[Practical Guide] Bali – Nusa Penida by boat: how to get there? How much does it cost?
Are you in Bali and want to visit Nusa Penida? Here’s how to make the boat trip.
Booking tickets online
The travel agency Civitatis offers online tickets for the Bali – Nusa Penida route.
Here are the rates
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| One-way | 30 € |
| Round-trip | 60 € |
Children under 3 travel for free. It’s very expensive, I agree! It’s better to buy on-site.
Buying a ticket on-site
Ferries depart from Sanur port (Google Map link).
On-site, you’ll find ticket booths for numerous companies where you can buy your tickets.
It’s hard to choose, I think the service is almost identical regardless of the company. We chose the company Axe Stone a bit at random. Still, check the reviews on Google Maps to make sure the company’s boats don’t sink every other trip.
Note that if you don’t know your return date, you can still buy a round-trip ticket and specify that you want an open ticket, you’ll decide the return date later.
How much does it cost?
I warn you, we’re in the middle of mass tourism, with all the downsides that come with it.
It starts with the touts who approach you, and I advise you to avoid them; better to book directly with the company.
Then there are the prices, which are absolutely ridiculous!
As you can see on this flyer the company showed me, the rate for an adult is 600,000 IDR for a round trip. Without me even asking anything, the seller offered a discount : 400,000 IDR for the round trip (which is the official one-way rate).
Finding that too easy, I haggled a bit and got the round trip for 250,000 IDR, more than 50% off. discount !
Did I get the best possible rate? No idea. But definitely don’t buy your ticket at full price.
I should mention I was there in July 2022, in peak season, when covid was already a distant memory, so there’s not even the excuse of a lack of tourism.
What are the schedules?
There may be slight differences between companies, but roughly, here are the times.
| Departure from Sanur | Departure from Nusa Penida |
|---|---|
| 7h30 | 9h15 |
| 8h15 | 14h30 |
| 11h | 16h30 |
| 15h30 | 17h00 |
Travel conditions
I warned you, we’re in Bali, it’s mass tourism, don’t expect a comfortable trip.
At check-in (30 minutes before departure), you’ll be asked to wear a badge, so you can be spotted if you stray from the herd.
Given the crowds, it’s not necessarily a useless precaution.
What’s funny is that there’s no dock for boarding. The operation takes place right on the beach. If there are any waves at all, it can get chaotic. Expect to get wet on a good half of your body. Come with as little luggage as possible; otherwise, it can become a real hassle. The staff will load your bags on board, but don’t expect them to be handled with care upon arrival—they’re just tossed onto the sand.
Since the companies obviously sell more tickets than there are seats, it’s possible to have to do the journey (about an hour) standing up.
For the return trip, depending on the tide, it can be even more fun. First, you have to get on a small boat that takes you to the speed boat. To walk to the small boat, you also have to manage not to hurt yourself walking barefoot on many dead corals. Good luck if you have big suitcases! We saw a few tourists who were really thrilled to be there…
One tip: if you have precious shoes, don’t trust them to just anyone, because once your shoes are put with a hundred others in a sort of basket, they’ll be dumped on the black sand upon arrival.
I describe this with irony, because the trip could be much more pleasant with a little more organization. But tourists are there in droves, so why bother?
Nusa Penida is a beautiful island, so the effort is worth it.
Nearby hotel
We stayed at the Prime Plaza Hotel (booking link). It’s a 5-minute walk from Sanur harbor.
It’s a large hotel (400 rooms) that lacks a bit of privacy. But the value for money is good. The pool is very nice, and you have free access to the sauna, which is a big bonus because I really like that.
Activities to do on Nusa Penida
A driver available, snorkeling, surf lessons, diving, … Our partner Civitatis offers many activities that you can check out at by clicking here.