Discover the island’s number one snorkeling beach at Crystal Bay Nusa Penida. Find out everything you need to know and see photos from this epic spot to inspire your trip.
Crystal Bay Nusa Penida is located on the northwest end of the island and is one of the most popular beaches. That’s because here, you’ll find incredible snorkeling and scuba diving, as well as a palm-tree-lined white-sand beach to soak up the rays.
In this quick guide, I’ll outline everything you need to know about visiting Crystal Beach Nusa Penida. I’ll also add in some options for how to get here with some above and underwater photos from my visit.
About Crystal Bay Nusa Penida
This incredible sheltered cove is world-famous in the dive scene as THE place to spot Mola Mola (the giant oceanic sunfish). If you're lucky enough to be visiting Crystal Bay Nusa Penida in the Mola Mola season (August to October) then I highly recommend booking a dive!
Even if you're not into scuba diving, this beach is certainly worth visiting. It's close to the main port town of Toya Pakeh, making it an excellent option for a day trip or sunset location when staying on the island.
How to Get to Crystal Bay Nusa Penida
By far, the best way to get to Crystal Bay and explore Nusa Penida is to rent your own motorbike. You can get pon from your accommodation or the many rental shops at the harbor port.
A daily rental costs between 50,000 to 70,000 rupiah for a decent scooter.
Alternatively, if you'd like to save hassle bartering, you can book one in advance on this website for 50,000 rupiah.
The journey by scooter to Crystal Bay is only about 20 minutes from the harbor, making it one of the closest snorkeling beaches on the island.
Below I've pinned the exact location to help you find your way. The road here is generally pretty decent. Along the way, you'll pass beautiful palm-lined roads and quaint villages and roadside warungs.
The final location is the beachfront, where you'll be asked to pay 10,000 rupiah to park your bike (standard on Nusa Penida).
Book the cheap ferry from Bali online: Sanur (Bali) Ferry Transfer (fast-boat)
Alternative: Crystal Bay From Bali (Best of Nusa Penida Tour)
Alternatively, if you'd rather see all the best Nusa Penida highlights on a guided tour, then you can also do that.
There are many different businesses running tours from Bali to Nusa Penida but when booking, you'll want to confirm a few things:
- Ensure its a fast boat
- Ensure all fees are paid upfront
- Pick one with snorkeling at Crystal Bay, Broken Beach and a visit to Kelingking Beach!
To save you the trouble of searching and haggling, I've linked the best-rated and most bang-for-buck trip that includes a visit to Nusa Penida's Crystal Bay for snorkeling below.
The Ultimate Nusa Penida Travel Resource
Looking for more Nusa Penida travel guides & adventure inspiration? Below are my most comprehensive blog posts that will serve as a great free resource for your trip.
Crystal Bay Nusa Penida: What to Expect
Once you arrive at Crystal Bay, you'll undoubtedly spot a few tourists sprawled out on the sandy shores. You can either join them or rent some snorkel gear from one of the guys working at the small Bali-style beach bars.
In the middle of the cove at Crystal Bay is a small, rocky island. We swam out to this island to check it out.
Also, if you take the slightly worn trails on the left side of the cove (looking out to sea), you can climb up to a vantage point that gives you a good view of the beach and island.
Unfortunately, my camera card was corrupted from this trip so I lost my great photos of Crystal Bay! Luckily I still have some phone and underwater shots from this spot!
Related: Diamond Beach on Nusa Penida
Snorkeling at Crystal Bay Nusa Penida
Snorkeling is definitely what it's all about at Crystal Bay! I was actually pretty mind-blown by just how pristine the coral reef was here. The further you swim out, the better your chances are of spotting a cruising manta ray and green turtle.
Below are some underwater photos that I captured during my time snorkeling at Nusa Penida Crystal Bay.
Where to Stay on Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida isn't a huge island, but there are several options to pick from when choosing where to stay. Below I've included my 3 picks for budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation.
- Luxury: Adiwana Warnakali Resort - This isn't the most expensive luxury resort on Nusa Penida but it's definitely one of the best! This resort is waterfront located with large, luxury suites and an incredibly included breakfast.
- Mid-range: Jukung Cottage - This epic, beachside resort-style cottage retreat offers great bang for buck. It features a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, a bar, and a shared lounge.
- Budget: Hostel Bukit Sangcure - This is the accommodation I chose in Nusa Penida. It's a cheap backpacker hostel that is close to the port and offers breakfast and bike rentals.
More Nusa Penida Travel Guides and Adventure INspiration
I hope you've enjoyed this quick guide to visiting Crystal Bay on Nusa Penida Island off Bali, Indonesia. For more adventure inspo and travel guides, check out the links below! Oh, and if this guide needs any update, let me know in the comments below!