Nusa Lembongan: A Penida Gem

This September, I once again found myself in Indonesia. With three weeks to explore, it was one of my shorter trips there yet it turned out to be the most colorful and eventful. Within the span of 17 days I got seven stitches, lost my debit card, met a few mummies and was attacked by a monkey.

This trip started with a weekend catching up with friends in Jakarta and from there I did a circle of the country; jetting to Bali for a week, moseying up to Sulawesi and ending back in Jakarta to head home. For the sake of this post, we’ll focus on one place at a time.

Enter three lovely islands off the southeastern tip of Bali: the Nusa islands.

the nusa islands

Nusa Penida

Most people who plan a trip to this area simply say they are going to Nusa Penida (myself included) though you’ll likely spend the least amount of time on here. Nusa Penida itself does not offer a plethora of accomodation options - maybe five, at most. Instead, most vistors stay on one of the smaller islands and take a boat over for a day trip. While I only spent one day on Nusa Penida, I’d have happily spent more (it’s bigger than it looks!).

Nusa Cenigan

The middle island is the smallest island of the bunch and tends to be less crowded. Its idyllic waves mainly attracts surfers.

Nusa Lembongan

I’m not sure why there isn’t more hype around Lembongan because it’s an absolute gem. This lazy little island, an oasis surrounded by pure blue water and boasting sheer cliffs and crashing waves, was my home base for five nights. There is also a rapidly growing surf and dive scene and I hear the manta rays are a fun bunch to hang out with as well.

getting around

For the freedom of movement and time, I opt for a motorbike, which I rented from my hotel (50-75k IDR / $4-5 USD a day). If motorbikes aren’t your thing, then you also have a selection of bicycles, golf carts (yes, you read that correctly), and walking isn’t off the table since it’s such a small island. You can also catch a ride on one of the handy-dandy local pickup trucks that function as the island’s mini-bus.

things to do

DREAM BEACH

While aptly named for its dreaminess, I didn’t have the dreamiest of times. If you stand dangerously close to a Chinese tour group you may be involuntarily grabbed by several strangers wanting to take pictures on theirs and your phone (but why!?). General rule of thumb: the older the lady, the tighter her arm grip.

DEVIL’S TEAR

Holy moly, these waves are something else. Walk along the craggily rocks and watch as the massive waves roll along intense blue waters and thunderously crash against the cliffs. The water is probably 40 feet below from where you stand and the waves still reach unbelievable heights.

PANORAMA POINT

Near the port, you’ll find this self-explanatory place that offers none other than a panoramic view.

temples

Each home has a small shrine and larger villages will have temples. While each are ornate, they are unique as well. You’ll surely stumble on a few while walking or driving around the islands.

DOG WATCHING

It’s like people watching, but 1000x better. Plus, you can randomly go pet them and they don’t get mad at all, the same can’t be said for people.

good eats

THE DECK CAFE & BAR

Walk a little up the hill to this sweet place and I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed. There are cozy pillows, so get comfortable and take in the views of the water and Mount Batur. Sure, it’s a bit more expensive (by Indonesian standards) butworth every penny.

BALI ECO DELI

This was my go-to breakfast place! Not only is it semi-outdoors and eco-friendly (obviously), but it is home to delicious coffee as well. There are also super cool looking tables if, you know, you’re into that sort of thing.

where to STAY

PURI KIRANA BUNGALOWS

Puri Kirana Bungalows ($25/night) are super clean, have a friendly staff and a pool with palm trees right outside the windows! One of the staff even drove me to the boats when I was unable to walk there without looking like a pathetic gimp (another story for another day perhaps).

And that wraps up my super short yet incredibly sweet trip to Nusa Lembongan! Make sure you visit and pet the dogs, eat all the foods, see all the things, stare in awe at the waves and enjoy every sun-soaked minute at this gem of a place.