Manta Bay: Snorkelling with Reef Manta Rays

Manta Bay lies off the south-west coast of Nusa Penida, below sheer cliffs. Reef manta rays, which can reach wingspans of 4 metres or more, come here to feed on plankton and to visit cleaning stations where small fish remove parasites, and on good days you float above them as they glide and loop just below the surface.

This is the first stop of the snorkelling trip and the one most guests remember, but the mantas are wild animals, so sightings are never guaranteed and depend on the season, currents and sea conditions. The water here is open ocean and can be choppy, so the spot suits confident swimmers. Your guide keeps the group together and asks everyone to keep a respectful distance and never touch the mantas.

Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay

Crystal Bay, on the west coast near the village of Sakti, is known for its white sand, turquoise water and excellent visibility over healthy coral. Schools of colourful reef fish, parrotfish and sometimes turtles are common, and from July to October the deeper water nearby is famous among divers for the rare ocean sunfish. When conditions are better there, the boat may visit The Wall, a steep reef face nearby, instead.

Gamat Bay is a smaller, sheltered cove a little further along the coast, with calm water and bright coral gardens that suit beginners and relaxed snorkellers. You spend around 40 minutes at each spot. Nusa Penida snorkelling is at its clearest in the dry season from April to November, and mornings usually bring the calmest sea, which is why this tour starts early.

Kelingking Beach

After snorkelling, a towel and a fresh-water shower, the land tour heads to Kelingking Beach, the most photographed spot in the Nusa islands. From the clifftop viewpoint you look down on a long headland that curves into the sea in the shape of a dinosaur's head, with a perfect white-sand beach at its foot and turquoise water breaking below.

The stop lasts about 50 minutes, which is enough for photos along the viewing area. A steep, narrow trail leads down to the beach, but it is a demanding hike that takes much longer than this visit allows, so most guests enjoy the view from the top. If you have searched for a Kelingking Beach tour, this combination is an efficient way to see it without arranging your own transport on the island's tricky roads.

Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong

Broken Beach, locally called Pasih Uug, is a circular cove enclosed by cliffs, where the roof of a sea cave collapsed long ago to leave a natural stone arch through which the ocean flows in and out. A path runs around the rim, giving views down into the turquoise water from every angle, and you have about 40 minutes here.

A few minutes' walk away is Angel's Billabong, a natural rock pool on the cliff edge filled with clear sea water, framed by layers of limestone. It looks calm, but waves can sweep over the rocks without warning, so follow your driver-guide's advice and stay out of the water when the sea is rough. These two sights complete the classic West Nusa Penida tour before our driver takes you back to your hotel or the harbour.